The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-08-16
aFFAIRs At MOBILE.

W. s,o,od in our news column last week, that
three Confederate gunboats had fight with the
Yankee feet in Mobile Bay and were defeated.
That news has since been confirmed After the
navel FIGHT. Fort Powell was evacuated by our
troops and blown up, and Fort Gaines was surren-
dered to the enemy. The commander Of Fort
Gaines is accused Of treachery in surrenderng the
Fort and if the affair took place reported, he is
certainly traitor The following dispatch relates
to the matter:
MOBILE, Aug 8-We are painfully Inundated
to announce the surrender of Fort Gaines, at half
past nine o'clock this morning, by Colonel Charles
Anderson, Of the 2lst Alabama This powerful
work was provisioned for six months, and had a
garrison Of GOO men. He communicated with the
enemy's feet, by flag Of truce, without the sane
ton of General Page. General Page enquired, by
signal, what his purpose was, but received no an
= swer. His attention attracted by signal guns.
Page repeatedly telegraphed, "Hold on to your
fort" The same night, Page visited Fort Gaines
and found Anderson on board the Yankee feet
arranging terms Of capitulation. He left peremp
tory orders for Anderson, his return, not to
render, and relieving him Of his command. Al
though Fort Morgan signaliZed this morning, no
answer received, except hosting the Federal
flag over the ramparts. Andersons conduct is of:
fcially pronounced inexplicable and shameful.
New Orleans papers of the 9th, say of the ma
val fight that the Confederate boat Tennessee came
up through the yankee fleet Of wooden vessels fir
ing 5roadsdeB and made for the yankee boat Hart
ford, the flagship of Com. Farragut. The yankee
boat Monongahela bore down and struck the Ten
nessee amidships, and other yankee boats coming
vp and all pouring their broadsdes into the Ten
nessce, compelled her surrender. During the fight
- n L.
Hartford losta great many men The yankee
boat Tecumseh was blown up by torpedo opposite
Fort Morgan, and all the crew persisted except O.
TIE Dcfcaccs Of Mobile.
The Columbia Carolinian says: "Fort Morgan
alone remains to contest the advance of the Fede-
raj feet towards the city. But the work is strong,
we'll provisioned for six months, as we are inform
ed, and under the command of officer, who,
brave under any circumstances, has double
incentive to make a Thermopylean fight. The
distance from Fort Morgan to Mobile is about for
ty miles, and the way studded with strong bate
ries, all of which have to be reduced before the
enemy capture the city. 1t is possible that the
iron clads may the gauntlet of these, but trans
ports, troops and provisions cannot be made avail
able until the Federal flag floats in triumph from
Fort Morgan to Mobile. God grant that such a
disaster may never be recorded. AS regards the
alleged DETECTION Of Col Anderson, simple justice
demands that the public should await further
tidngs before yielding to grave suspicious which
affect bis honor, integrity and patriotism"
LATER FROM MOBILE.
Mobile, Aug 1l.-IIeavy firing is reported at
Fort Morgan on Tuesday and Wednesday. To-day
the telegraph wires were cut between the city and
the Fort. The Bay shore is covered with the
debris Of Federal vessels Large quantities of tar
pitch and turpentine have been burned to prevent
the enemy from getting it.
Troops daily arriving, and general good feel