New Orleans
New Orleans sat north of the Mississippi river, and was a major trading center for the South. For this reason, it was essential that the North blockaded it in order to deprive the Confederates of resources. This was part of the North's Anaconda plan; to divide the South along the Mississippi.
Though Farragut was born in the South, he sided with the North because he fought for the United States in previous wars and felt loyal to the Union. Farragut served in the Navy during the Civil War, becoming a flag officer, but the Battle of New Orleans made him famous. He commanded the Hartford steam warship and led an 18-ship fleet to New Orleans from the South, on the Mississippi river.
Farragut's instructions were to bomb the two forts south of New Orleans until they surrendered. However, after 2 days of bombarding the forts, they still had not surrendered. Farragut decided to change the strategy and try to run past the forts to the city itself. This was dangerous, but Farragut believed it was better than continuing to shell the forts until the boats ran out of ammunition. At night, the boats attempted to slip past. However, the forts spotted them as they got closer. They opened fire on the ships. The ships fought back against the forts and Confederate warships for 5 days until they reached New Orleans. Three days later, the forts on the river surrendered, and the Union regained control of New Orleans.