Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-23
THE EVENING STAR.
MOBILE.
The Capture Of the tennessee.


The Capture Of the Tennessee.
The detailed accounts given OF the capture
OF the rebel ram Tennessee correct severaI pre- pre-
yious errors IL appears that her cap.uIs w. was
tofore been represented as taking htue snare IN
the fight. -
rt,, hpspppArp r1s1r WITH THE REBEL FLEET
ADMIRAL FARRAGuT FIGHTS FLAG
SHIP FOR FLAGSHIP.
The fight with tine repei meet was more des.
perate and resulted in the greatest losses Far
rasut designed the Monitors to fight the rebel
lronclads; but they unanswered too rapidly
and moved too quickly for us. Farragut had
anchored, when the Tennessee, having shaken
of the Monitors, was seen coming after him.
mark, .If 1t must be flagship for flagship, ad.
m1ral Tor admiral, am willing
the rebel ram came on with great speed.
aiming TO run the Hartford down. The latter
was handled with wonderful skill. AZ he saw
ms adversary coming. Fafragut waited the OPP
perfume moment, and, then, turning his ship
slightly, gave her Roadway, and, instead OF
being struck himself, dealt the ram . fearful
The two boats then Sided alongside against
each other, side to side, both dischargtng their
directly through the Hartford. The Hart
ford's solid nine-inch shot glanced upward
from the heavy classmates Of the Tennessee and
flew away into the air.
The encounters were frequent during the &C.
ton, not only between the ram and the Hart
ford but also with the Lackawanna, Monon-
Raheld ana IOOkIyu, WHICH Win Inc Maui.
tors, came to the aid Of the heroic old flagship.
Time fails me at this opportunity to write the
detailed account OF this remarkable fight
which deserves volumes tor its record Of hero.
ism, courage and determination displayed on
both sides. shall ask space for the fuller ac-
count In q few days. :" .e
THE FINAL SHOT AT THE TENNESSEE.
The final shot that terminated the career OF
the Rebel vessel was fired by the Monitor
Chickasaw, which passed close under the
stern, giving her the full weight of two IL inch
solid shots from her bow turret, which dam
aged the cover Of the rams sternpost Buch.
anan went aft with his engineer to readjust
the port cover While engaged in this opera.
ton the Chickasaw brought her after turret to
tiller chains Of the Tennessee, rendering her
unmanageable, while the other, entering the
damaged port killed one man and fractured
Buchanan's leg with splinters.
THE TENNESSEE sURRRNDRRs
Having already lost her smoke stack the
Rebel ship was now utterly helpless She
was therefore surrendered at once, haul
ing down her colors to the Chickasaw, Lieu.
tenant Commander Perkins commanding.
FARRAGUT REGARDS BUCHANAN AS HIS EN-
ENVY, AND DECLINES TO SEE HIM.
When Farragut was notified OF the surren-
der he sent an officer of to receive Buchanan's
sword On learning of Buchanan's wound, an
officer asked Farragut If he would 60 off and
see him. Farragut looked along his decks,
rades, and red with the blood Of others who
had fallen and been removed, and then re-
Piled, " With these brave men before me killed
and maEgled by him, consider him but nv
enemy. / want nothing to do with him.
ATTEMPTED ESCAPE AND CAPTURE OF THE
SELMA.
While the fight with the Tennessee was
going on the rebel gunboat Selma attempted to
escape up the bay. Several gunboats Started
in pursuit. The Metacomet being the faster
oVerhaQled her, after chase OF a few miles,
Parrott, which exploded fairly on the deck of
the rebel vessel, killed or wounded every man
on board. Her colors were at once struck and
she was brought back to the fleet prize to the
Metacomet, Lieut. Com'r Jewett She is a fine
vessel, of light draught, and carrying an ar
mament OF four heavy guns, including 10O-
FOUNDER Brooks rifle.
DBsCRIPTI OF THE RAM TENNESSEE
The Tennessee is the most complete and for
midable iron -clad monster af1oat. She was
considered perfectly invulnerable. Her model
Merrimac, of Hampton Roads fame, though
she is a stauncher and more formidable ship
Her length is two hundred feet; breadth, forty
eight. Her classmates have backing of three
incnes of oak, covered with sixteen inches of
yellow pine, crossed. On this there Is q per-
pendicular layer Of iron plates, three inches in
layer OF two-inch iron, topped by third layer
perpendicular, one inch thick, making nine
teen inches of wood and six of iron. These
classmates hang over her hull, protecting it
completely. Her decks are covered with double
plates of two-inch iron crossed, laid on heavy
tim Der. Her armament consisted of six rifled
guns-tWo OF seventeen calbre ana four OF
six and three -quarters-all of the Brooks pat
tern. She draws fourteen feet eight inches Of
water. She is worked by two splendid high
pressure engines, driving a geared propeller.
Her port covers are of ffve.ineh iron, worked
by cogs from within. Her complement was
one hundred and eighty seven men, officers
and all. Two'were killed aboard of her, and
three or tour wounded. The vessel will be
repaired at trif1ing cost. One ffteen-inch
shot penetrated her classmates amidship. This
was the only effe ctive shot in her armor. She
ar mi hat rfnD
on all sides enough to demolish any craft.