Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-08-27
The Attack on Mobile.

much farther on
The Attack on Mobile.
Admiral Farragut in letter to Com. Pal
mer at New Orleans says:
"At an early hour on the 9Th our fleet
dashed in in couples, sailed into the pass
close under the guns of Fort Morgan, pouring
in broadside after broadside of grape and
canister, thus driving thegunners from their
| places, and leaving our vessels exposed only
to the fire of Forts Gaines and Powell, which
was of course less effective on account of the
distance. At the same time Gen. Changers
| land batteries enfiladed Fort Gaines and
caused the evacuation and blowing up of
Fort Powell. In passing the fort the Oneida
received shot which temporarily disabled
her machinery, but she was safely towed
through the fire by her consort. Our Mont
tor 1scamaseh was one of the foremost vessels,
and sunk almost instantly, carrying down
about 100 men, including Capt. Craven. The
gunboats having passed out of reach of the
forts, were pursued by the formidable rebel
ram Tennessee and three iron clads. The ram
was Immediately attacked, and battered so eff
fectually that it was obliged to surrender in a
few minutes. The ram was but slightly in
jured.
The HeraltPs correspondent off Mobile
says:
"When the Selma surrendered to the Meta
comet, ON boarding her it was found that she
had lost fearful.y. Her deck was covered
with dead and dying and her scuppers ran
with blood. Her commander, 1t. COmstock,
formerly of the United States navy, was ~
ing dead across the breech of gun with his
bowels torn out. The Tennessee attempted
to avoid the Monitors and made for the wood
en- ships but the flag ship and the Nonon0e-
halG followed her up. The latter struck the
Tennessee amidship with her terrible PROV,
causing the huge rebel monster to reel like a
drunken man. The Hartford then grappled
the Tennessee, but further bloodshed was saw
ed by the latter hosting the white flag
Horrible slaughter was visible here as on the
Selma. Capt. Garaud now commands the
captured ram. We captured nearly three hun
dred prisoners.
The New Orleans Era says that Admiral
Farragut chose a novel position in going into
the fight off Mobile, and maintained it
throughout all the terrible fighting Desiring
at once to overlook the enemy and watch the
movements of his own feet, he assembled the
maintop of the Hartford and was there dashed
fast. speaking-trumpe was run down to
| the deck, and an officer stationed at the
and pass them 10 the officer whose duty it
was TO see them executed. This proved to
be most admirable arrangement.
The following official dispatch has been
received by the Navy Department.
FLAG SHIP HARTFORD, MOBILE Bay
August 5, 1864. (
Hon. Gideon Weues, Secretary If the Nary
SIR: have the honor to report to the Denart
ment that this morning i entered Mobile hay
ing between Forts Morgan and Gaines encounter
ing the rebel ram Tennessee and the gun boats of
The fleet was under way by 5:45 and in the fol-
lowing order
The Brooklyn withthe OctorOrd on her port side
The Hartford, with the Metdcomet.
The Richmond with the Port ROYAL
The LackdlcdHd with the SemiaOLe.
The AonOngahela with the Teeumseh.
The Ossipee with the HdSca.
The Oneida with the Gdtend.
On the starboard of the fleet was the proper M
sition of the monitors and iron-clads. Fort Nor
gan opened upon us at 10 minutes past O'Clock
and soon after the action became lively. As we
steamed up the main ship channel there was some
Brooklyn.
At 40 minutes past the monitor Teearnssh was
struck by torpedo and sunk, going down very
rapidly and carrying down with her ali her officers
and crew with the exception of the pilot and or
10 men who were saved by a boat that sent from
the MetdcOmet which was alongside of me-
The Hartford had passed the forts before s
clock. Finding myself raked by the rebel gun
boats ordered the Metaconaet to cast off and 20
in pursuit of them, one of which, the Selma she
succeeded in capturing.
All the vessels had passed the forts by $40 lint
the rebel ram Tennessee still, app arenty unn-
Jured, in our rear. signal was at once made to
all the fleet to turn again and attack he ram not
only with guns, but with orders to run her down at
full speed. The M0aongaheld was the first that
struck her, and though she may nave IN iured her
badly, yet she did not succeed in disabling her.
The LdckdUdnG also struck her, but Intellectually.
Ia m bara oI,o
and as she passed fred into her a whole port
broadside of solid 9-inch shot and Is pounds of
powder at a distance of no. more than IL feet
The iron clads were closing upon her and the Hart
ford and the rest of the fleet bearing down on
her when at 10 a. N. she surrendered. The rest of
the rebel deet, viz Morgan and Gaines succeeded
Ia getting back up der the protection of Fort Nor
gan. This terminated the action of the day.
Admiral Buchanan sent me his sword, being
himself badly wounded with compound fracture
of the leg, which it is supposed will have to be
putated. Having had many of my own men woun-
ded and the surgeon of the Tennessee being very
desirous to have Admiral Buchanan removed tc
the hospita sent tiag of truce to the comm and
ing officer of Fort Morgan, Brig. Gen. r. L. Page,
fleet well as their to be taken to Pensacola,
where they be better cared for than here, 1
would send out one of our vessels, provided she
would be permitted to return, bringing back moth
ing she did not take out. Gen. Page consented
and the Metdcomet was dispatched.
The total loss on or side 40 killed and IS
wounded. On the rebel ram Tennessee were cap
tured 20 officers and about 10 men; on the Selma
tailed dispatch by the first opportunity.
ssr-fr. Very respectfully, s.s-E s,-r,
.fi- ID. q. FARRAGUT,
Rear Admiral Commanding West Gulf Blockading
Squadron.
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