Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-08-25
THE Fsarnr IN st0BILE RAY.
Omclal Dispntches from Admir-
al Enrragut. VA


Omcial Dispatches from Admir-
nj Farragut. vi Il
ga2t ssi1 WASHINGTON, Aug. Is. Y
The following official desgatches |
have been received BY the Navy Depart
ment GEFr |
FLAGSHIP HARTroRp, ~
MOBILE BAY, Aug. Is, 1864. J
Sra: have the honor to report to the |
Department that this morning. entered |
Mobile Bay, passing between Fortse et9rgan |
and Gaines, and encountered the rebel ram |
Tennessee and gun-boats of. the enemy, viz: |
Selma, Morgan aud Gaines.
The attacking feet was under way by 5.43 |
q. m, in the following order: The Brook |
lyn with the Octorora on her port side +;
Hartford with the Metacomet Richmond
with the Port Royal Lackawanna with !
the Seminole; Monongahela with the
Tecumseh; Ossipee with the Itasco, and
the Oneida with the Galona.
On the starboard Of the feet was the
proper position of the monitors or iron cads.
The wind was light from the Southwest,
and the sky cloudy with very little SUI.
Fort Morgan opened upon us at ten min
utes past o'clock, and soen after this the 4
action became lively. !. Do
As we steamed up the main ship channel,
nthere was some difficulty ahead, and the
Hartford passed on ahead of the Brooklyn.
At forty minutes past seven the monitor
Tscumseh was struck by torpedo and
sunk, going down very rapidly, and carry
ing down with her all the officers and crew,
with the exception of tho pilot and eight
or ten men, who were saved by boat that
sent from the Metacomet, which was
slong.si side of me. 80
The Hartford had passed the,ferts before
eight o'clock, and finding myself raked by
the rebel gun-boats, ordered the Meta
comet to cast off and go in pursuit of them,
one OF whieh-the Selma-she succeeded
In capturing. .. .....-
All the vessels had passed the forts by
half-past eight, but the rebel ram Tccumseh
was still apparently uninjured in our rear.
A signal was at once made &c all the fleet
to turn again and attack the ram, not only
with guns, but with orders to run her down
ct full speed
The Monongahela was the first that struck
her, and though she may have injured her
badly, yet she did not succeed in disabling
her. .t.
The Lackawanna also struck her, but inef-
fectuslly.
The flagship gave her a severe shock
with her bow, and as she passed poured into
her whole port broad-side Of solid nine
inch shot and thirteen pounds of powder,
at distance of not more than twelve feet.
The iron-clads were closing upon her, and
the Hartford and the rest of the feet were
bearing down upon her, when, at 10 q. M,
she surrendered. s. ~ 81 - b. s,.-'
The rest Of the rebel fleet. namely, the
Morgan and Gaines, succeeded in getting
back under the protestion of Fort Morgan.
This terminated the action OF the day.
Admiral Buchanan sent me his sword,
being himself badly wounded with COM
pound fracture of the leg, which it is sup
posed will have TO be amputated. -ttT
Having had many of my own men woup.
ded, and the surgeon of the Tennessee be-
ing very desirous to have Admiral Buchanan
removed to the hospital, sent flag OF
truce to the commanding officer of Fort
Morgan, Brig. Gen. Richard L. Page, to
say that If he would allow the wounded of
the feet, as well as their own, to be taken
to Pensacola, where they can be better car.
ed for than here, would sent out one of
our vessels, provided she would be permit
ted to return. bringing back nothing she did
not take out
Gen. Page consented, and the Metacomct
was dispatched.
The list of casualties on our part, as far
- asoertained, is as follows:
Flag. ship Hartford-Nineteen killed,
twenty-three wounded.
Brooklyn-Nine killed, twenty-five woun-
dsd. |...It'
Lackawanna-F Four killed, two wounded.
Oneida-.Seven killed, twsnty-three woun-
dsd. .flE - -
Monongahela--Six wounded. .-l.
Metacomet- killed, two wounded.
Ossippee- One killed, seven wounded.
Galsna-Ono wounded
Riohmond-Two wounded.
La oil forty-one killed and eighty.eight
wounded.
On the rebel ram Tennessee were captur-
ed twenty officers and about one hundred
and seventy men. The following is list OF
the ofioers: Admiral +. buchanan; Com
mander Joseph D. johnson ;Lieuts. VIM.
D. Bradford, A. p. Wharton, Il. j. Nc
Dennsrt; Masters j. II. McMoley, III. w.
porren Fleet Surgeon r. g. Rowles; En-
giReers q. ID. Loneng, j. OCOnnell, John
Hays, o. Benson, w. B. Patterson; Paw.
masters Clerk, j. II. Conen; Masters
Mates Forrest, Beebe aud Carter. W..
On the Selma were taken ninety officers
and men. Of the officers have only heard
the names Of two, viz Commander Peter
M. Murphy. and Lieut. j. II. Comstock.
The later was killed.
Twill send detailed dispatch by the first
opportunity.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
.... ID. G. FARaAaUT,
Admiral Commanding w. G. b. Squadron.
10 Hon. GIDEON WELLS, SEQ. Of Navy.