April 25, 1862 - Union naval forces capture New Orleans, LA (left). The largest city in the Confederacy, New Orleans was considered a vital objective by Union planners. Gathering a fleet at Head of Passes, Flag Officer David G. Farragut, commanding the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, began operations against the city's defenses on April 18, 1862. This initial move consisted of an extended bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip which blocked the Union advance up the Mississippi River. Led by Commander David D. Porter, mortar boats pounded the forts for five days. On April 20, Farragut ordered sailors from USS Itasca and USS Pinola to move forward and severe a chain barrier that the Confederates had stretched across the river. By the 23rd, Farragut had become dissatisfied with the results of the bombardment as both forts were still offering resistance. Rather than wait to completely reduce the fortifications, Farragut elected to run his fleet past the forts on the night of April 24. Moving forward, the Union ships pounded the two forts before defeating a small Confederate gunboat squadron. When the fighting ended, Farragut had succeeded in passing the forts with minimal losses. Steaming up the river, he received the surrender of New Orleans the following day.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center