 On April 25, 1862, the day before New Orleans fell to the US Navy fleet under Admiral David Farragut, the Confederate state government decided to abandon Baton Rouge, moving first to Opelousas, and then to Shreveport.All cotton in the area was set afire to prevent it falling into Union hands.On May 9, Navy Commander James S. Palmer of the federal gunboat landed at the town wharf and took possession, without resistance, of the Pentagon Barracks and the arsenal.