Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-16
WASHINGTON. Aug. 16, 1861.

To Major General Dir, New York:
The following official report Of the surren-
der of Fort Gaines and the abandonment Of
Fort Powell, dated New Orleans, August 9,
has just been received from Maj. Gen. Candy :
"Fort Gaines, with Sc commissioned officers
and S1S enlisted men, with its armament, %
guns intact and provisions for twelve months,
has surrendered Internationally and was oc-
cupied by our forces at O'Clock yesterday
morning. Fort Powell was abandoned, it's
garrison escaping to Cedar Point. Its arma-
ment, Is guns, is in condition for immediate
service General Granger will Immediately
invest Fort Morgan, leaving garrisons in Forts
Gaines and Powell"
A telegram from Gen. Sheridan's command
dated August 14th, at Cedar Greek, was re-
ceived this morning. 1t states that, excepting
Moseby's guerrillas, there is no enemy this
side OF the Blue Ridge; that Sheridan's trains
are all up, and his army is in fine condition.
Gen. Sheridan, In dispatch Of the 18th inst,
reports that the stories Of plumber taken from
Maryland by the rebels are all humbugs. They
have very little-just enough to subsist on, no
more; mostof which las been taken from the
Shenandoah Valley. In another dispatch,
dated 18th OF August, he says General Early's
train is a very small one-not exceeding $50
wagons-and the stories Of accumulated plum
der from Maryland are untrue.
The Department has received an unofi cial
report from Fortress Monroe that movements
were being made yesterday In front OF Peters,
burg, but owing to the telegraph line being
broken, no information has been received from
Headquarters.
The Department is without any recent intelli.
gence from Atlanta.
The latest rebel pa pers received here say
nothing about Mobile since the capture OF Fort
Gaines.
E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
oEFrIGI y REGoGSIT5oS OF THE GALLaST
MOBILE.
The following has been issued by Secretary
Weiles:
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, August Is, 1861. q
SIR: Your dispatch of the 5th inst, stating
that you had, on the morning of that day,
entered Mobile Bay, passing between Forts
Morgan and Gaines, and encountering and
overcoming the rebel fleet, I had the salts fac
ton to receive this day. Some preliminary
account of your operations had previously
reached us through rebel channels.
Again 1t is my pleasure and my duty to con-
gTatulabe you and your brave associates on an
achievement uneq Jailed in our service by any
other commander, and only surpassed by that
unparalleled naval triumph of the squadron
under your command in the spring OF 1862,
wien proceeding up the MISSISSIPPI you passed
Forts Jackson and St Phillip, and overcoming
ali distractions captured New Orleans, and
restored unobstructed navigation to the COM
mercial emporium Of the great central valley
Of the Union.
The Bay of Mobile was not only fortified and
guarded by forts and batteries on shore, and bv
submerged distractions, but the rebels had also
collected there formidable fleet, commanded
by their highest naval officer-a former captain
in the Union navy-who false to the Govern
ment and the Union, had deserted his country
In the hour of peril, and leveled his guns against
the flag which 1t was his duty to have defended
The possession of Mobile Bay, which you have
acquired, will close the Illicit traffic which has
been carried on by running the blockade in that
part OF the Gulf, and gives point and value to
the success you have achieved.
Great results In war are seldom obtained
without great risks, and it was not expected
that the possession of the harbor of Mobile
would be secured without disaster. The loss
OF the gallant Craven and his brave compan.
ions, with the Tecumseh "a vessel that was
invulnerable to the guns OF Fort Morgan), by
which no human foresight could guard. While
the nation awards cheerful honors to the liy.
ing, she will ever hold in grateful remem-
brance the memory OF the gallant and la.
mented dead, who perilled their lives for their
country and died in her cause.
To you and the brave officers and sailors of
your squadron, who participated in the great
ACHE tement the Department tenders its thanks
and those OF the Government and country
Very respectfully, &C.,
GIDEON WELLBs, Sec'y Of the NAVY
Rear Admiral DAVID G. FARRAGUT, Comd'g
West Gulf Blockading Squadron, Mobile Bay.