-^ c ^ \- : a. PROCEEDINGS • OF TlIE OUET OF INQTJIKY RELATIVE TO THE FALL OF NEW ORLEANS. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF CONGRESS. IUCJIMOND !l. M. SMITH, PUBLIC PR] 1864 -)% AND IONS MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT. Richmond, Va., Jane 8, 1SG4. To the House of Representatives : In response to a resolution of the House of Representatives of January 15, 1SG4, I herewith transmit for your information a com- munication from the Secretary of War, covering a copy of the pro- ceedings of the Court of Inquiry relative to the capture of New Orleans. JEFFERSON DAVIS. COMMUNICATION FROM SECRETARY OF WAIL Confederate States of America, \ War Department, \ Richmond, Va., June G, 1864. ) To His Excellency, the President : Sir: In response to a resolution of the House of Representatives', adopted at its last session, I have the honor to forward, for transmis- sion to Congress, a copy of the record of the Court of Inquiry on the fall of New Orleans, with accompanying documents, the preparation of which was not quite completed at the adjournment of the last Congress. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War. PROCEEDINGS OF A 7" COURT OF INQTJIE^ 3 Assembled at Jackson, Mississippi, pursuant to the following orders : [extract.] Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, Richmond, February 18, 1863, Special Orders, ) No. 41. § * ***** XVI. By direction of the President, on the application of M General Mansfield Lovell, a Court of Inquiry, to consist of Brigadier General I. T. F. Drayton, Brigadier General T. C. Hindman and Brigadier General W. M. Gardner, will assemble at Jackson, Missis- sippi, on the 10th day of March next, or as soon thereafter as prac- ticable, to examine into the facts and circumstances attending the capture of the city of New Orleans by the enemy, in April, 1862, an J. the defence of the city, and the evacuation of the same by our troops under the command of Major General Mansfield Lovell. Major L. K. Page, Assistant Adjutant General, is appointed Judge Advocate Recorder of the Court. The Court of Inquiry appointed in Special Orders, No. 177, A. & I. G. 0., July 31, 18G2, paragraph XX, is hereby revoked. * * # * * ' * By command of the Secretary of War, JOHN WITHERS, Assistant Adjutant General. [extract.] Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, £ Richmond, February 20, 1SG3. } Special Orders, No. 43. XXIV. The Court of Inquiry directed in paragraph XVI, Sp: Orders, No. 41, current series, will sit without regard to hour?, will consider itself authorized to adjourn from place to place for convenience of taking testimony of witnesses serving with the army in the field or elsewhere, and whoso testimony may not be otherwise conveniently obtained without embarrassment to the interests of the service. The Court will finally report the facts resulting from the investiga- tion, together with their opinion thereon, for the information of the President. # .# # * * * Bv command of the Secretary of War. JOHN WITHERS, Assistant Adjutant General, [EXTRACT.] Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, Richmond, February 24, 1S63. Special Orders, No. 40. * mistake having occurred in paragraph XVI, S. 0. No. XXIV v A 41, current series, designating General T. C. Hindman as Brigadier General, he is hereby announced as Major General, and senior officer of the Court of Inquiry convened in said order and paragraph. ***** * By command of the Secretary of War. JOHN WITHERS, Assistant Adjutant General. Half-past Twelve, P. M., April i, 13G3. The Court met pursuant to the above orders. Present—Major General T. C. Hindmaiv, Brigadier General T. F. Drayton, Brigadier General W. M. Gardner, Major L. R. Page, Judge Advocate. Major General Mansfield Lovell also present. The Judge Advocate having read the orders convening the Court, asked Major General Mansfield Lovell if he had any objections to any member named therein, to which he replied, he " had none." The Court was then duly sworn by the Judge Advocate, and the Judge Advocate was duly sworn by the presiding officer of the Court, in the presence of Major General Mansfield Lovell. It was then resolved by the Court to sit with closed doors ; and ordered that W. H. Houston be employed as clerk to aid the Judge Advocate. The Court adjourned, to meet at eleven, A. M., the 6th instant. Jackson, Miss., April 6, 11 A. M., 1863. The Court mat pursuant to adjournment. Present— All the members of the Court, the Judge Advocate an 1 Major General Lovell. The proceedings of yesterday were read over, it waa then ordered by the Court that the letter "I" prefixed to the name of Brigadier General T. F. Drayton, in the order convening the Court, should be hereafter omitted in the records, it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the insertion of the said letter "I" was ;< clerical error. It was then ordered by the Court that the word " accused" should not be used to designate Major General Mansfield Lovell in these pro- ceedings, there being no accusation or imputation against him before the Court ; and it was further ordered, that the evidence in the case should be introduced without regard to the mode or order of proof governing in courts-martial or courts of inquiry, when charges are made and an issued joined. Major General Mansfield Lovell was then sworn and examined as a witness. By the Judge Advocate : Question—When did you assume command of the city of New Orleans ? Answer—On the 18th of October, 1861, pursuant to paragraph VIII, Special Orders, No. 173, Adjutant and Inspector Gen i Office, October 7, 1861. [The original of the order was read to the Court, and a copy thereof appended as document No. 1.] By the Judge Advocate : Question— State, for the infonrfation of the Court, the limits and extent of Department No. 1 , its topographical features, and the various approaches to the city of New Orleans. Answer—Department No. 1 embraced the State of Louisiana and the southern half of the State of Mississippi, except that part of the latter State on the Mississippi river included between the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern railroad and the river, on which are situated Natchez and Vicksburg, they belonging to Department No 2. Department No. 1 extended on the sea-coast more than three hundred (300) miles from Texas, on the west, to Pascagoula Bay on the east. The city of New Orleans is situated in an alluvial delta, on the left or northern bank of the river, about one hundred (100) miles from the mouth. From below New Orleans to Donaldsonville, a distance of about ninety (90) miles, the river runs in nearly an east course, almost parallel with the gulf coast. Bounding the city limits, on the north lies Lake Pontchartrain, which is almost forty (40) miles long by twenty-five (25) broad, its southern shore being nearly parallel to the Mississippi river for more than twenty (20j miles, thus forming a strip of land between the two of an average width of five (5) or six (6) miles, on which New Orleans is situated, thus placing it on an island, except this narrow strip of land, through which runs the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern railroad, the only line of land . communication the city has "with the interior. The river,' ."-'before reaching New Orleans, finds its way through the alluvial country in various channels to the sea, (as will be further described,) which, in high water, offer facilities for navigation. Lake Pontchartrain is also in immediate connection with the Gulf of Mexico, independent of all other approaches to the city. Lake Borgne, likewise connected with the gulf, gives us water approach to within a few miles of the Missis- sippi river at a point not far below the city. This was the route taken by the British in 1815. These are the general features of the location of New Orleans. The coast line of Department No. 1 is penetrated by passes and streams navigable in high water season at not less than twelve or fifteen different points, many of which, as the enemy had entire com- mand of the sea, required immediate attention. Commencing at Pascagoula, on the east, the coast could be entered by water at Belisie bay, St. Louis and Pearl river, which latter empties itself into the Gulf of Mexico by two mouths outside that entrance to Lake Pont- chartrain, on which Fort Pike was located, to be hereafter described. A short distance up the Pearl river a bayou connected the ri$|r .with the lake, thus avoiding entirely the guns of Fort Pike, besideYjfrh'-ich. a fair road led west to the Mississippi river, giving access to the Jack- son railroad, as well as the whole northern shore of Lake pontchartrain. This lake was connected with the gulf by two outlets, the Rignlets and chief Mentuan Pass, on the former of which was" located. Fort Pike, and on the latter Fort Macomb, formerly called Fort /Wood. ' From the shore of Lake Borgne four bayous put into the land, t&fcdugii which access could be had by water to points near to, and convenijfrt-for,. attack on the city. Two of them had small works upon thero\|B>ien- view, and Phillippon) and others (Gentilly and Ciletche) we:rS ; un- guarded. Proceeding west, three (3) large streams gavef^qeess directly from the ocean, to firm ground near the river, more than. forty miles above Forts Jackson and St. Philip, viz: Bay&u L* Loutre, Terre Aux Bccuf and Aux Chiens, the enemy occupying Isle. Breton with land forces, directly off the mouths of these bayous; The next main point of entrance is the Mississippi river, which enters the gulf by five mouths or passes.