Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-09-02
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CAPITU.
LATION OF FORT MORGAN.


Disgrace ful Conduct of the Rebel Officers
The Navy Department this morning received
the following interesting dispatches concern.
ing the capitulaton Of Fort Morgan:
FLAGSHIP HARTFORD, West Gulf Blockadino
Squadron, Mobile Bay, Aug. 25, 1s64.-Sir: Ihad
the nonor, in my dispatch No. 1856, to report to
the Department that Fort Morgan had surren-
dered.on the 23d inst. to the army and navy,
though at the time that dispatch was written
and mailed the ceremony of surrender had not
actually taken place.
The correspondence preliminary to that event
is herewith forwarded (marked Nos. /, 9, 8,
and 4) and the Department will perceive that
the terms of capltulation were the same as In
the case of Fort Gaines. General Page en-
deavored to obtain more favorable terms, but
without success.
regret to state that after the assembling of
the officers at the appointed hour, e d. m j for
the surrender outside the fort, 1t was discovered
on an examination Of the interior, that most of
the guns were spiked, and many Of the gun
carriages Wantonly injured. and arms, ammu.
milton, provision, &c, destroyed, and that there
was every reason to believe that this had been
done after the white flag had been raised. 1t
was also discovered that General Page and
several of his officers had no swords to deliver
up, and, further, that some OF those which
were surrendered had been broken.
The whole conduct OF the officers of Fort
Gaines and Fort Morgan presents such q
striking contrast III moral principle that can.
not tail to remark upon it. Colonel Anderson,
who commanded the former, finding himself in
position perfectly untenable, and encumb ered
with asupernuous number of conscripts, many
OF whom were mere boys, determined to sur.
render fort which he could not defend, and in
this determination was supported by all his
officers save one. but from the moment he
hoisted the white flag he scrupalousIy kent
every thing intact, and in that condition deliv.
cred it over; whilst General Page and his
officers, with childish spitefulness, DESTROYED
the guns which they had said they would
defend to the last, but which they never de.
Tended at all, and threw away or broke those
weapons which they had not the manliess to
use against their enemies, for Fort Morgan
never fired gun after the commencement of
the bOmbardment, and the advanced pickets of
our army were actually on Its glacis.
As before stated, the ceremony Of surrender
took place at two p. m, and that same after
noon all the garrison were sent to New Orleans
in the U ). steamers Tennessee and Bieny ilIe
where they arrived safely.
Very respectfully your obedient serv't
d. G. FARRAGUT, Rear Admiral.
Commanding W. g. b. Squadron.
Hon: GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary OF the Navy,
Washington.
FORT MORGAN, Aug. 23d, 1s6i.-Rear Admf.
raj d. g. Farrogut, U. s. "; Maj. Gen. Gordon
Granger, U. s. ~, Commanding, DC, fc.-Gen-
uemen: The further sacrifice Of life being un.
necessary-my sick and wounded suffering
and exposed, humanity. demands that ask for
terms Of capitulation.
Very respectfully, &c,
Brig. Gen. q. s. A.
HEADQUARTERS u. s. FORCES, Mobile Bau
Aug. %, 1S6i.-General: have notified Admi-
raj Farragut Of your desire to capItulate.
Until his arrival hostilities will be suspended,
when your proposal will be duly considered.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G.. GRANGER,
Maj. Gen. U. S. A. Comd'g.
To Brig. Gen. r. L. PAGE, commanding at
Fort Morgan.
HEADQUARTERS, u. S. FORCES, Mobile Bay,
Aug. %, 1S64.-Brig. Gen. Il. l.. Page, Command.
1ng Fort Morgan.-General: In reply to YOUR
Taylor asking tor terms of capitulation, we
have to say that the only terms we can make
are:
First.-The unconditional surrender OF your-
self and the garrison OF Fort Morgan with all
of the public property within its limits and in
the same condition that 1t is now.
Second.-The treatment which is in confor.
nifty with the custom Of the most civilized ma.
tons towards prisoners Of war.
Third.-Private property with the exception
Of arms will be respected.
Very respectfully your ob't serv'ts
p. DRAYToN, Captain U. S. N.
On part Admiral Farragut, comd'g naval forces
X. ARNOLD, Brig. Gen. U. S. a.
On part Gen. Granger, Comd' g U. S. Forces
FORT MORGAN, Aug %, 1S6i.-Cdptdin p.
Drayton. U. 8. N, Brig Gent r. Arnold, U. s.
A., acting on the part respectively Of Admiral
Farrogut and Cent Grdnger.-GentIemen: Your
conditions In communication OF to day are &C.
terms asked with my sick be granted and in
serted In the capitulatons.
/ will be prepared to surrender at o'clock
and to embark as soon as possible.
Respectfully, &C.,
Brigadier General &, S A.