The New York herald., 1864-08-27

OF their sidee and revove by means OF eoswheei
inside shot striking them, however. quite sure 70
dsarrapge them, especially Open Three OF them were
during the action and shot entirely away
Her armament consists of six red guns OF the Brooks
palerntwo Of and three quarters Inch bore on each
broadside, aud seyen.inch bore either epd Tho
bow and stern guns are pivoted 10 work out Of
elther OF these portfolios, straight ahead, OF
outside OF the casemates covered with two
inch iron plates Her casemates overhang tho sides
o. tne vessel somewhst after the construction OF our
MONITORS, 80 as to Afford greater protection 10 the
hull. Her boilers the hold below the berth deck,
being at least six feet below tho Her engines
are amdshtps but rinng portion OF them being above
the water line. and that portion securely protected by
the casemates She is driven by two high
gnes Of great power and splendid hnsh though not new
for the vessel. They takon from steamer
that formerly on the Alabama river. These drive,
below the water as to be removed from any danger from
an enemys shot, Her pilot house and lookout for the
commanding officer in action under the casemates for
ward and undHtB guishabe by tho greater hsght
(about two feet OF the cassmates at that point Her
rudder CHAINS pass under the grating that covers tho
casemates TO the after end OF he and then down TO the
deck under the iron that that end OF toe
casemates Thoy then along the deck, being pro-
eced me ely by an inverted trough iron about
inch thick. This was the most detective arrange
ment about tho ship and her greatest weakness The
deck, below the water line and, although close and
poorly ventilated spacious and well arranged. AZ
has been sa'd this formidable craft scarcely Injured
at all durng the action Fifteen minutes after the sur
render sufhoed to repair her rudder chains, and
smokcstack brought from New Orleans in couple OF
herself at work hammerng against the walls OF Morgan
II Is said that she cost the rebel government two mions
money iron. .clads she is worth double that to
CAPTURE or rBE SELMA.
During the fight with the Tennessee the Selma, Hunts
willie and several other rebel attempted
the bay to Mobile but the watchful OF Farrart
detected the dodge and several swift sunboats wore
started In pursuit The Meacomet, Captain Jowet over
verhaned the Selma about ve miles up the bay, and i'm
mediately opened on her The latter took no time to
reply but crowded her steam 70 GROSS Dog river bar
The promised to Be very exciting ono
at hrst. but Il was soon apparent that the
aud was rapidly gaining on her, indeed 80 rapidly
dispel any hopes fears that the atter should
escape When within easy range the Mstaconret opened
her hundred.pounder Parrott the shell from which,
being admirably directed and timed. fell and exploded
directly the deck OF the rebel vessel disabling a. was
afterwards ascertained, every man aboard Of ber "
she hauled down her coors at once falling an easy
prize to the Metacomet.
The Selma was an improvised guDboat, being IN old
towboat With six heavy Brooks gums mounted upon her
Clad or anything approaching 70 ono She has no iron
armor, nor any prsensiOns TO any, She has no Gaze
nor any cover o. any TOT s men
by two immense arches stretching from bow TO stern,
giving her sort OF nondescrpt appearance, rising as
they do high over her enormous wheehouses She car
ried Grew Of about ninety men all told. The boat was
totally uninored in the action,
rKNpERs,
being lht draisbt vessels, by huaRug the easeru
shore Of the bay where the vory shoa managed
TO escape TO Mobile.
was badly rddled In the action though exactly what
exten. is un6nown or how great were .hs casualties @
the water line and canpaled ~ run under the guns
Of Morean carly in the asht. Here she sunk n .hoal
moving on Fort Morgan, burned. Her crew took her
small boats aud those Of tbe Ter nnsssss which bad been
left Morgan and ESCAPED In them 70 Mobile during
the night after the action .---..t... '.'ets
THE MORGAN
our aest a. much as possible evidently fearing to
counter any OF them. During the battle wh tne Ten
neses she started out from Morgan a' 70 20 70 the .
OF u and returned In the darkness q the following
night also escaped Mobile proonging her exist
encs few days.
The Army Cooperating.
The narration Of events transpriug shs water has
run rapidly that the little land force Dauphn
Island in the Of Fort Gaines has nearly for
gotten Bat they not inactive by any means nor
unnhuen 10 their contribution to the general success
Of the days operations. The bcdl Of tho naval eight
that succeeded ss passage Of Fort Morgan amsss
immediately under the guns Of Fort Gsinea Indeed n
seemed 70 be part 0 Buchanans plan, when he deter.
mined attack tho whole fleet, 10 draw them close
under this work and Fort Powell as possible in order
that he might have tho assistance Of tho heavy batteries
on those works. But his plans signsly failed. Thero
not water enough IN the vicinity Of Fort Powell
ana they therefore. avoided that locality Ru. Gaines
they could not well avoid Here, however, General
ance. HIS engineers had located . battery Rodman
auns-ths Second Connecticut-on . sand knoll within
RS mile o. So - ,h "rs and elevated %
served under the immediate direction OF Captain
cassen Of the Frs regular artillery chief OF artillery
on General Graugers staff and unerringly were
shots directed that the rebels best gum inch colup
biad, quickly disabled and their works completely
statement seems remarkable considering the size and
Of the rebel fort but It's truth s atesisd by Colo
for your (our land battery your (our) feet would
have had time Of 1t with the Tennessee" This
weakness Of Fort Gaines and doubtless was nvsntia in
determining it's surrender which occurred 30 soon after
sosr VICTORY.
Il truly great and glorious victory 70 enter that
hnrbor despite all the obstacles the rebes had placed In
the way, and all the appliances Of engineering skin and
artillery inventions that had been prepared 10 the course
OF twosyears' unremting labor ~ prevent II. II was
still glorious victory TO completely break sp aud
destroy tho considerable nucleus OF that had been
formed In harbor alone of which, has
been seen was vastly superior to any vesseo
ha Of our oss Bus the victory had been dearly bought
with the blood Of brave and loyal men, Not many hfgh
In rank had faen though there were none nobler than
Commander Craven and his uckless companions OF the
rscumseh than Lieutenant Prentice OF the honon
gahea who fell At bis post But chiefly ths losses wers
The aggregate losses IN the squadron were one
loes, though seemingly slight In comparison with
the heavy casualties that result from our sre-
he history Of naval ensassmsns and fully sssss the
character Of tho nght. When 70 the aggregate
ldde0 the nundfod ana tWonty NV VINO pofisncu Wuu
he Tecumseh swelling the humber to two hundred and
seventy four-two-thirds kled-t will be conceded Mat
The fight OF Mobile Pay the most severe that B 70
corded in the history Of naval engagsmsDts
MONITORS.
The Monitor ChickAsaw received one piunsing shot
through her deck otherwise she and her consorts Of
hat class passed through the action uninured always
excepting the Tecumseh NO one vas injured on any q
hem. The turrets OF all Of thsm save enc, refused 70
rcvove for unexplained reason soon after the ac
lion commenced, and they worked by yawing the
vessels about to bring their guns 70 boar, the same
With other vessels but slow process with boats that
handle easier than Dc these cram. Their ability TO
repel rife shot or heavy cabre was. however fully
hown, and thcir powerful guns, betse thus taken
Hose range OF the enemy with impunity, OF great
ervice Indeed, the Manhattan made the only penetra
shot into the Tennessee and the Chckssaw compelled
he vessel TO surrender. II was. therefore, and u
but usk 10 put the fact reeordthe Monitors that
naly beat the boasted yennessee the hrst Monitor
'eat the prototype Of that vessel the herrmac cartier
o the war, N Hampton Roads This fact, white II Is
rednable 70 thoss vessels class. does by any