Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-03-13
THE ATTACK UPON MOBILE.
Progress Of the BOlnbardment by
Farragut's Fleet.
Fort Powell Reported Impregnable,
BLocKADING FLEET, OFF MoBnE,I
FEB. %, 1864. {
THE BoMBARDMENT STILL GOING on

| SIN THE EbODlbAfDhlbNI bIlLL GOING ON. ~
The mortar boats are still bombarding
Fort Powell, assisted by the glnboats CAL
houn, Jackson, SabagO and Octorara. The
| fire from the fort is evidently failing, to
| judge from the spirited manner In which it
| first replied to the fleet on the opening of
the bombardment on Tuesday last.
| We are looking for the surrender of the
| fort at every moment, as 1t cannot hold out
long against the vigorous fire directed upon
\ it.. Shells from the gunboats and bombs
| from the mortars can be distinctly seen
striking and bursting in and over the fort.
The mortar fleet and gunboats are inside
Dauphin Island Admiral Farragut is on
the Calhoun.
i. FARRAGUT's PLAN AS DEVELOPED
BY glancing at the map it will be seen
that the Admiral probably intends silencing
! the guns of Fort POWELL which commands
Grants Pass, for the purpose of sending his
mosquito fleet through the Pass into the
harbor of Mobile. BY doing so he will cut
off Forts Gaines and Morgan. rt
The channel through Grants Pass allows
vessels drawing no more than seven and a
half feet to pass up, but those drawing more
are compelled to go by Mobile Point and
between Forts Gaines and Morgan. This is
done by vessels keeping to the shore going
east passing between Petit Bois Island and
Dauphine Island, round the latter, and then
between the forts into the harbor of Mobile.
| An enemy's vessel would be compelled to
pass under the guns of Fort Morgan, on ac-
count of the Instructions placed in the
channel. ~ .
Fort Gaines cannot be approached on ac-
count of the shallowness Of the water.
WHAT FARRkGUT WILL HAVE TO ENCOUNTER.
When Fort Powell surrenders Admiral
Farragut will have thirty miles to proceed
before he can arrive at Mobile, nine of
which are through narrow channel, with
| its banks fortified the whole distance. OBJ
structions are again placed entirely across
the channel three miles from the city, in
such a way that vessels are compelled to
pass under the guns of two iron-clad forts
and battery from the shore.
On the west side of Mobile line of in
trenchments passes completely around the
city, inside of which are forts and. powerful
batteries. Indeed, Mobile is defended very
stronghold every point. Spiles are driven
in, the channel, and vessel laden with
| stone is ready to be sunk at any moment to
make the distractions complete.
| Admiral Farragut has, as yet, done moth
| ing against Forts Morgan and Gaines; and
it Is probable that he will not attempt any
thing against these powerful forts with
the fleet he has here, as the channel is very
narrow. the buoys have all been removed,
and distractions placedin in every direction.
| Many believe that Mobile cannot be taken
byswaterawith this feet and. that Admiral
/ Farragut win be compelled to return to
New Orleans for more powerful vessels.
| The rebel ram Tennessee still lies in Mo-
bile Bay,
| REBEL PRoCLAMATIoNs.
L sc al. OF 1f no1I
as no less than thirty thousand started from
the city few days ago to. meet Sherman,
who was then reported to be at Schubutah.
The following, ispublished in the Mobile
| TO THE PEOPLE OF MOBILE.
Your city is about to be attacked by the
enemy. Mobile must be defended at every
hazard and to the last extremity. TO do
this effectively, all who o-cannot fight must
leave the city. The brave defenders of the
city can fight with more energy and enth, :
siasm when they feel assured that the noble
women and children are out of danger. /
appeal to the patriotic non-combatants to
leave for the interior, The, people of the
interior towns and the planters the coun-
try will receive and provide support for all
who 60. The patriotic of this city will see
the Importance and necessity Of needing
III = w
| glorious cause iii which we fight will not
fhesitate to obey the call which patriotism
THos. II. WATTS, /
| Governor of Alabama.
Mobile, Ala, Feb. ID, 1864.
| MOBILE. Feb. 13, 1864.
MY DEAR SIR-I observe little DISPOSE
| ton on the part of n-combatants to leave
Mobile. Please use every means in your
| powertoinduce them TO do so without de-
lay. The Governor of Alabama assures me
that lie will take measures to secure to. the
people au asylum in the. upper region of
country bordering the rivers above here.
| l cannot believe that the kind and hospita-
| BILE people of Mobile, who have for years
been opening their houses to the homeless
refugees from other parts of the confedera-
cy, will fail to receive ready welcome and
kind protection, during the attack on their
homes. Patriotism demands tlnt they leave
the city for while TO those who can de-
fend It, Prudence urges that they make no
you here with,transportation The Cover
nor says he viii make proper arrangements
} tforthSir reception and entertainmentab above.
Very truly and respectfully yours,
~,tTs ne ~ DABNEY H. MAURy,
sae n ~. Major General Commanding.
His Honor Mayor SLOUGH.
~. 80, ~, PROCLAMATION.
.MAyoR's oFFIcE, MoBILE, Feb. 25, 1884.
CITIZENS OF MoBILE:-I have the honor
| to lay before you the following ngcommunici-
lHtion, addressed to me by our commanding
| General, requesting that i use every means
in my power &c induce the non-combatants
to leave the city without delay. Fellow
citizens, our city in all probability will be
attacked In q very short time by the enemy.
/ You can not doubt the propriety and pure
motives Of the General in urging all nom
combatants to leave eimmediately. Thecity
may, and likely, will be, besieged. Enough
| Is known at least to make 1t prudent to pre-
pare for the worst. You must know that
! f.besieged thelsoldiery and citizens can be
provided fol, only for a certain length Of
| time, and every one who leaves 1t furnishes
SO much more food for the soldier. Our
Governor also requests thai you leave, and
l.xol, .oe tt,af bo will bic largo infuQnQp