of North Carolina. He spent his early boyhood in New Orleans.
Both his first and second wives came from Virginia; and he made
his home at Norfolk. On the outbreak of the war, however, he
immediately went North and applied for employment with the Union
fleet.

Farragut was the oldest of the five great leaders, being now
sixty years of age, while Lee was fifty-five, Sherman forty-two,
Grant forty, and Jackson thirty-eight. He was, however, fit as an
athlete in training, able to turn a handspring on his birthday
and to hold his own in swordsmanship against any of his officers.
Of middle height, strong build, and rather plain features, he did
not attract attention in a crowd. But his alert and upright
carriage, keenly interested look, and genial smile impressed all
who ever knew him with a sense of native kindliness and power.
Though far too great a master of the art of war to interfere with
his subordinates he always took care to understand their duties
from their own points of view so that he could control every part
of the complex naval instruments of war--human and material
alike--with a sure and inspiring touch. His one weakness as a
leader was his generous inclination to give subordinates the
chance of distinguishing themselves when they could have done
more useful service in a less conspicuous position.

Farragut's base at Ship Island was about a hundred miles east
from the Confederate Forts Jackson and St. Philip. These forts
guarded the entrance to the Mississippi. Ninety miles above them
stood New Orleans, to which they gave protection and from which
they drew all their supplies. The result of a conference at
Washington was an order from Welles to "reduce the defenses which