Mr. George Lee Brent will report to you as recorder.
You will inquire into the whole official conduct of Commander John K. Mitchell, Confederate States navy, while in command of the steamer "Louisiana," and in charge of the vessels of the Confederate States navy at and below New Orleans; and report the same to this Department, with your opinion whether the said officer did, or did not, do all in his power to sustain the honor of the flag, and prevent the enemy from ascending the Mississippi river, and if he did not, to what extent did he fail to do so.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
Flag Officer Samuel Barren, Confederate States Navy,
Commanding, &c., James River, Virginia.
FINDING.
"That Commander Mitchell assumed command of the Louisiana at New Orleans on the 20th April, 1862; and from that time until the destruction of the vessel only a period of eight days was embraced.
"That the whole force under his command consisted of the Louisiana, the McRae, the Manassas, the Jackson and one launch.
"That on the day after he took command, Captain Mitchell descended the river Mississippi in the Louisiana, and took up a position on the left bank of the river, about half a mile above Fort Saint Phillip.
"That on leaving New Orleans the machinery of the Louisiana was incomplete, her motive power imperfect, and her battery improperly mounted.
"That she could not, on a fair trial, stem the current of the Mississippi with her own motive power, aided by two steam tugs.
"That every exertion was made by Commander Mitchell, the officers and mechanics, to get the "Louisiana" in a proper state of efficiency for the defence of the passage of the river, and that the defects in the mounting of the battery had been remedied, and the battery served with efficiency, with the exception of two guns out of place.
"It appears that a request, or order, was sent by General Duncan, commanding Fort Jackson, to Commander Mitchell, to change the position of the Louisiana to a point lower down stream, which by a council of officers was unanimously deemed impracticable, and to a certain extent impossible, on account of the great depth of water, and that such change of position would endanger the safety of the Louisiana. That in the position General Duncan desired the Louisiana to assume, she would have been in range of the mortar boats of the enemy, and perfectly helpless, inasmuch as she could not give her guns more than five (5) degrees elevation—not enough to reach the enemy.
"That the best disposition possible was made of the vessels under
