His duty was that of serving on the board appointed by Congress to retire superannuated officers from the active service.

This duty completed, he was appointed to the command of the expedition organized for the capture of New Orleans.

He sailed from Hampton Roads on the 3d of February, 1862, in the flagship _Hartford_ and arrived seventeen days later at Ship Island, the place of rendezvous.

There he set to work to make his arrangements for the great task which was wholly different from any that had ever engaged his attention.

But how well he completed this grand work, he being the real supervisor and superintendent, has been referred to in a previous chapter and is told in every history of our country.
[Illustration: CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS--ATTACK ON FORT PHILIP.] The skill and courage displayed by Farragut in the capture of New Orleans attracted national attention and added greatly to his reputation.