▁at ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Navy ▁Y ard , ▁L t . ▁Watson ▁Smith ▁in ▁command . ▁ ▁Mississippi ▁River ▁mort ar ▁fleet ▁▁ ▁The ▁sch oon er ▁was ▁assigned ▁to ▁the ▁Mort ar ▁Fl ot illa ▁assemble d ▁under ▁Com dr . ▁David ▁D ixon ▁Por ter ▁for ▁Flag ▁Officer ▁David ▁Far rag ut ' s ▁attack ▁on ▁New ▁Orleans , ▁Louisiana . ▁The ▁fl ot illa ▁arrived ▁in ▁the ▁Mississippi ▁River ▁ 1 8 ▁March ; ▁and , ▁after ▁eight ▁days ▁of ▁ar du ous ▁work ▁in ▁getting ▁the ▁larger ▁vessels ▁of ▁the ▁fleet ▁over ▁the ▁bars , ▁was ▁ready ▁for ▁action . ▁ ▁The ▁fl ot illa ▁moved ▁into ▁position ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁April ▁and ▁the ▁mort ars ▁opened ▁fire ▁on ▁Fort s ▁Jackson ▁and ▁St . ▁Philip ▁which ▁protected ▁New ▁Orleans ▁from ▁attack ▁by ▁sea . ▁From ▁ 1 6 ▁until ▁ 2 4 ▁April ▁the ▁mort ar ▁sch oon ers ▁bomb arded ▁the ▁Confeder ate ▁works . ▁On ▁the ▁night ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 4 th , ▁Far rag ut ' s ▁deep - d raft ▁ships ▁ra ked ▁the ▁for ts ▁and ▁the ▁next ▁day ▁New ▁Orleans ▁surrender ed . ▁ ▁V icks burg ▁Nor folk ▁Pack et ▁bomb arded ▁V icks burg , ▁Mississippi ▁ 2 7 ▁June ▁through ▁ 8 ▁July ▁ 1 8 6 2 ▁supporting ▁Far rag ut ▁during ▁his ▁run ▁past ▁the ▁batter ies ▁to ▁meet ▁Flag ▁Officer ▁Davis ' s ▁Western ▁Fl ot illa . ▁Following ▁this ▁operation ▁the ▁sch oon