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morning General Duncan surrendered. Whilethe terms were arranged in the cabin of theHarriet Lane, with flags of truce flying at hermasthead and on both the forts, the Louisiana ,by accident unmoored, came blundering down withthe current, all aflame, her shotted guns dischar-ging to right and left, until she suddenly blewup, rolling the Harriet Lane over on her beam-ends, and shaking all the officers out of their seats.A moment later the explosion would have killedfriend and foe alike. It was simple carelessnesson the part of the men who were destroying theuseless hulk.
The surrender of the forts allowed the trans-ports with Butler’s troops to ascend the river.On the 29th, while they were expected but beforetheir arrival, a small detachment of marines fromFarragut’s fleet landed in the city and hoistedthe stars and stripes over one of the public build-ings. Scarcely had they left the spot when a mannamed Mumford hauled down the flag for the popu-lace to trample under foot and drag through themud. The marines returned and hoisted another,and guarded it till May 1, when Butler arrivedand took possession of the city, which he ruledtill the middle of the next December. The selec-tion of such a man for such a command was aneedless though unintentional insult to the con-