Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-16
VERY BRISK SKIRMISHING
The Enemy are in Line of Battle.
THE INDIAN TROUBLES.
From Shernan's Army.
Official Report Of the Fight in Mo-
bile BAY.

Official Report Of the Fight in Mo-
bile BAY.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15-The following
official dispatches have been received by
the Navy Department:
FLAGSHIP HARTFoRD)
MOBILE BAY, August 5.
SIR:-I have the honor to report to the
Department that this morning | entered
Mobile Bay, passing between forts Morgan
and Gaines, and encountered the rebel ram
Tennessee, and gunboats of the enemy,
viz: Selma, Morgan and Gaines. The at
tacking fleet was under way by 5:45 A. NJ,
I'm the following order the Brooklyn, with
the Octorona Oh her port side; the Hartford,
with the Metacomet; the Richmond, with
the Port Royal; the Lacawana, with the
Seminole; the Monongahala, with the Te-
cumseh; the Osspee, with the Itasco, and
the Oneida, with the Galena. On the STAR
board of the fleet was the proper position
of theMonitors or iron clads. Fort Morgan
opened upon us at ten minutes past seven
o'clock, and soon after. this the action be-
came lively. AS we steamed up the main
ship channel there was some difficulty
ahead, and the Hartford passed on ahead of
the Brooklyn.
At 40 minutes past z, the Monitor Tecum-
sch was struck by torpedo and sunk, 60
ing down very rapidly, and carrying down
with her all the officers and crew, with the
exception of the pilot and eight or ten men,
who were saved by boat that sent from
the Matacomet, which was alongside of
me. The Hartford had passed the boats
before o'clock. Finding myself raked by
the rebel gunboats, ordered the Mata-
comet to cast off, and 90 in pursuit of them,
one of which, the Selma she succeeded in
capturing. ...
All the vessels had passed the forts by
$50, but the rebel ram was still apparently
uninjured in our rear. A signal was at
once made to all the fleet to return again
and attack the ram, not only with guns,
but with orders to run her down at full
speed. The Monongahela was the first
that struck her, and though she may have
injured her badly, yet she did not succeed
in disabling her,.
The Lackawana also struck her, but in
effectually. The flagship gave her Sc
we're shock with her bow, and as she passed
fired into her whole port broadside of
solid nine inch shot and thirteen pounds of
powder, at distance of not more than
twelve feet. The ironclads were closing
upon her, and the Hartford and the rest of
the fleet were bearing down upon her, when
at 10 o'clock she surrendered. The rest of
the rebel fleet, viz: The Morgan and the
Gaines, succeeded in getting back under
the protection of Fort Morgan.
This terminated the action of the day.
Admiral Buchanan sent me his sword, be-
ing himself badly wounded with a COM
pound fracture of the leg, which it is sup
posed will have to be amputated.
Having had many of my own men wound
ed and the surgeon of the Tennessee being
very desirous to have Admiral Buchanan
to the hospital, L sent flag of
truce to the commanding officer of fort
Morgan, Brig. Gen. Richard L. Page, to say
that if he would allow the wounded of t .e
fleet as well as their own to be taken to
Pensacola, where they could be better cared
for than here, would send out one of our
vessels, provided she would be permitted to
return bringing back what she did not take
out. Gen. Page consented and the Meta
comet was despatched. Total loss on our
side forty killed and eighty-eight wounded.
On the rebel ram Tennessee were captured
twenty officers and about one hundred and
seventy men; on the Selma were taken
ninety officers and men. will send de-
tailed dispatch by the first opportunity.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ID. G. FARRAGUT,
r. A. G. w. G. B. Squadron.
To Hon. GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary of the |
Navy.