Shifting mud banks complicated entry into the Mississippi and prevented the large screw frigate Colorado from joining the force inside. Forts Jackson and St. Philip, chained hulks, the ironclad Manassas, river steamers, and fire rafts created successive obstacles; the additional ironclad Louisiana remained unfinished. Farragut used his charting experience and reconnaissance to prepare a route while Porter's vessels bombarded from below. When bombardment failed to silence the forts, Union sailors cut the barrier chain and checked the navigable gap. A red lantern aboard Hartford signaled the fleet to get under way on 24 April. During the passage Hartford grounded and caught fire, but Farragut helped direct the firefighting while the flagship continued firing and eventually backed free. The converted merchant vessel Varuna was lost in fighting with the Confederate river-defense vessels, while the fleet opened the route to New Orleans.
Chapter · 2:16:12-2:24:25
Running Forts Jackson and St. Philip
Farragut combined charting, bombardment, a cut barrier chain, and a night run past the forts to open the Mississippi route to New Orleans.