Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-08-16
Last Nights Report.
Despatch from COm'dOrs Farragut

WASHINGTON, August 15.-The following
official dispatche has been received by
the Navy Department:
FLAG SHIP HARTFORD, MOBILE BAY, Aug.
Sir: have the honor to report to the
Department, that this morning l entered
Mobile Bay, passing between Forts Morgan
and Gaines, and encountering the rebel ram
Tennessee and gun boats of the enemy, viz:
selma, Morgan and Gaines. The attacking
feet was under way by 5.45 q. m. in the
following order:
The Brooklyn with the Octorors on her
port side, the Hartford with the MetacOmet,
the Richmond with the Port Royal, the
Luckawana with the Seminole, the Monon-
gahela with the Tecumseh, the Osippea with
the Itasaco and the Oneida with the Ga
lena. On the starbosrd of the feet was
the proper position of the Monitors or Iron
Clads. Fort Morgan opened upon US at ten
minutes past seven o'clock and soon after
the action became lively. As we steamed
up the main ship channel their was some
difficulty experienced. The Hartford pass
ed on ahead of the Brooklyn at 40 minutes
past 7 o'clock.i THE monitor Tecumseh
was struck by a torpedo and sunk, going
down very rapidly, and carrying down with
her all the officers and crew with the ex-
ception of the Pilot and or 10 men, who
were saved by a boat that l sent from the
Metacomet which was along side of me-
The Hartford had passed the boats before
o'clock. Finding myself raked by the
rebel gun boats / ordered the Mstacomet to
cast off and go in pursuit of them, one OF
which, the Selma, she succeeded in cap
turing. All the vessels had passed the
forts bv s 80 but the rebel ram Tennessee,
which was apparently upiujured, in our
rear a signal was at once made to all the
feet to turn again aud attack the ram, not
only.With guuboats, with orders to run her
down at full speek. The Monongalia was
the first that struck her, and though she
may have injured her badly yet she did not
succeed in disabling her. The Luckawana
also struck her but the flag ship gave her
q severe shock with her bow, aud as che
passed fred into her a whole port broad
side of solid 9-inch shot at distance of
not more than IL feet. The iron clads
were closing upon her and the Hartford and
the rest of the feet were bearing down up
on her, when at 10 o'clock a. m. she sur
rendered. The rest of the rebel feet viz.
the Morgan and the Gaines, succeeded in
getting back und er protection of Fl. Nor
gon. This terminated the action for 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 amputsted. Having
many of my own men wounded, and the
surgeon of the Tennessee being very desi-
reus to have Admiral Buchanan removed
to the hospital, l sent a flag of truce to
the commander of Fort Morgan, to say
that if he would allow the wounded on
the feet as well IS their own, to be taken
to Pensacola, where they could be better
cared for than here, 1 would send out one
of our vessels, provided she would be per-
mitted to return, bringing back nothing she
did not take out. Gen. Page, commander
of the fort, consented, and the Metacomet
was despatched.
The total loss on our side Was 40 killed
and SO wounded.
On tine rebel ram Tennessee were cap
tured two officers aud about ITO men. On
the Selma were taken 80 officers and men.
1 will send a detailed despatch by the
first opportunity.
Respectfully, your ob't servant,
D. G. FARRAGUT,
R. A. G. WIG. Squadron.
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