"
Wissahickon, " 5 " "
Winona, " 5 " "

How any controversy could arise as to which branch of the U. S. Service
deserves the credit of the capture of New Orleans is a matter of wonder
to those who were present at the time. The following article from the
Richmond Enquirer of September 10th, 1875, written by an eye-witness of
many of the scenes in the city which he describes, would seem
conclusively to establish the fact that the navy alone achieved the
capture.

"The question has again been raised as to whether the army or the navy
is entitled to the credit of having captured New Orleans from the
Confederates in April or May, 1862. It has been a mooted point in
history ever since the event happened, and its discussion has caused no
little angry feeling between the two branches of the service. Ben
Butler, of course, laid claim to the honors of the capture, and
proclaimed himself "the hero" of New Orleans, completely overshadowing
Farragut and his fleet, and the lying histories of the day, written in
the Radical interest on the other side of the line, have perpetuated the
fraud. No citizen of New Orleans who personally knows anything of the
circumstances of the fall of the city into the hands of the Federals has
ever had any doubts as to who was or is entitled to the credit; but the
persistent efforts of Butler and his friends to claim the lion's share
in that exploit, have at last called out the Hon. Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy in Mr. Lincoln's Cabinet, as the champion of
Admiral Farragut and his gallant tars. In the course of an article in
the Hartford _Times_, Mr. Welles shows that "In January, 1862, the plan
for the reduction of the forts below New Orleans and the capture of the
city was fully matured in the Navy Department, Farragut receiving orders
in detail for the work on the 20th of that month; that the memorable
passage of the forts was made, and the surly submission of the Mayor of
New Orleans received by Farragut on the 26th of April, formal possession
being immediately taken and the United States flag displayed on the
public buildings; that the army was not only absent alike from the plan
and the execution of this great movement, but did not appear until May
1, when General Butler's troops arrived, and on the day following
entered upon the occupation of the city captured by Farragut."

Quite correct, Mr. ex-Se