Young Farragut at start of long career
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch January 9, 1862:
Eighth of January.
–The anniversary of the battle of New Orleans passed by without special observance. It was the custom when all the soldier boys were at home to have some kind of a frolic, but the war has put an end to all festivities of that sort. Let us hope that another twelve-month will bring about a happy restoration of the fashions of “auld lang syne.”
150 years ago the January 8, 1815 Battle of New Orleans was very much still in the American consciousness, but at least in Richmond it was not much celebrated in 1862 because of the Civil War.
As Civil War 150th Anniversary has reported, 150 years ago today David Farragut was appointed commander of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron. One of his major responsibilities would be to try to capture New Orleans for the Union.
Born in 1801 David Farragut became a midshipman at age 9 and fought during the War of 1812 (although not at New Orleans).
USS Hartford - Faragut's ride to the Gulf (in its later life)
