Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-08-19
FLAGSHIP HARTFORD,
MOBILE BAY. Aug. 5.

MOBILE BAY, Aug. 5.
| SIR 81 have the honor to report TO the
Department that this morning I entered Me-
| bile Bay, passed between Forts Morgan and
Gaines and encounteEing the rebel ram Ten
nessee aud gunboats Of the enemy, viz the
Selma, Morgan and Gaines. The attacking
feet wa, under way by 3 As A. NJ, in the
| following order: The Brooklyn, with the
Ochorora on her port side; the Hartford
with the Metacomet, the Richmond with the
/ Port Royal, the Lacawane with the Seminole,
the Monongabela with the Tecumseh, the As
sipee with Ibe Itasco, and the Oneida with the
| Galens. On the starboard Ut the feet was
the proper position Of the monitor or iron
clads. Fort Morgan opened upon uS at ten
minutes past seven, and soon after this the ac-
tion became lively; as we steamed up the
main ship chanue there WIS some dificuIty
ahead, and the Hartford passed ahead Of. the
! Brooklyn. At 40 minutes past the Mon
itOr Tecumseh was struck by torpedo, and
sunk going down very rapidly, and carrying
down With her all the officers and crew, with
the exception of the pilo: and or 10 men,
who were saved by boat that l sent from
the Metacomet. which was alongside Of me-
The Hartford had passed the Forts before
o'clock. Finding myself raked by the rebel
gunboats ordered the Metacomet TO cast of
and 90 in pursuit OF them. one Of which, the
Selma. she succeeded in capturing. All the
vessels had passed the forts by 8 30; but the
rebel ram Tennessee was still apparently un-
injured 10 our rear. A signal was at once
made to all the feet to turn again and at
tack the ram, not only with guns, bot with
orders to run her down at full speed. The
MOnonRahela was the first that struck her
aud though she may have injured her badly,
she did not succeed in disabling her. The
Lackawanna also struck her, but Intellectually
The flagship gave her a severe shock with her
bow, and as she passed fred into her n whole
port broadside of solid nine inch shot and
thirteen pounds Of powder, at distance OF
not more than twelve leet. The iFonclads
were closing upon her, and the Hartford and
the rest OF the feet were bearing down upon
her, when at 10 A. NJ. she surrendered.
The rest of the rebel feet. viz: The Nor
gan, and the Gaines, succeeded in getting
back uuder the protection Of Fort Morgan
This terminated the action Of the day. Ad-
miral Buchanan sent me his sword, being him
self badly wounded with compound fracture
of the leg, which it is supposed will have to
be ampusted.
Having had many OF my own men wounded !
and the surgeon of the Tennessee being very |
desiious to have Admiral Buchanan re-
moved to the hospital, l sent flag OF truce
to the commanding officer of Fort Morgan,
Brighten. Richard L. Page, to say that he
would allow the wounded of the feet as well |
as their own to be taken to Pensacola, where |
'hey could be better cared for than here, /
would send out one OF our vessels, provided
she would be permitted to return, bringing.
back nothing she did not take out. Gen.
Pageconseuttd, and the Metacomet was des-
patched.
Total loss on our side, 40 killed and 88
wounded. Oc the rebel ram Tennessee were
captured twenty officers, and about 80 men.
On the Selma were taken 90 officers aud men.
/ will Feud a detailed dispatch by the first Op-
PorluDiiy.
Verv resnC ctlullv