The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-19

WASHINGTON, Aug 1.-THE following Off
cial dispatches have been received by the Navy
Department:
FLAGSHIP HARTFORD MOBILE BAY,l
August 9Th, 1864.
SIR have the honor to report to the De.
partment that this morning I entered Mobile
Bay, passing between Forts Morgan and Gaines
and encountering the rebel ram Tennessee and
the gunbOats of the enemy, viz: Selma, Cor
man and Gaines.
The attacking fleet wac under way by 7:45 in
the following order: the Brooklyn with the
Octorora on her port side, the Hartford with
the MetacOmet, the Richmond with the Port
Royal, the Lackawana with the Seminole. the
Monongahala with the Tecumseh, the Ossippl
with the Itasca, and the Oneida with the Gale
ma. On the starboard of the feet was the
proper position of the Monitors and Iron
clads. :,
Fort Morgan opened on us at 10 minutes past
z o'clock, and soon after the action became
lively.
As we steamed mp the main chip channel
there was some difficulty ahead and the Hart
ford passed on ahead of the Brooklyn.
At forty minutes past seven the monitor Te-
cumseh was struck by q torpedo and sunk
going down very rapidly and carrying down
with her all her officers and crew, except the
pilot and eight or ten men who were saved bv
a boat that saved from the Metacomet which
was alongside of me.
The Hartford had passed the boats before 8
o'clock. Finding she must be met by the rebel
gunboats ordered the Metacomb - cast of
and 20 in pursuit of them, one of which, the
Telma, she succeeded in capturing. Ali the
vessels had passed the forts by $50, but the
rebel ram Tennessee was still apparently unim
paired in our rear. A signal was at once
made to all the fleet to turn again and attack
the ram not only with guns, but with orders
to run her down at full speed. The Mo-
nOngehala was the first thai struck her.
and though she may have injured her badly,
yet she did not succeed in disabling her.
The Lackawana also struck her, but ineffec-
tuaily. The flagship gave her a severe shock
with her bow, and es she passed fired into her
whole port broidside Of solid shot and thir-
teen pounds Gi powder at distance from her
OF twelve feet. The iron clads were closing
upon hDl, and the Hartford and the rest oil
the nect were bearing down on him, when All
ten A: M. she surrendered. The rest of thu
reDel fleet, viz: the Morgan and German SUD
ceeded in getting back under the protection of
Fort Morgan
inns terminated the action of the day.
Admiral Buchanan sent his sword, being
himself badly wounded with compound frac-
ture OF the leg, which. as is supposed, will have
to be amputated.
Having had many of my own men wounded,
and the Surgeon being very DESTROYS TO have
Admiral Buchanan removed to . hospital, I
sent a flag OF truce t. the commanding officer
OF Fort Morgan (being Gen. Page) to say that
If he would allow the wounded of the fleet as
well as their own to be taken to Pensacola
where they could be better cared fer than here,
l would send out one OF our vessels, provided
she would be permitted to return, bringing
back nothing that she did not take out
Gen. Page consented, and the Metacomet
was dispatched.
The total loss on our side was, forty killed and
lightweight wounded. On the rebel ram Ten
nessee were captured twenty officers and about
40 men, On the Selma were taken ninety off,
GERS and men. will send detailed dispatches
by the first opportunity.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
d. G. FARRAGUT.
Rear Admiral Com mandinp.
Hon. GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary of the NAVY.
The New Orleans Era says that Admiral Far
ragut chose an advantageous position in going f.
into the fight and maintained it throughout ali
the terrible fighting, designing at once to over
look the enemy and watch the movements of
his own fleet. He assembled to the maintop of
the Hartford and Was there dashed fast.
speaking trumpet was extended down to the
deck and an officer stationed at the end there
to receive the Admiral's orders and pass them
to the officers whose duty it was to see them
executed. This proved to be most admirable
arrangement