Page 10

(Donaldsonville 1)

Donaldsonville

August 9, 1862
Ascension Parish, LA
Campaign: Opening the Lower Mississippi

Rear Adm. David G. Farragut, USN
Capt. Phillippe Landry, CSA

Farragut took three ships to chase a few partisans.

No casualties statistics are known.

A number of incidents of artillery firing on Union steamers passing along the Mississippi River at Donaldsonville influenced the U.S. Navy to retaliate.  Rear Adm. David G. Farragut sent notice of his intentions and suggested that the citizens send the women and children away.  (Of course, the men could leave too, but whether that was part of Southern manhood was a question for individuals.)

He then anchored in front of the town and opened fired with guns and mortars.  Farragut also sent a detachment ashore that set fire to the hotels, wharf buildings, and the dwelling houses and other buildings of Capt. Phillippe Landry.  Landry, thought to be the partisan�s commander, purportedly fired on the landing party during the raid.  Some citizens protested the raid, but, generally, firing on Union ships ceased thereafter.

Page 10

(Donaldsonville 1)