New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-08

Eew.Orleans Mobile and Port Royal either Of those
operatons could have been repeated at that point Dut
by reason Of the soaness Of the water an exclusively
naval operation cannot be relied upon 10 be successful
WESTERN GULF SQUADRON.
An object earnestly cherished by the navy but which
had been delayed for army cooperation was the posses
siou oi the bay of Mobile. In anticipation that this
would receive early attention, RearAdmirai Tauagut
rc'oncd lis squadron in January, but the operation
sill further postponed for military demonstrations
10 Texas md on Red River.
Commodore Bell, who had been left in charge, active
" co0peratcd with tie army in lis movements ior the
Occupation Of certain points in Texas. o-
he possession and occupation OF Brownsylle Diie;y
mentioned IN my last report was followed ~ nv i
movement at Bfazos. ATdusas and CaDeiio fasses, III
all Of which the naval forces detailed by Coinm1e4re
Bell and placed under command of tomhabuei a. H.
strong Afforded all required assistance A., D.;
Prior to tho occupation OF The LETT banh % ,he mo
Graade the mouth OF that river had poem nhaue .lc ~,
devious OF vessels Of yGrIcus DatOnGtes engaseu III
violating indirectly. tie blockade; the ueIoru'hu
condtioEo OF Mexico, and tire mutual nights oi 5e ."o
countries on the river aud at Its entrance a uts ~
usual facilities To the Illicit traders. tOmhano'I StiouS
rapOrtei some sixty vessels anchored Ill the MeAlcah
waters VI the lilo GTande, carrying on an extensive
trade chiefly in cotton, with the Eebes through hlata'
NOES which Lad mus suddenly become great com,
-rrc.l mart THIS traffic. which had been prosecuted
with suocoss IN consequence Of onr inahhty, snder
treaty sti1uatious 10 completely blockade the RIO
Ggande ciipctuaiy stopped ty the occupation OF
II Townsville which was followed by the Presidents
anna. GA of February u. leC4 relaxing COLLATION.
ally, tine blockade that rIrt.
possession al the atNcFtl VI lth"s
Of short ouTn.,Oa. After few months Occupation we
military forces ware withdrawn, and the duty 0i guard
Ing ilat extensive coast was thus again deNoNed csiu
sis ely upoa the navy. Under orders ct August ~ 10
Rcsr.h 1niral FarIacut the blockade was resumed on
the 9.L % September and has been since maintained.
Tie bay Of Mobile, guarded at iis entrance ny Two
imposing ioi'ihcptiohs eonsrHSiea ~ V hpad ond
crmout in former years, was diiicnt 70 piOckaue anu
was 0ac the principal ports for Illicit trade win the
Rebels l. lad been the steady purpose OF ths pclrt'
mont 20 get possession ;at bay as soon as operaos
tfnA ffaDT.. ftrf morn
Sufficient cooperating military force for the expedtion
But repeated cooperative movements having ms par
pose in view we:e commenced ana then anand9neq LOT
army operations elsewhere In tie meantime tic Rep
els aynng themselves of this delay and of the adVal
tagcs OF this position. proceeded TO me coecton hnu
construction cf Formidable navy with vac" VI i"ia
itc the blockade ,
The Information received was Of such character
that the Department deemed Il important tna' f'hT
Admiral iarraEut should resume his continue WIN
he dill. and the len Of January arrived on MVnc.
III wac 10 part OF the plans intentions OF thdt oHceT
OF the Department TO GwG! The offensive movements
of ihc Rebel commander TO attack not 70 deisnd was
nis policy; and IL with some lmlHtlencc thhi nc
awaited .Ae 10 justify him in putting that pohcy
into successful operation. Knowing the GisadvartAGe
Of atoeAine iron.casoG Tessels win woodep oles %
that too. in the face and under the guns OF he'! o
without cC0porntinr land force ne uclefreu e
movement until The necessary elements OF success eou
reach him. But In tie mean tine he stood ever read5
10 meet and measure his strength with fhc iron clad
feet o. buchanan should II venture TO come out Ibus
lie constantly threatened an attack on MOBILE thereD!
aiding the army ia Is general mcYelnents elsewhere:
Military cooperation secured IN The carry part OF
August and two irOa-caGs from james River and two
from tie Mississ having reached LIN. Rear Adhlfsi
farTaeuf, ct $50 O'Clock on the morning Oh nc ~ "a
August got his feet under way and entered Mobile
Biy, passing between Forts Morgan ard Games
S.encng their guns as lie passed Be encountered INC
RCbcl squadron. which AZ 10 o'clock was dispersed
capturcd or destroyed. This engagement in many re
spec,s one ofthe most remarkable on record and which
added new luSter 10 The renOWn Of Rear-AGnlai
FGrGagut, was not without serious loss on nc par OF
lis beet The most serious OF these was me
o. tie iron. clad Tocumseh, OF his most formidable
vessels by torpedo early in the action. and the loeS OF
her gallant commander, II. 4. NJ Craven. and nearly
al o: ler brave officers ard crew. IL was from tic
rccunsch that the fist sho; fred At Fort Morgan
The total CASUALTIES not including those OF the Iecu'
sell Gf!lwo killed, aud one hundred and severn!
0unded
Meiacomet and tie retreat Of two others under the
Guns Of lort Morgan tie iTon.ciad ram Tennessee
bearing TIE fag Of The Rebel Adm ral Blchanau nan
tanned the contest For while The action was herco
and sluguiBary. The wooden ships cefantlS cncoun'
tered the Tennessee although her amor ne lmpeF
vious their ruus. while orr ron-cads ea2Pei CO.
" tn their formidable antagonist. The Manhattan
with one Of her l5uch shot broke through Tie aImcr
OF the Tennessee and monitor SHOT also disabled we
steering gear. and thus rendered her hepsss ~ ~
men were captured in this vessel and 90 officers ana
men in tie Seine. Tie capture OF these two vessels
and tie rcireet of the two remaining Eehe gunooAis
under the guns Of Port Morgan mated the glorious
battle of the 9Th Of August.
On me following day one 81 the ifoncinds sheilcd
Fort Gaines with such effect that Col Andcr.Gn. we
commander sent a communication 70 Rear-Admira
FaIragut Offering to surTcLder. Gen Granger. CON
Inandug The United States military iorccs was cont or
speetiye parties on board Of the Hartford
From this time onward movements were IN progfcts
for capturing Fort Morgan, and on The ia OF Augns'
at day dawn. bombardncnt was opened irom mo
shore batteries the monitors ard ship inside and the
vessels outside the bay. ~ an Of the sd white
flag was displayed By tho Rebels, and at o'clock p M
the fort was Internationally Surrendered 20 the navy
and army OF tie United States naval shore battery
did good service Oh this OCCASION
Fort Powell had been already ATTACKED on TIE night
Of the 9TH and Blown u the guns falling into our
The capture Of Forts Powell, Games ard Morgan,
aud the destruction Of the EeJe. feet. gave us Vos'
session OF the bay. ana closed he port 70 a gress or
ecrcss of blockaderunncrs This wa s that was con.
teaplatcd Possession Of the city Of Mobile could not
make the blockade eifectual ard without sni-
fcient cooperating Land force, which could not then be
spared TO take ana hold tAe pce 4lheI oeihos' @oD
was not advisable. -.
s,rewn with torpedoes, and RS late ~ me I'm o. sep
ternber Rear Admiral FrTr0cut wrote tie department
tbat he was stl engaged IN removing them one hnnd'
red il was reported had been placed in the bay by the
Rebels. ......
The limits ~ the Eastern Gu squadron have been ex.
tended so rs 10 embrace within its cruising grounds the
waters of tae Bahsmss and the vicinity Of Cuba.
Oh the 9Th Of Aug.t Aeths hcei.AuMiiai balies'
whose health was suffering from the debintailng nu'
er.e Of tbe climate turned The command OF the
soua,Ion by permission OF the department. 20 Captain
Theodore T. Greene. the officer neat IN rank ana came
north Captan Greene continued IN command uhu Tue
J9h Of October when be relieved by Acting I.car'
Admiral &. X. StIibling
Notwithstanding the sanitary precautions adopted
for thc health OF this squadron. many 81 the vessels
failed 10 escape Tire infection of the yellow fever, so
much and so Justly dreaded and had 10 seeh northern
climate during the summer The system 81 promptly
or1yng vessels to healthier locality tic moment they
became infected has been in its effects sanitary the
raysges OF the disease have thereby been checked ard
the sbiIs complement rcftorea 10 tie usua stand