The Confederate Navy came under fire for the loss of New Orleans for its supposed "inaction" when Farragut was passing the two Confederate forts. Commander John K. Mitchell, second in command to Commodore Whittle pointed out several of the Louisiana's shortcomings (other than the ones already pointed out) which could have impacted her usefulness.
1. The arrangement of the paddlewheels meant that the after wheel was always in the wash of the other, with the result of loss of power.
2. The wash also created an eddy at the rudders making it impossible to steer.
3. The gunports were too small to allow either elevation or traverse. Consequently, the Louisiana would have to fight at close range, and furthermore, her guns covered only 40 degrees azimuth.
4. The gundeck was uninhabitable during the summer, particularly when the boilers were in use.
So There You have It. --Old B-Runner
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