Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-08-24
The Attack on Mobile,

Inc llOUlic.
Admiral Farragut in letter to Com. Pal
mer at New Orleans says.
g At an early hour on the 9Th our feet
dashed in IN couples, sailed into the pass
close under the guns of Fort Morgan pouring
in broadside after broadside of grape and
canister, thus driving the gunners from their
places, and leaving our vessels exposed only
to the fire of Forts Gaines and Powell, which
was of course less effective on account of the
distance. At the same time Gen. Changers
land batteries entilaGed Fort Gaines and
caused the evacuation and blowing mp of
Fort Powell. In passing the fort the Oneida
received shot which temporarily disabled
her machinery, but she was safely towed
through the fire by her consort. Our Moni-
tor Tsc,tmsed was one of the foremost vessels,
and sunk almost instantly, carrying down
about 100 men, including Capt. Craven. The
gunboats having passed out of reach of the
forts, were pursued by the formidable rebel
ram Tennessee and three iron clads. The ram
was Immediately attacked and battered so eff
fectually that it was obliged TO surrender in a
few minutes. The ram was but slightly in
jured.
The Heralds correspondent off Mobile
saws:
"When the Selma surrendered to the Meta
comet, on boarding her it was found that she
had lost fearful.y. Her deck was covered
with dead and dying and her scuppers ran
with blood. Her commander, 1t Comstock,
formerly of the United States navy, was "
ing dead across the breech of gun with his
bowels torn out The Tennessee attempted
to avoid the Monitors and made for the wood
en- ships, but the flag ship and the UoHOnqe-
Aala followed her up. The latter struck the
Tennessee amidship with her terrible Prov,
causing the huge rebel monster TO reel like
drunken man. The Hartford then grappled
the Tennessee, but further bloodshed was saw
ed by the latter hosting the white flag
Horrible slaughter was visible here as on the
Selma. Capt. Garaud now commands the
captured ram. We captured nearly three hun
dred prisoners.
The New Orleans Ira says that Admiral
Farragut chose a novel position in going into
the fight off Mobile, and maintained it
throughout all the terrible fighting Desiring
at once TO overlook the enemy and watch the
movements of his own fleet, he ascended the
maintop of the Hartford and was there dashed
fast A speaking trumpet was run down to
the deck, and an officer stationed at the
lower end to receive the AdmraTs orders,
and pass them to the officer whose duty it
was to see them executed. This proved to
be a most admirable arrangement
The following official dispatch has been
ASNC4'ON ~ NAAS A'As IL pt'i tIA4tLlL-
FLAG SNIP HARTFORD, NOZZLE BAr,3
August >, 1854.
Hon. Gideon WeIlss, Secretary Of the Nary.
SIR: L have the honor 20 report to the pepart-
ment that this morning entered Mobile bay. pass
ing between Forts Morgan and Gaines encounter
ing he rebel ram TeunCSsse and the gun boats of
the envy viz the Selma, N0rgan and CAMS
The fleet was under way by 5:45 and in the fol-
lowing order
The Brooklyn with the Octorora on her port side.
The HARTFORD with the HetacoEuet.
The Richmond with the Port RCyaI
The LdckdtgGHa with the Seminole
The A0nonQ aheiG with the TecuHlseH.
The OSsipes wit h the UdscG.
The OBeidG with the GdttRG.
On the starboard of the feet was the proper no
sition of the monitors and iron-clads. Fort Nor
gan opened upon Us at 10 minutes past o'clock
and after the action became lively As we
steamed up the main ship chanuc! there was some
difficulty and the Hartford passed on ahead ofthe
Brooklyn.
Al Az minutes past the monitor ir,cuz.ssh was
struck by torpedo and sunk going down very
rapidly aud carrying down with her all her officers
and crew with the exception of the pilot and or
10 men who were saved BY boat that / sent from
the NctGc0met which was alongside of me.
The Hartford had passed the forts before
O'Clock. Finding myself raked by the rebel gun
boats ordered the Aetac0ntet to cast off and 20
in pursuit OF them, OF which, the Selma. she
succeeded in capturing.
All the vessels had passed the forts by s:3o bat
the rebel ram TeaDess~e STILL apparently unin-
Jured in our rear. A signal at once made to
all the fleet to turn again and attack he ram.
full speed. The A0aongabslG was the first that
struck her, and though she may nave 10 jured her
badly. yet she did not succeed in dsa bIlng her.
The Ldckd1CdnG also struck her but 10 efectually.
The flag ship gave her q shock with her bow.
and she passed fred into her a whole port
broadside of solid 9-inch shot and Is pounds of
powder at distance of more than II feet.
The iron clads were closing upon her and the Hart
ford and the rest of the feet were bearing down on
her when at 10 a. she surren dered. The rest of
the rebel deet, viz Morgan and fsdiaeE. succeeded
in getting back uuder the protecf ion Of Fort Nor
gan. This terminated the action Of the day.
Admiral buchanan sent his sword, being
himself badly wounded with a compound fracture
of the leg, which II is supposed will have be
putafet. Having had many OF my own men woun-
ded and the surgeon of the Tennessee being very
desirous to have Admiral Buchanan removed t.
the hospital, sent flag OF truce the command
ing officer Of Fort Morgan, Brig. Gen. X l. Page,
to say that u he would allow the wounded of our
fleet well their to be taken to Pensacola,
where they would be better cared for than here,
would send out one of cur vessels, provided she
would be permitted to return, bringing back moth
ing she did take Gen. Page consented
and the Hstdcopaet dispatched.
The total loss side 40 killed and $
wounded. On the rebel ram TeHneSses were cap
tured 20 officers AMI about l70 u en-; the Selma
were taken 90 officers and men. will send de-
tailed dispatch by the first opportunity
Very respectfully,
d. G. FARKAGUT,
Rear Admiral Commanding West Gulf BlockadiDg
Squadron.