Painting, Farragut's fleet passing Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip, Louisiana, April 24, 1862, 1862. Oil paint, canvas. J. Joffray. United States. Gift of Mrs. Lewis L. Coburn. 1932.27.
Title
Farragut's Fleet Passing Fort Jackson and Fort Philip, Louisiana, April 24, 1862
All batteries of forts firing on fleet in conjunction with Confederate battle vessels attacking fleet. Black frame with narrow gold band bordering canvas.
Curatorial Statement
J. Joffray, a naive artist, recorded the capture of New Orleans, one of the Civil War's most significant Union victories in the painting. On April 24, 1862 the Union fleet, under Flag Officer David Farragut, steamed up the Mississippi River to capture New Orleans, the South’s most important city. Confederate forces bombarded the ships and the Union gunners responded, creating a scene described by one Union officer as “all the earthquakes in the world and all the thunder and lighting storms together, in a space of two miles, all going off at once.” The bombardment failed to deter Farragut, and one week later, New Orleans surrendered.
Museum Collection
