Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-15
Chicka.ax and W,nnebago, and the Admlral,s

vessels going
taking the lead. When within point blank
range of Fort Morgan the vessels ahead were
slow ed down to enable the line to close up and
at this time 'he fort and rebel vessels opened
fire on the fleet, which was returned from the
1OO-pounder PARROTS placed on the bows OF
our vessels in the advance :
The Admiral waited until directly abreast of
Fort Morgan, when he delivered succe ssion
OF bfoadsides from the nine-i CHI guns of the
hartford with such precision aud CALLING effect
the rebels were driven away from their guns,
and the water battery and fort were silenced.
Atthis time the monitors engaged the rebel IRON
clad ram Tennessee, which was discovered
laying In position to advance on our noble AID.
miral. fF f-A
torpedo and was seen to rise and disappear
beneath the water almost instantly. The firing
now became terrific, and the fleet, although
steaming ahead at full rate of speed, as
completely enveloped in flame and smoke
The rebel ram made several attempts to run
our passing vessels down, but failed to do SO,
and in the midst OF all this boat was lowered
from the Metacomet to pick up the sur vivors
OF our Inflated monitor. It was beautiful
. and appalling sight to witness this boat 70 wing
around on its sacred mission to rescue our
drowning men with its beautiful flag flowing
to the breeze, and the missiles OF death and de-
struction striking and ficocheting all around
1t. But the gallant officer ian ensign whose
name forget heedlessly kept on his way and
succeeded in rescuing the pilot, one of the of.
ficers, and three men belonging to the Tecum-
sen. -...
had by this time succeed in passing Fort Nor
gan, only to be subject 10 a CALLING, raking fire
from the three rebel gunboats-Selma, Morgan
and aines.
Our vessels, which were secured together in
pairs, were now cast Off and the engagement
became general, which in a short time resulted
in driving the ram and two gnnboats under the
guns OF Fort Morgan, while the Selma steamed
up the bay with the evident intention of es-
Gaping to Mobile After a chase OF q bout forty
minutes the Selma hauled down her flag to
her the cause OF her surrender was soon ap.
parent-their decks were covered with the dead
and dying, and her scuppers were running
with their blood. Among others recognized
Lieut. Comstock, with his bowels torn out, and
laying across the breach OF a gun which he
was engaged in sighting at the time of his
guage is not adequate to describe the soul
stirring cheers which went up from the Threats
OF our gallant tars. and was re.echoed from
one vessel to another all through this terrible
ordeal, and our brave, noble admiral has ex-
empEfied, in this fight, that his theory, of
'Iron hearts and wooden Ships" is a correct
one.
AT this time, while our feet, with a few ex-
ceptions, had collected together on the west
side Of the bay, in the direction Of Fort Powell,
and out of the range of Morgans guns, the ram
Tennessee was discovered steaming in the di-
rection.
The monitors closed with her when in range,
and one OF the most interesting naval engage
ments Of the war succeeded and we in the
smaller wooden vessels were the spectators
a fight OF some minutes ensued. when Ad-
miral Farragut, anxious to close the engage
ment in a summary manner, started toward
the Tennessee at full speed. at the same time
Capt. Strong. in the Monongahela, struck the
Tennessee amidships, and withdrew in time to
give room to our Admiral to grapple his an
tagonist, Buchanan. When the smoke cleared
away from the two vessels, n white flag was
seen to wave from the Tennessee's pilot. house,
in token of submission, and Capt Jeraud, who
went in as volunteer on the Ossippee as a
representative of Admiral Farragut, received
the sword of Admiral Buchanan, and that
terrible engine OF destruction was ours, al
though gained at a great loss of life.
Our loss in this fight is about 2iO killed and
wounded, including the brave Capt. Craven,
OF the monitor, and 100 OF his crew who went
down with him. Admiral Buchanan, of the
Tennessee, was shot through the leg below
the knee, and the leg will have to be amputa-
last night after dark, and Fort Gaines Will soon
follow. The rebel gunboats, which sought
protection under the guns of Morgan, will be
destroyed or captured by our monitors to. day,
and the investment and capture OF Morgan
must follow
We have, by this great victory, efectually
closed the port of Mobile, and its capture is
only question OF time; ana Admiral Farra-
gut and the gallant officers and men under his
command have established another claim to
the admiration and respect OF their country
men and those W no love liberty.
The True Delta of the eth says:
The telegraph wires broke yesterday during
the transmission of q dispatch addressed to
Admiral Palmer. The author says that he
passed through Grants Pass in a ships boat;
that he Witnessed the explosion Of the maya,
zine OF Fort Powell, which had first been
evacuated; that he spent two hours on board
the Hartford, with Admiral Farragut, who was
in good health and spirits, and that our loss IN
vessels was confined to the Tecumseh. 1t is
very provoking to have the wires break at the
moment when such happy news is coming
over them.
Thew Latest.
Since the above was in type, Admiral Palmer
cial dispatch and private letter from Admiral
Farragut as he deems proper to make public
At an early hour on Friday, our fleet, dashed
two and two, sailed into the Pass closeup
under the guns of Fort Morgan, pourin6lf6S
broadside after broadside of grape and can MS
ter-thus driving the gunners Of the fort from
their pieces, and leaving our vessels exposed
only to the fire OF Forts Gaines and Powell,
which were, Of course, less effective on &C.
count OF distance. At the same time General
Changers land batteries enfiladed Gaines and
Powell In passing the forts, the Oneida re-
ceiyed shot which temporarily disabled her
machinery, but she was safely lowed through
the fire by her consort.
Our monitor Tecumseh was one Of the fore
most. A torpedo exploding beneath her bottom,
she sunk almost instantaneously carrying
down all her officers, only ten Of her crew es.
Gaping. She was commanded by Capt. Lewis
Craven. Our loss on this vessel was about
one hundred. Thegunboats having passed the
forts, and being out of their reach, were pur-
sued by the formidable ram Tennessee and
three iron. clad gunboats-the Selma, Gaines
and Morgan. Our vessels Immediately at
tackled the ram, and battered him so effectu-
ally that he surrendered In a few minutes by
hanging out the white flag Admiral Buchan-
an, the commander, lost leg, and with all his
crew, are prisoners in our hands There were
only three killed on the Tennessee. She was
but slightly damaged, and it is probable that
Farragut has her fit for action by this time.
We also captured the Selma, of which Capt.
Murphy was the commal der. Lieut.. Prem
tiss, of the Monongahela, lost both legs. He Is
gallant officer, and has young wife in this
city. Captain Malaney, OF the Oneida, lost an
arm. III ="
All the wounded will be sent to Pensacola
Our loss is 2i0 killed and wounded. The two
remaining rebel gunboats fled under the guns
OF Fort Morgan for protection; one OF them is
aground, and the Admiral is confident that he
can destroy them to-day. He has not the
slightest doubt Of his ability to reduce the
forts. But this capture will not give us
command OF the city, which is extensively forth