The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-08-18
The Battle of Mobile. Farm
ynt's Official Report.

WASHINGTON, Aug. lt.-Ths fdlowing
official dispatches have been received oy
the Navy Department. 81 hs
FLAG SHlP fAsrFoRb, MoBiLk Bar,
August 5.-I have the honor to report
TO the Department that this morning ! en-
tered Mobile Bay, passing between Forts
Morgan and Gaines, and en- countered the
rebel ram Tennessee and the gunboats Of
the enemy, viz: Selma, Morgan and Gaines.
The attacking feet was under way by 4:45
a. m, in the following order: The Brooklyn
with the Octoroon on her port side; the
| Hartford with the Port Royal; the Lacka-
wana with the Seminole; Manongahela with
the Tempest, and Annie and Julia with the
gallant Slarburg Of the feet, was the prop
er position of the monitors. or iron clads.
Fort Morgan opened upon US at ten minutes
past Z o clock and soon after this the &C
ton became holder. As we steamed up the
main ship chaauel there was some difficul!
ty ahead, and the Hartford passed on, ahead,
oi tue Drookiyh. at tlB 17asd .saHl@p
"a AT 4s minutes past o'clock, the Tecum
sch was stopped by a torpedo: and sunk,
going down very rapidly, carrying down
with her all the officers and crew. with the
exception Of the pilot and about ten men
who were saved by a bat that Isent from
the rMetaeomet, which was along side Of me
The Hartford had passed the boats before
8 o'clock, and finding myselfraked by the
rebel gunboats, / ordered the Metacomet to
east off and go in pursuit Of them, one of
which, the Selma, she succeeded in captur.
ing. All the vessels had passed the forts
by $50. The ram, Tennessee, was, still in
our rear, and signal was made to all the
feet to turn again and attack the ram, not
only with gnns but our bats to run her
down at full speed. Tho Monongahea was
the first that struck her, and though she
may have injured her badly, vet she did
not succeed in disabling her. The Lacka
wanna also struck her but Intellectually. -
The Flagship gave her q severe shock with
her bow and as she passed. fred into her
Il, whole port broadside Of solid nine. inch
shot and thirteen pounds of powder, at q
distance Of not more than twelve feet, The
iron clads were closing her and the Hartford
and the rest of the feet were bearing down
on her, when at 10 a., M, she surrendered,
he rest ofthe rebel feet save the, Morgan
and Gaines, succeeded in getting back un.
der the protection Of Fort Morgan, Il ~
This terminated the action Of the day
Admiral Buchanan, sen, me his sword. be-
ing himself badly wounded with compound
fracture ofthe leg, which it is Supposed will
have to be amputated. Having had many
ofmy men wounded and the surgeon Of the
town being very desirous to have Admiral
Buchanan removed to the hospital, sent a
flag oftruce to the commanding officer,
Richard L.. Page, to say that if be would
allow the wounded of the feet, as9well, "A
the rebels. to be taken to Pensacola. where
they could be better cared for than here,
would send out one of our vessels, prov ided
she would be allowed to return, bringing
back what she did not take. out. Gen.
Page consented, aud the Metacomet was
dispatched a,1.a: Cd r3hra al 2
The total. killed and wounded on our
side is 40 killed and SO wounded. We cap.
tnrei 90 officers ami about l 10 man on the
rebel ram Tennessne and about 80 off ers
and men on the Selma. srsglsl IA
Twill senda detailed dispatch by the
first opportunity. aa ,qzeaa0J err
cd Very, respectfully, your ob't serv'L.
ID g. EARRAGUr,
Isf. To e,4adasIh Rear Admiral us. N.
To Hon. GIDEON WELLS, Secretary Of the