Video: '[1862] The Battle of New Orleans'

(Friday, April 25, 1862, 2:00 p.m. local time, during the Capture of New Orleans, part of the American Civil War) — A Union fleet commanded by Flag Officer David G. Farragut captured the city of New Orleans today, which had been left defenseless after Confederate Gen. Mansfield Lovell and his 4,000 troops withdrew.

At 2:00 p.m. today, Farragut sent Captain Bailey, First Division Commander from the USS Cayuga, to accept the surrender of the city. Armed mobs within the city defied the Union officers and marines sent to city hall.

Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.2of9.A.Very.Bloody.Affair.' (New Orleans captured at 52:08)

General Lovell and Mayor Monroe refused to surrender the city. William B. Mumford pulled down a Union flag raised over the former U.S. mint by marines of the USS Pensacola and the mob destroyed it. Farragut did not destroy the city in response but moved upriver to subdue fortifications north of the city.

On April 29, Farragut and 250 marines from the USS Hartford removed the Louisiana State flag from the City Hall.

By May 2, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward declared New Orleans “recovered” and “mails are allowed to pass.