The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-08
THE REBEL ACCOUNT OF THE NAVAL
FIGHT IN MOBILE BAY.

From NE Ricontond Dispatch.
The following is letter from the late execu-
tive officer of the Tennessee, which we publish as
the first account of the fight in Mobile bay, from
any person who was on board that ship during
the action -
"USITRD SrATBs STEAM FRIaATH Potomac
PENSACOLA BAY, August l2.-NOtwthstandng
you must have heard of the loss of our dear old
ship, aud of my becoming prisoner in the hands
Of the enemy, fancy that short note from me
would not be unwelcome, nor be considered super
ffuous at this time. We we're certainly under the
heaviest fire that ever a ship received since the
war began. Three strong and formidable iron
clads, one of them certainly our equal,
and fourteen regular men-0f-war, were
quarters, with Q, IL, and l5-inch solid shot,
and with apparently no intermission, from the
time we regularly engaged the fleet until the time
of SurTender-a period of probably an hour. We
met them as they entered the harbor and did our
best TO cram" several of the largest vessels,
using, of course, our guns at the same time. The
Yankees had too much speed for us though, aud
got by us into the bay, with only the injury done
them by our batteries. We then were alone. The
Games was in a sinking condition, and was run
ashore near Fort Morgan The Selma had sur
rendered, and the Morgan had left us also, and
was under the guns of the fort In the face of all
this, gallant ship, after running up our colors
and the Admral's flag again. which had been
shot away as the enemy passed u.s. stood across
the bay, and, singly and unassisted, we engaged
the most formidable fleet that the Yankees
cOulu Ret INTO Lnhb nuDOf. luuS 0Itth -nol
Greek "then came the tug of war" The fire
was really terrible. Coupled with that, four of
their largest vessels, one of them iron-plated on
the stem, ran into us at full speed and in quick
succession. The ramming part of the affair did
us no harm in the world, however, and their
9-inch solid shot bounded from our sides like
ordinary pebbles. The ll-inch hurt US some,
aud the Is inch pierced the iron and forced
ont the wood on the inside, but did not, how
ever, get through. By-andby the Ad-
mirsl was wounded, and one or two were
part became jammed by shot, and was rem
dered useless. Next, away went our wheel
ropes, and the relieving tackles came into
play We steered in this way for probably half
an hour, when they, too, were shot away, as
well as the smoke stack, aud then we were un-
able TO make steam, or 10 get single gun to
, bear upon the enemy. The fleet saw our con-
dition, and taking advantage of it, took up posi-
; tons astern and on each quarter, and were as
perfectly safe and clear Of our batteries ii they
= were a hundred miles away. In this state of
things, nothing could be done to destroy the ship
without destroying every soul on board, and the
admiral and captain considered (as think very
property that they had no right 10 pursue such
course. All had fought with perfect despsra-
tiOn, and had done their duty like brave and
gallant Southern men are expected 10 do, aud
were rendered as unhappy men ever became,
when at Inst il was discovered to be impossible to
move or steer the vessel, aud, in consequence, a
surrender became necessary. The Yankees have
4 her now, and l, with the Captain and Lieutenant
Wharton, are on our way TO u northern prison.
We shall undergo all that's put upon us with be-
coming dignity and hrmness. | leave here for
3 New York or Boston (I don't know which, In ten
days or fortnight. We are treated very kindly
as yet and are rs comfortable as we care for