Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/66

56 teries and rendered efficient service, notably the McCrea.

Early in the year 1862 it was seen that New Orleans was threatened. Secretary Mallory was of the opinion that it would be attacked from above, and hence ordered Commodore Hollins to proceed with his vessels up the river to Island No. 10, to assist in its defense. The commodore was of a different opinion, but in obedience to orders went to Island No. 10 with the McRae, Ivy, Livingston, Maurepas, Ponchartrain, Polk, Galhoun and Jackson. These vessels do not appear to have been of any particular service, though commanded by brave and daring officers. Captains Carter, Dunnington and Fry were conspicuous. Fry afterward distinguished himself on the White river, and Dunnington by his defense of Arkansas Post. Lieut. F. M. Roby, a young officer who saw much hard service in the war, was Dunnington's brave assistant. Lieut. S. W. Averett, an excellent officer, assisted at the defense of Island No. 10 in command of a floating battery, which had been towed up from New Orleans. It had to be destroyed after the evacuation of the island. Of the vessels enumerated, the Maurepas and the Ponchartrain were afterward sunk by their commanders, Fry and Dunnington, and their guns placed in battery on shore; the McRae, Ivy and Jackson were returned to New Orleans, and the remainder were eventually burned to save them from the enemy.

About the 11th of April, hearing from Commodore Whittle that the enemy was in force at the mouth of the Mississippi, Commodore Hollins started down the river in the Ivy. Upon his arrival at New Orleans, he found orders to report at Richmond to sit on court-martial duty. This left Commodore John K. Mitchell in command of the vessels afloat at New Orleans, and Commodore W. C. Whittle in command of the station. Capt. Arthur Sinclair and Lieut. C. M. Fauntleroy were in charge of the ironclad Mississippi, and were using every exertion to prepare her for action. On the 2oth of April the iron-