USS De Soto-- Part 4: Becomes Part of the WGBS

The De Soto captured the schooner Major Barbour off the Isle Demieres, Louisiana on January 28, 1862.  It was carrying 8 barrels of gunpowder and 198 cases of gunpowder, nitrate, sulfur and percussion caps.  On February 9 another schooner, the Star, out of Bayou Lafourche.

PART OF THE WEST GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON

In late February 1862, Farragut arrived at Key West in his flagship, the USS Hartford.  The Gulf Blockading squadron was thereupon split into two halves and he went with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron (WGBS) and the De Soto became a part of it.

Farragut's orders were to capture New Orleans.

Even though the De Soto was in the WGBS, it continued patrolling off Barataria.  It also served as a mobile storeship with extra bread and ordnance supplies.

--Old B-Runner