Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-08

emss oil l-ii4 la,s, reached JYashs
~ saF1.-rl5, .lirsT FaTrdgaf, saying
~ -4dy to begin the attack up
- -. thn 81. e IL rnnnth

- .4dy to begin the attack up
upon the 31st of last month
st steamer from New Orleans, report
that our feet had passedths forts which
guard the entrance to Mobile Bay and
was ready to lombard the city. a land
force is to cooperate and if the city is tax
en-, will man the forts about Mobile
Mobile is regarded as by far the most
strongly defended place on the Gulf Its
protected, not only by heavy forts, but a
formidable force of gunboats and rams
have been built and are within the har or.
An examination of any ordinary map Of
the gulfcoast will reveal the position
The chief entrance to Mobile Bay is
through the channel between Mobile Poiu;
and Daaphine Island Atthe west end of
Mobile Point is Fort Morgan. On the
other side of the channel is Fort
Gaines. Fort Morgan is the chief Fort
and defense of the Bay. It was construct
ed by the Q. S. Government at an expense
of one million five hundred thousand dol
lars, and mounts one hundred and thirty
two guns, and garrisons zoo men. 1t is
noted for its resistance Of British feet on
the 4th Of September 1914 The British
attackedit with four vessels of ninety guns
with landing force Of seven hundred and
forty men They were disastrOusIy re-
pulsed. ..
Extending from Fort Morgan to Fort
Gaines, Is line of spile obstructin-,o arifv--
en- snmo tirne since with but one opening
through which blockade runners arc al
lowed to pass. This opening is close to
Fort Morgan, and is guarded night and
day by picket boats ready to give the
alarm to the Fort whose guns are said to
be trained upon the pass between the
spiles.
Fort Gaines, across the Swash Channel
is a fort originally constructed to mount
fifty guns, though incomplete at the break
ing out Of the war. The rebels have since
expended considerable labor upon it, SO
that it Is regarded as quite formidable.
Northwest Of Fort Gaines, ana along the
north east Of Dauphin Island, arc a nun
Der Of sand and water batteries, up as far
as Grants Pass. There are several small
islands in this Pass, upon which are sand
batteries. When once Forts Morgan and
Gaines are passed, our feet VIII find itself
at the south end of Mobile Bay, which is
thirty miles long. As the feet proceeds
northwaFd, number Of villages along the
east shore Of the bay are discovered. The
whole bay is comparatively shallow, it be-
ing gradually filed up by sedimentary de-.
posits brought down by the rivers which
flow into il In lS60-6I measures were
in operation to enlarge the channel SO as
to admit the entrance Of larger-vessels.
About four miles from Mobile, and ex-
tending across the bay from east to west,
is another line Of distractions. These OBJ
struetiOns areRot SO formidable, however, as
the one extending from Mobile Point TO
DauphiR Island.
The deienses around the city of Mobile
are quite strong, encircling the city from
near Dog River around TO the Alabama
River. On Point Pintos, east of Mobile
city three miles, is nine-gun battery,
commanding the approaches to the city
At Garrows Bend, womiles south of the
city, and on the west side Of the bay, is a
fve-gup battery, commanding the obstrue-
tons and the main ship channel for three
miles. This battery is designed chiefly to |
prevent landing Of troops on the west
ern shores Of the bay, or a land attack
which might be made by landing force
at Porterville and marching then north
toward Spring Hill.
To the west and north of the city is a
line of entrenehments, consisting Of earth
works and rihe-pits, extending about fif-
teen miles. They were built some time
ago.
Besides these batteries, earthworks and
distractions in Mobile Bay, are the rebel
rams and gunboats. !
The-rebels have four iron-clads, four cot
ton-clads and five small steamers, in all |
carrying fifty guns. To meet these, Ad-
miral Farragut has eight iron-clads, nine
teen wooden ships, carrying in all 231
guns |
A number of mortar boats from the
have been added to this force
and troops from New Orleans will un-
make demonstration by land
and otherwise, as FarrRgut may direct.
Too much must not be expected Of our
feet in view of all these obstacles and hin
1rances, and yet We may at any time be
rejoieed with the glorious news of the cap
ture Of Mobile.
The latest news by steamer from the
gulf represented the bombardment of
Mobile and its defenses as having already
been goiug on for three days The first
news of its capture may be through rebel
sources.
Reported Fighting at MOrganzia.
The friends of the [2d Ohio, now at
La, have heard from time to
time Of fighting at Morganzia. A letter
lated New Orleans, July Both, discredits
any fighting beyond mere picket firing,
md says that nothing beyond that is like
y to occur without decided change in
he position Of affairs. The rebels have a
iOrce of 1900 to 1900 on the next bank
IF the Atchsfalaya that are hungry, rag
yed and thirsting fearfully after the fat