Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-08-17
FLAG SHIP HARTFORD,
NoBILE BAY, August Is. 1864.

LAG SHIP HARTFORD,
MOBILE BAY, August l5 1861
Sri have the honor TO report to
the Department that this morning I
entered Mobile Bay. passing between
/ Forts Morgan and Gaines. and encount-
eriBg the rebel ram Tennessee. and
the rebel gunboats Selma, Morgan and
Gaines.
The attacking feet was under way
! by o.45, a. m. in the following order !:
I Brooklyn, with the Octoraro on the
port side; Hartford, with the Meta
Comet; Richmond with the Port Roy
/ al; Lackwanna with the Seminole; No
nongahela with the Kennebec; Ossip-
pee with the Itasca, and the Oneida
with the Galena.
On the starboard of the feet was
the proTer position of the monitors
or iron clads
The wind was light from the south
west and the sky was cIoudv with very
little sun. Fort Morgan opened upon
US at ten minutes past seven, and soon
after this the action became lively.
As we steamed up the main ship
channel there was some difficulty ahead.
and the Hartford passed on ahead of
the Brooklyn. At 40 minutes past
seven the monitor Tecumseh was struck
by torpedo and sunk. going down
very rapidly, and carrying with her
all her officers and crew, with the eX-
ception Of the pilot and eight men.
who were saved by boat that sent
tlsntp no 4, .
The Hartford had passed the forts
before eight o'clock, and finding my
self walked by the rebel gunboats.
ordered the Meta Comet to cast off
and 90 in pursuit OF them-one of
which, the Selma, she succeeded in
capturing.
All the vessels had passed the fort
by half-past eight o'clock. but the reb,
ell ram Tennessee was still apparently
uninjured in our rear.
Signal was at once made to all the
feet to turn again and attack the ram,
not only with guns, but with orders to
run her down at full speed The No
nOngahela was the first that struck
her. Though she may have injured
her badly, it did not succeed in disa-
bling her. The Lackawanna also struck
her, but Intellectually, and the flag ship
gave her a severe shock with her bow,
and as she passed poured her whole
port brOadside into hcr-soid nine
inch shot and thirteen pounds of p0wd-
er. at distance Of not more than ten
feet. The iron clads were closing up
on her and the Hartford and the rest
OF the feet were bearing down upon
her, when, at 10 a. m, she surrender.
ed
The rest Of the rebel feet. viz: the
Morgan and Gaines, succeeded in get
ting back under the protection of Fort
Morgan.
This terminated the action of the
day.
Admiral Buchanan sent his sword,
being himself badly wounded with
compound fracture of the leg, which
it is supposed will have to be amputa-
ted. Having lad many of my men
wounded, and the surgeon Of the Ten
nessee being very desirous to have Ad-
miral Buchanan removed to hospital,
| sent flag of truce to the command
ing officer of Fort Morgan, Brig. Gen.
Richard L. Page, to say that if he
would allow the wounded of the feet
as we'll as their own to be taken to
Pensacola, where they could be better
cared for than here, | would send out
one Of our vessels, provided she would
be permitted to return, bringing back
nothing that she did not take out
Gen. Page consented, and the Meta
Comet was dispatched.
The list Of casualties on our part, as
ascertained isas follows: Flag ship Hart
ford, killed 19, wounded %; Brooklyn,
killed 8, wounded p; Oneida, killed I,
wounded %; MonongaheIa, wounded
6; Meta Comet, killed l, wounded .;
Ossippee, killed |, wounded 7; Galena,
wounded /; Richmond, wounded 2 In
all, killed Al, wounded So.
On the rebel ram Tennessee there
were captured 20 officers and about 100
men. The following is a list of the
officers: Admiral F. Buchanan; Com
mander James d. Johnson; Lieuts
VIM. L. Bradford, A. d. Wharton, f.
McDenatt; Masters ] r. Demaby, w.
II. Perrin; Fleet Surgeon, R. c. Bowles;
Engineers, G. d. Lining, J. A ConneIl,
John Hayes, 0. Benson, w. B. Patter-
son; Paymaster's Clerk, J. A Cohen;
Masters Mates, Forest, Beebe and
Carter.
On the Selma were taken about nine
ty officers and men. OF the officers [
have only heard the names of two,
viz: Com. Peter H. Murphey and
Lieut.. Executive Officer H. Comstock,
who was killed.
[ will send detailed dispatched by
the first opportunity
Very raGDaotf1IIy-