. The hero of Manila; Dewey on the Mississippi and the Pacific . orts wasto protect the city, if he could lay the city underhis guns the forts would be abandoned. Consequent-ly, in spite of the advice of the eminent army engineer,and his friend and brother of^cer. Porter, he deter-mined to pass the forts with his whole fleet (exceptthe mortar schooners) and appear before New Orleans. This was a new thing in warfare, and it is im-portant to note it here, because George Dewey, whohad been promoted to a lieutenancy at the beginningof the war, was in that fleet, and Farragut was hisinstructor as w
. The hero of Manila; Dewey on the Mississippi and the Pacific . orts wasto protect the city, if he could lay the city underhis guns the forts would be abandoned. Consequent-ly, in spite of the advice of the eminent army engineer,and his friend and brother of^cer. Porter, he deter-mined to pass the forts with his whole fleet (exceptthe mortar schooners) and appear before New Orleans. This was a new thing in warfare, and it is im-portant to note it here, because George Dewey, whohad been promoted to a lieutenancy at the beginningof the war, was in that fleet, and Farragut was hisinstructor as well as his commander. The passage was to be made in the night, andFarragut—who had learned to perform every dutythat is ever required on shipboard, except those ofthe surgeon—gave in his general orders minute in-structions for every preparation, and suggested thatthe officers and crew of each vessel add any otherprecautions that their ingenuity might devise. Every man in the fleet was busy. In the fore-castle of the Mississippi a group of sailors were mak-. Whitewashing the decks. THE FIGHT FOR NEW ORLEANS. 73 ing splinter nettings, criticising the arrangements forthe attack, and speculating as to the result. Whats Bill Amnion going to do with that whitepaint? said one. Hes going to paint the gun deck, answered acomrade. What! paint it white? Yes, white. Whats that for? To make us a better target forthe reb gunners? Its to make it so that we can see what wereabout, and find things when we need them. That seems to say were going up in the night,said the first speaker. Youve hit it, said another; thats exactlywhat we are in for. Whose idea is this of painting the decks? askeda fourth. Bill pretends its his, said the boatswains mate. He thinks its a great idea. But I was by whenhe got his orders, and I know it originated withDewey. I dont care where the idea came from, saidthe sailmaker, I dont admire it. Why not? Because its just the wrong thing. The boys onthe Pensacola and
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