Burning fire ships
too were sent down upon them, and the red light of battle lit up
the darkness. Yet through the baptism of fire the vessels held on
their way undaunted. The forts were passed, the Confederate fleet
disabled and put to flight, and Farragut sailed unhindered up the
river.
At his approach, New Orleans was seized with panic. Filled with a
nameless fear women and children ran weeping through the streets,
business of every kind was at a standstill. The men, mostly
grey-haired veterans and boys, turned the keys in their office doors,
and hurried to join the volunteer regiments, bent on fighting to
the last for their beloved city. Thousands of bales of cotton were
carried to the wharves, and there set on fire, lest they should
fall into the hands of the enemy. Ships too were set on fire, and
cast loose, till it seemed as if the whole river front was wrapped
in flames. Thirty miles away the glare could be seen in the sky,
and at the sight even strong men bowed their heads and wept. For
they knew it meant that New Orleans had fallen, and that the Queen
of Southern cities was a captive.
But there was no fighting, for General Lovell who was in command
of the city marched away with his army as soon as the Union ships
appeared. The citizens who were left were filled with impotent wrath
and despair. They felt themselves betrayed.
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