The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-30
OPERATIONS In MOBILE BAY.
ADMIRAL T,SOFElCIaL,
REPORT.
How the Forts and Ram Tennes-
see were Captured---Farra.ut
PlOt---Enseresting Particu-
lars of the Affair."

The Ar@ay and Nary Journal for this
week contains the complete official report
of Admiral Farragut of operations in Mo-
| bile Bay. 1t is illustrated with very in
teresting diagrams explanatory of the diff
ferent positions of the fleet during the &C.
ton. We copy the material parts of this
interesting document
I. S. FLAGSHIP HARTFORD.
MOBILE BAY, Aug. II, 1864.
SIR: had the honor to forward the Depart
ment on the evening Of the 9TH instant. a re-
port OF my entree into Mobile Bay on the
morning OF that day, and which, though brief.
contained all the principal facts of the attack
Notwithstanding the loss of life, particularly
on this ship, and the terrible disaster to the
Tccumseh, the result of the fight was plOrj
GUS victory; and have reason to feel prOIJd of
the officers, seamen and marines of the souad
ron under my command, for it has never fallen
to the lot OF an officer to he thus situated and
thus sustained Regular discipline will bring
men to any amount OF endurance but there is
natural fear of hidden dangers, particularly
when so awfully destructive OF human life ~
the torpedo, which requires more than disci-
pliEe to overcome
PASSING THE FORTS
The attacking fleet steamed steadily ND the
main ship channel, the Tecumseh firin1 the
first shot at 6:47. At six minutes past seven
the fort opened upon lis. and was replied to bv
gun from the Brooklyn, and immediately al
ter the action became general. Il was soon
apparent that there was some difficulty ahead
The Brooklyn, for some cause which did not
then clearly understand, but which has since
been explained by Capt. Alden in his report.
arrested the advance OF the whole fleet, while
at the same time the guns of the fort were
playing with great effect upon that vessel and
the Hartford. A moment after | saw the Te-
cumseh, struck by a torpedo, disappear almost
instantaneously beneath the waves. CARVING.
with her her gallant commander and nearly ali
her crew. determined at once, as had orig
lnallv intended, to take the lead, and after Or
dering the MetacOnet to send boat to save if
possible, any of the perishing crew, l dashed
ahead with the Hartford, and the ships fol-
lowed on, their officers believing that they
were going to 4 noble death with their com
mander-in chief. I steamed through between
the buoys where the torpedoes were supposed
to have been sunk. These buOys had been pre-
viously examined by my Flag Lieutenant. J
Crlttenden Watson, in several nightly recon
noissances. Though he had not been able to
discover the sunken torpedoes, yet we had
OF their existence, but believing that from their
having been sometime in the water they were
probably innocuous, I determined to take the
chance of their explosion.
HOW THE TENNESSEE WAS CAPTURED
From the moment l turned to the north
westward to clear the middle ground, we were
enabled to keep such broadside fire upon the
batteries of Fort Morgan that their guns did
us comparatively little injury Just after we
passed the tort, which was about ten minutes
before eight O'Clock, the ram Tennessee dashed
out at this ship, as had been expected, and in
anticipation of which had ordered the moni-
tors on our starbOard side. l took no further
notice OF her than to return her fire. The rebel
gunboats Morgan, Gaines and Selma were
ahead, and the latter particularly annoyed us
with raking fire. which our guns could not
return. At two minutes after eight o'clock
l ordered the MetacOmet to cast off and 90 in
pursuit of the Selma. Capt. Jouett was after
her in a moment. and in an hours time he had
her as prize. She was commanded by P. N
Murphy, formerly of the United States NAVY
He was wounded in the wrist; his executive
officer, Lieut.. Comstock, and eight of the crew
were killed, and seven or eight wounded
Lieutenant commander Jouett's conduct dur
ing the whole affair commands NV warmest
Communications. The Morgan and Gaines sue.
ceeded in escaping under the protection of the
guns of Fort Morgan, which Would have been
prevented had the other gunboats been as
prompt in their movements as the Metacomet.
The want of pilots, however, believe, was
the principal difficulty. The Gaines was so in
jured by our fire that she had to be run ashore,
where she was subsequently destroyed, but the
Morgan escaped to Mobile during the night,
though she was chased and fired upon by our
| cruisers. g Oh =
Having passed the forts and dispersed the
enemys gunboats, had ordered most of the
vessels to anchor, when perceived the ram
| Tennessee standing up for this ship this was
at forty-dve minutes past eight. / was not
long In comprehending his intentions to be the
destruction Of the flag ship. The monitors and