Admiral Farragut . country,had given up more than had been demanded of thosewho thus distrusted him. Time was needed to allowmens minds to reach a more reasonable frame, andfor the Government itself to sift and test, not merelythe fidelity, but the heartiness and the probable ca-pacity of the officers at its command. Farraguts first employment was as a member ofa board to recommend officers for retirement fromactive service, under an act approved August 3,1861. The object of this act was to assist the De-partment in the discrimination necessary to be madebetween the competent and those disable
Admiral Farragut . country,had given up more than had been demanded of thosewho thus distrusted him. Time was needed to allowmens minds to reach a more reasonable frame, andfor the Government itself to sift and test, not merelythe fidelity, but the heartiness and the probable ca-pacity of the officers at its command. Farraguts first employment was as a member ofa board to recommend officers for retirement fromactive service, under an act approved August 3,1861. The object of this act was to assist the De-partment in the discrimination necessary to be madebetween the competent and those disabled by yearsor infirmity, for up to that time there had been noregular system of retirement, and men were retainedon the active list past the period of efficiency, be-cause no provision for removing them existed. Theduty, though most important with war actually exist-ing, was delicate and trying, and far from consonantto Farraguts active, enterprising character. Moresuitable employment was, however, fast PERATIONS, 1862-1864. CHAPTER VII. THE NEW ORLEANS The necessity of controlling the Mississippi val-ley had been early realized by the United StatesGovernment. In its hands the great stream wouldbecome an impassable barrier between two largesections of the Southern Confederacy; whereas inthe possession of the latter it remained a link bind-ing together all the regions through which it flowed,or which were penetrated by any of its numeroustributaries. The extensive territory west of theriver also produced a large part of the provisionsupon which depended the Southern armies, whosemain field of action was, nevertheless, on the easternside. In a country habitually so unprepared for waras is the United States, and where, of course, such acontingency as an intestine struggle between thesections could not have been provided for, thereseemed room to hope that the national forces mightby rapid action seize the whole course of the river,before the seceding S
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