The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-09-10
The Fight !. /. Mobile Ray.


r, The Fight! Z Z Mobile BAY. .'''
From : private letter of P.-r,..::e;.
y. ". Day. dated on board tie y. S.
Ship :Stockdals.' Mobile Bay Asgus,
i6. 1864; tweltaks the following clear
and graphic description oftit'reeen.
6ght near Mobile :. ','f''
BY an examination oi, the map. You
viii observe that. to the right of the en-
francs to the Bay. on Mobile Point
which is the terminus Of . long. narrow
strip running out from the main land
covering the only channel through
which large vessels -can pass. is Fort
Morgan. one Of the most formidable
Notifications held by the rebels. To
the le!t Of this fort about four or FIVE
miles, on the West side Of Pelican Psss,
and on the Eastern end of Dsuphim Is.
land. is Fort Gaines, which is q little in
feriorto Morgan in position aud strength.
Two or three miles Northwest Of Gaines,
between Graut's Pass and the main
land. situated on small sand island ,cas
Fort Powell still inferior tn Fort Gaines.
though for,i6cation Of considerable
pretentiops. West Of this fort. and be.
tween Dauphin Island and the main
land west Of the Bay. is Mississippi
sound:is The reb.l flss.'Iay'in the Bay.
inside Of these Iforats; outside Of The main
channel and Pelican Pass wa. our feet
Of large ships Of war. and Monitors:
and in Mississippi Sound was our -ligh.
draft gunboats. 9 ilfi lua ''1f4 'e
Preparatious having bsen previously
made, on the morning. Of the 9Th iast..
under shs conmsnd of our bfave Ad-
miraiAwho is regarded BY his subordi.
mates as the bes. Naval Officer living
an attempt was made to pass the rebel
forts. enter Mobile Bay. and destroy
the Confederate feet, ssilh The deter
and expectation 10 succeed.
even though the attempt should cost
the sacrifice Of many lives and many
vessels. As The sequel has shown. the
success was more complete .ban the
most sanguins of our ofiicsrs anticipat-
ed, with much smaller loss than was
49, - -
Before starting, the undaucted Com
mander Of the Federal fleet vac lashed
to the ''nain-top" of that noble man.
of-wsr. the Hartford" from which
elevated position he could see and direct
Ihe. movements Of his whole line Of
banie-ships; and there be remained
Knowing no fear. nor needing shisken.
ing danger-during the entire engage
mens. .unharmed by the deadly missiles
ina, we're hurled At our proud ships by
he enemy thick and fast as falling hail.
When about half way through the
channel the monitor "Tecumseh" ran
,pon torpedo. which exploded beneath
Ter. sand she immediately sunk. and all
70 board but three Of tile of1icersssnd
fifteen men Of her crew went down with
,er. This led to some confusion and
risk firing but our vessels. with some
lamags passed through the s.channsl. 4
Then'began one Of the grsndest Ma.
al battles ever fought. resulting IN : /,
most signal victory to the United States
Navy. As the Federal vessels ealeFed |
he Bay. the rebel feet, head ed by the !
o.ed ram "Tcnnessee." chine boldly
orth 10 NEE! then in deadly Conflict.
lhe "Teprrsses.,''. under full .,ieam.
.eered directly for the a%g,ship Chart !
ord. ."ihoptsg TO- sink or destroy her.
nd capture our heroic Admiral. Oh
erving this msDsnvsr on the part Of the
nemy. Admiral Farragu, exclaimed