Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-09-06
IHAuTuHIF HhHIEVHNl
WEST GULF BLoCRADING SQUADRON,

ragut;
WEST GULF BLoCKADING SQUADRON,
MoBILB BAY, August 20, 1864.
Sin: had the honor, in my despatch No. 81,
to state to the Department that Fort Morgan
had surrendered, on the 23d instant, to the army
and navy, though at the time that despatch was
written and mailed the ceremony Of surrender
had not actually taken place.
1t was also discovered that General Page and
several Of his officers had DO swords to deliver
IN. and further, that some Of those which were
surrendered had been broken. The whole con-
duct of the officers at Fort Gaines and Fort
Morgan presents such striking contrast in
moral principle that l cannot fail to remark
upou it, Col. Anderson who commanded the
former, finding himself in q position perfectly
nntenable and encountered with supeIiluous
number of conscripts, many Of whom were boys,
determined to surrender fort which he could
not defend.
The correspondence preliminary to that event
is herewith forwarded, marked Nos l, 2, 8 and
The department will perceive the terms Of
capitulation were the same as in the case OF
Fort Gaines General Page endeavored to OBJ
tain more favorable terms, but without success
regret to state that after the assembling OF
the rebel officers at the appointed hour Of . r.
VI for the surrender outside Of the fort, it was
discovered on an examination of the interior
tlut most of the guns were spiked, many OF the
gun carriages Wantonly injured, and the arms,
ammunition, and provisions, ETC., destroyed,
and there was every reason to believe that this
ha been done after the white hag had been
raised
| ln ihis determination he was supported by all
his officers save one but from the moment he
hois,ei the white flag ho SC rupulously kept
| eyl rythng intact, and in that condition deliver
cd ii ever, whilst General Page and his officers
NTH childish spitefulness, destroyed The guns
which they hed said they would defend TO the
last, but which they never defended ut all, and
threw away or broke those weapons which they
had not the manliness 10 use aguinst ihoir enc
mics fog Fort Morgan never fred gun after
the commencement Of the bombardmeut, and tho
advanced pickets of our army were actually on
its glacis.
As before stated the ceremony of surrender
took place at Q. p, NJ, aud that same afternoon
all the garrison were sent to New Orleans in the
United states steamers Tennessee aud Blenville,
where they arrived safely.
Very respectfully, your obedent servant,
d. g. FAnRAGUr, Rear Admiral,
Commanding W. G. Is. S.
Hon. GIBSON WELLS, Secretary of the Navy,
Wasl iugtoa.
FoRT MoRoAN. August %, 1864
Rear dmirdl d. q. Fdrrdgai, Z. S. NJ, Agjor
General Corden Granger, u. S. Il:
GENTLHMBN The further sacrifice Of life
being unnecessary, and my sick and wounded
suffering and being exposed, humanity demands
TINT / ask for telma Of eapitulatlon.
Very respectfully, &C., r. L; PAGE,
Brigadier General G. S. A.
HEADeUARrGRs U s. FoRcrs
MoDILE BAY, August %, 1864.
have notified Admiral Fariagut of your de-
sire TO capituate. Until his arrival, hostilidel
will be suspended, when your proposal will be
duly considered.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. GRANGER,
Major General U. s. A., Commanding.
To Brigadier General Il. L. PAGE, Commanding
at Fort Morgan,
HEADQUARTERs U. s. FoRoEs,
Noble BAY, August %, 1864.
Brigadier General e. L. Page, Commanding bo'
Morgan;
GENERAL: In reply to your communication q
t this date, received by Captain Taylor, askin
/ for terms Of capiulat:on, we have to say tha
s the only terms we can make are 1st. The un
conditional surrender of yourself and the gar
1 risun of Fort Morgan, with all of the publ
property within its limits, and in the eame con
dtion us it is now.
s I'd. The treatment which is in conformit
y with the custom of the most civilized nations Il
y wards prisoners of war.
a Sd. Private property, with the exception
arms, will be respected
F. +. DnAyTON, Captain U. S. N,
On the part of Admiral Farragul, COmmandin
I, the naval forces
y r. ARNOLD, Brig Gen. U. S. A.,
On the part of Gen. Granger, Commanding
S. forces
FORT MoRGAN. August %, 1864.
Captain Drayton U. S. ~. Drigadiv Geacr
Il. Arnold y. $ A., acting on The part re
pscipsly Of admiral Fdrrdyui and Geaey
" Granger;
E GEn1LsMEN Your conditions u the commit
ncaton Of to-day are accepted, but l have st
to reques; that the terms asked with my sick
granted aud inserted in the captulation.
will b, prepared 10 surrender at 2 ocl G
and to embark Us soon as possible.
Respectfully, Sc, r. L. PAGE,
Brigadier General c. S. a.