War On New Orleans Essay, Research Paper

Summary of the Battle of New Orleans in

the American Civil War

The battle of New Orleans in the American

Civil War was a result if the federal

government?s plan to seize New Orleans, one

of the most important cities in the South. A

naval squadron under the Union captain David

Farragut, carrying troops in the lower

Mississippi River in the Spring of 1862.

To prevent the captures of New Orleans

Confederates placed a heavy chain cable

across the river near the city. New Orleans

was also defended by forts Jackson and Saint

Philip. After several days of firing in the

forts Farragut succeeded in cutting chain and

passing the forts during the earliest hours

of April 24. The Union forces sank or

captured 9 out of the 17 Confederate vessels,

emerging without damage to their own ships

they proceeded to New Orleans. The city

inadequately protected by only 3,000

Confederate troops fell on April 25, was

occupied by federal troop on May 1, and was

held for the duration of the war. The loss of

New Orleans gateway to the Mississippi River

and Valley and chief city and port the

Confederate was catastrophic.