The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-08-19
Official Report of Admiral Farragut.
The following ofIicid dispatches have
boen received By the Navy Department;

lhe following otncin despatches nave
boen received By the Navy Department;
FLAG SHIP HARTFORD,
MOBILE BAY, Aug. 8.
SIR al have tho honor to report to the
Department, that this m6rning ! entered
Mobile Bay, passing between Forts Morgan
and Gaines, aud eDcouDtering the rebel ram
Tennessee and gunboats OF the enemy viz I:
Selma, Morgan, and Gaines. Tho attacking
fleet was undor way by $40, A. M, in tho
following otder:
The Brooklyn with tho Octorora on her
port side, the Hartford with tho Metacomot,
the Richmond with the Port Royal, tho
Lackawana with the Seminole, the Monon
gahela with tho Tecumseh, the Ossipeo with
tho Stosco, and tho Oneida with the Galena.
On the starboard OF tho fleet was the posi-
ton of the Monitors and iron clads.
Fort Morgan opened upon US at ton mi
nutus past seven clock, and soon after this,
tho action became lively.
As we steamed up tho main ship channel,
there was somo difficulty ahead. and the
Hartford passed en- ahead of tho Brooklyn
At forty minutes past seven the monitor
Tecumseh was struck by a torpedo and sunk,
going down very rapidly, and carrying with
her all tho officers and crew with tho oxcep.
ton of tho pilot and eight or ton men, who
wero saved by a boat that was sent from the
Mctacomet
l ordered tho Metacomet to cast off and
90 in pursuit of them, one of which (the Sci.
MAJ she succeeded in capturing.
All the vessels had passed tho forts by
$50, but the rebe! ram Tennessee was still
apparently unujur in our rear. A signal
was at once made to all the nuet to turn
again and attack the ram, not only with
guns, but with orders TO run her down at
full speed.
The Mopopgrhela was tho first that struck
hor, and though she may have injured her
badly, yet she did not succeed in disabling
her. The Lackawana also struck her, but
Intellectually. Tho flagship gave bor SO.
ycro shock with hor bow, and as st O passed
irud u whole port broadside of solid inch
sh0., with thirteen pounds Of powder, at q
distance of not more than Twelve feet. The
iron ciads were closing upon her, and the
Hartford and tho rest of the fleet wero bear
ing down upon her, when at 10 A. NJ. she
surrendered.
The rest of the rebel fleet, viz, the Nor.
gan aud the Gaines, succeeded in ge:tiug
back under the projection of Fort Morgan.
Thus terminated the action of the day.
Admiral Buchanan sent me his sword, be.
ing himsoIf badly wounded with compound
fracture OF the leg. which il is supposed will
have TO be ampu.ated. Having had many
OF nv own men wounded, and the surgeon
of tho Tennessee being very desirous to
have Admiral Buchanan removed to the
hr rspitai, | sent a flag of truce to the com.
manding officer of Fort Morgan-Brigadier
General Richard L.. Page--to say that if he
would allow the woundek OF tho fleet as
we'll as their own to be taken to Pousacola,
where they could be better cared for than
hero, would send out one OF Our vessels,
provided she would bo permitted to retnrn,
bringing back what she did not lako off -
Gon. Page consented, and tho Metacomet
was dispatched. The tota! loss on our side
is 40 killed and SS wounded. On the rebel
ram Tennessee 90 officers and about 40
nen were captured. On tho Selma we're
taken ninety officers and mon.
will send detailed dispatch BY tho first
opportunity.
Very resp'y. your ob't serv't.
ID. G. FARRAGUT,
Commanding GunbOat Squadron.
To Hon. Gideon Wellos, Secretary of The
Navy. /