The New York herald., 1864-08-27

l.. j., X. G. g.. A..
and Engineer in charge Of Lower Bay Line.
major General D. II. MAuRY Mobile.
FORMIDABLE NATURE or FAREAcrr's UNDERTAKING
Here, then. Is q range OF forts aud batteries o! the
strongest character with internal machines and obstruc
ons nng the intervals covering every approach 20 The
bay and extending over semcircuar line OF eighteen
miles IN length Two o. the forts Morgan and Gaines,
are old WORKS. built on the most approved plans for bar
Dor Defence by the general government in time or pesce
upon which vast Sums OF money and INFINITE labor had
been expended. They are complete. with bsstion walls
dtches gaces, traverses bombproofs every other
appliance OF strength and security mounted with the
visoned and stocked with boandIess stores Of ammu
nitioD In face OF these It were impossible for vessel
to enter the bay from any direction without encounter
iEg most destructive cross hpe, that would be de
strucon TO any ordinary ship, and against which were
bold attempt for powerful fleet to move Even should
the fire OF the forts be resisted the torpedoss
filling the channels threatened their destruction at every
STEP while unseen and visible obstructons liable 70
stop their approach nj point where the enemys ar
lery could have the most damaging effect
THE rgBEL FLEET
Behind this formidable line OF defensive works
and appliances were moored feet OF nve
guuboats, carrying The heaviest armament pro-
durable within the rebel ltnes. ard at least the
most complete and invunerable specimen Of naval arch
lecture afoat that seemed confident alone unsded,
to defy any feet however strong
THE HRRo or THE UNDERTAKING.
Such was Mobile Bay less than week ago, and
such the formidable character OF its defence. But
time hsd when Il was deemed proper by the
national forces TO take Of this stronghold and
drive the rebel force that occupied IL into the gradually
but surely narrowing limits allotted them The task of
accomplishing this bercueap work committed 10 the
joint naval and land forces that have for long been
operating In the Gulf The naval arm OF the expedition
was committed to Rear Admiral ID. g. Farragut, whose
iudomitable will. untirng perseverance,, unaaunted
bravery and wonderful genius forced his fleet OF wooden
war defed The intricate mazes Of batteries Al Port nd
ut a later date; assisted materially in the rednc
ton OF the cutade batteries a. vicksburg; and 10 the
whole history Of the war, though more actively and con-
tinuousiy employed than any other naval officer in CON-
mand Of 1oos has suffered defeat To attempt
eulogy susA oficer would be simply work OF
supersrrosHton. His name 10 familiar IN every house.
hold In the land, and his darug exploits and grand
achievements are landed by every loyal tongue.
yARRAGur's FLEET
not my privilege At this time 10 speak particularly
2, ,ns vessel. composing the squadron under Admiral
and gunboate, a. well a. their armamene. known 10
,ns ,soe's who have to bold them In terror
there are 10 The composition Of grand army, that IL
would be msniieety improper 70 mako public long
Hartordthat heroic old ship that has carried tho Ad
mirals nag through the war the Brooklyn and Rich.
Laokawanna, Monoorahea, Oneida Kenuebeck Seminole
and Osspce. ships grade lower sire and weight
vices rendered Tho country; and the ,ass ssi.
ing and elective guubosss kesaconst, 0ctorara
POT, Royal s:s' ssd sue vessel, ar:
the land. These are but portion OF Farragut's i'm
neet but such were the seieced Tor the dan
these two single turre,ed Monitor gunbosis from ,hs
sea cosss tho Manhattan and Tecumssh were added 20
the feet with especial raeresce this work and also
two double torreed boats OF the same general pattern
Srom the Mississippi rivsrths Chick and Winnie
baRo-the latter OF which, however, was equivalent 10
but snge boat because OF the failure OF ts for
ward turrss 10 work This EAd's turret pus %
~ experiment promising Improvements the Erios
sou but many such oosty experiments that have
been made, though excellent 10 theory, decidedly
worthless in practice.
ARMAMENT rBr uxr.
This feet then consisted OF 6ve Monitor turrets-fcur
vesecscarrysng sx eleveu.iuch and four fifteen inch
guns shrec srsi class aoops Of war, having
aggregate armament OF sx one hundred FOUNDER Par
rotts six tSy pounder PARROTS and nfty four ne inch
Dahfrrens. syx sodps Of the second and third
class having q, aggregate OF about twelve one
hundred pcsnder PARROTS and seventy.two nine-
inch guns. ami Hvs sunboais, carrying hundred.
poundsv Parrot ~ and nine ard eevenuch Dahlgrsns,
with few rsfed guns OF less cslbrein all eighteen YES
sss CARRYING an Ngreaate two hundred guns, oil
~ thc nost arnrsvsd pattern and heavy cali6rA of
these vessels Cssrteeu were woodep and four iron.
REsgpvG
IN addition ~ tks aect OF actual attack considerable
squadron wss lay outside the bay as reserve,
aud also with ,bJr ious guns to make diversion
the sou,h asoA eethsAssep fronts Of Fort Morgan,
white another det whment e four Guntcass Ia Esssppi
Sound operated a. Vst frrt poweli.
rRupAnArrV cF WOODEN tEseus
win be remen ne Ned thst all The soops meutoned IN
shh squadron ps sysd by sosm In addition 10 thor
saiis Thor auNhiatN motive Eowsrs arc propeller
q some er them are sbo ~ the wscr llne. Anticipating
emcndcus re psssi " the fors, these soors vcre
All previously peus NSola 20 ~ cr the action
~ topgallant Nfos were al taken nN, With
Nv tcr Sureffuous reepe, srd their stsshotrd gdos
iW sdes. ttet would bes, nxpoesd 20 the Ore Of
}ot drsan- -cnpcsie tbelfS 'usincs' ana b9iefs,
ctvTtd wNh ed4n pA.hg. 2a eAcs DAsaiaF