The Portland daily press., 1864-08-16
BY TELEGRAPR


From Motiie-O6ieiai Report of ADMIRAL
Farrdyut.
WASHINGTON, Aug. Is.
The following dispatches have been reeeiy-
ed by the Navy Department;
FLAG SHIP HARTFORD,
Mobile Bay, Aug, 5.
Sir:-I have the honor to report TO the De-
partment that this morning l entered Mobile
Bay, passing between Forts Morgan and
Gaines, encountering the rebel ram Tennessee
and cunboats of the enemy, wiz the Selma,
Morgan and Gaines.
The attacking fleet was underweigh by
3 45 A. NJ, in the following order: The
Brooklyn, with the Octoroon on her port side (;
the Hartford, with the Metacomet, the Rich
mond, with the Port Royal, the Lackawana,
with the Seminole, the Monongahela with the
Tecumseh, the Ossipee with the Itasca, and
the Oneida with the Galena, on the starboard
OF the fleet, was the proper position of the
monitors or iron-clads.
The wind was light from the south -west,
and the sky was cloudy with very little sun.
Fort Morgan opened upon US at ten minutes
past seven O'Clock, and soon after this the ac-
ton became lively.
As we steamed up the main ship channel
there was some difficulty ahead. and the Hart
! ford passed on ahead OF the Brooklyn. AT
TAO the monitor Tecumseh was struck by a
torpedo and sunk, going down with all the of
fcers and crew, with the exception Of the pi.
lot and eight or ten men, who were saved by a
boat sent from the Metacomet, which was
alongside me.
The Hartford had passed the forts before
O'Clock, and finding myself raked by the rebel
| gunboats, ordered the Metacomet to cast of
and go in pursuit of them, one of which, the
Selma, she succeeded in capturing.
| All the vessels had passed the forts by S 30,
but the rebel ram Tennessee was still apparent
! ly uniajured in our rear. signal was at
once made to all the fleet to turn again and at
! tack the ram, not only with guns, but orders
| to run her down at full speed The Mononga-
! hela was the first that struck her, and though
| she may have injured her badly, yet she did
| not succeed in disabling her. The Lackawa-
| ma also struck her, but Intellectually. The flag
/ ship gave her a severe shock with her bow,
aud as she passed poured into her whole port
broadside Of solid 9-inch shot aud Is pounds
of powder, at distance of not more than
| twelve feet. The iron c'ads were closing up
! on her, and the Hartford and the rest OF the
J fleet were bearing down upon her. when at 10
A. NJ che surrendered. The rest of the rebel
| fleet, viz, the Morgan and Gaines succeeded
| in getting back under the protection OF Fort
| Morgan. This terminated the action of the
day.
Admiral Buchanan sent me his sword, being
himself badly wounded with a compound frac-
ture of the leg. which it is supposed will have
to be amputated.
Having had many OF my men wounded and
the surgeon of the Tennessee being DESTROYS
TO have Buchanan removed TO hospital,
sent flag of truce to the commanding officer
of Fort Morgan, Brig. Gen. Page. to see ii he
would allow the wounded OF the feet, as well
as their own, to be taken to Pensacola, where
they wouid he takan haftpr rare of than hare
would send out one OF our vessels, provided
she would be permitted TO return, bringing
back nothing she did not take out. Gen. Page
consented. and the Metacomet was dispatched.
On the rebel ram Tennessee were captured
twenty officers and 10 men. On the Selma
were taken ninety officers and men.
Very respectfully,
ID. g. FARRAGUT,
Rear Admiral Commanding.