As has
been seen, he cast in his lot with the North, and asked for active duty
at once, but it was not until eight months later that the summons came.
When it did come, it was of a nature to fill him with the most unbounded
enthusiasm. The national government had determined to attempt to send a
fleet past the formidable forts at the mouth of the Mississippi, for the
purpose of capturing New Orleans. Farragut was sent for, shown the list
of vessels which were preparing for the expedition, and asked if he
thought it could succeed. He answered that he would undertake to do it
with two-thirds the number, and when he was told that he was to command
the expedition, his delight knew no bounds. He felt that his chance had
come. On the second of February, 1862, he sailed out of Hampton Roads
with a squadron of seventeen vessels, and turned his prow to the south.
The task which had been set him was one to give the stoutest heart
pause. Twenty miles above the mouth of the Mississippi were two
formidable forts and a number of water batteries, with combined
armaments greatly superior to those of Farragut's fleet. A great barrier
of logs stretched across the river, while farther up lay a Confederate
fleet of fifteen vessels, one of which was an ironclad ram. A strong
force of Confederate sharpshooters was stationed along either bank, and
a number of fire-rafts were ready to be lighted and sent down against
the Union fleet.
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