Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-08-25
The Attack on Mobile.

much farther OF.
The Attack on Mobile.
Admiral Farragut in letter to Com. Pal.
mer at New Orleans says:
At an early hour on the 9Th our feet
dashed IN N couples, sailed into the pass
close under the guns of Fort Morgan, pouring
IN broadslde after broadside of grape and
canister, thus driving the gunners from their
places, and leaving our vessels exposed only
to the lire OF Forts Gaines and Powell, which
was of course less effective on account of the
distance. At the same time Gen. Changers
land batteries enfladed Fort Gaines. and
caused the evacuation and blowing up of
Fort Powell. In passing the fort the Oneida
received a shot which temporarily disabled
her machinery, but she was safely towed
through the fire by her consort. Our Moni-
tor IecotnaSeh 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
tectually that 1t was obliged to surrender in a
few minutes. The ram was but slightly in
jured.
The Hero1ds correspondents off Mobile
says:
"When the Selma surrendered to the Neta-
comet, on boarding her it was found that she
had lost fearfulIy 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 w.
ing dead across the breech of a gun with his
I6
to avoid the Monitors and made for the wood.
en- ships, but the flag ship and the Mononge-
hald 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 grapped
the Tennessee, but further bloodshed was say
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 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. A speaking trumpet was run down to
the deck, and an officer stationed at the
lower end to receive the Admirals orders,
and pass them to 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 sEIP HARTFORD, MOBILE BAY3
August $, 1864.
Hon. Gideon Wel!es, Secretary Of the Nary
SIR 1 have the honor o report to the Denart
ment that this morning entered Mobil lie bay pass
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 with the Octorora on her port side
The Hartford, with the Metaco1aet
The Richmond with the Port Rogal
The LdckGW ana with the Seminole
The Monongahela with the TecumSeh
The Ossipee with the HdScQ
The Oneida with the GdLena.
On the starboard Of the fleet was the ,ror,or, -,
sition of the monitors and iron-clads Fort Nor
gan opened upon US at 10 minutes past o,cIoclr
and soon after the action became lively. As we
difficulty and the Hartford passed on ahead ofthe
Brooklyn. Va VIZ
At 40 minutes past the monitor Tsca,7useb 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 3 or
10 men who were saved by a boat that sent from
the Hetacomet which was alongside of me-
The Hartford had passed the forts before g
O'Clock. Finding myself raked by the rebel pun
boats ordered the Metacomet to cast off and go
IN pursuit of them, one of which, the Selma she
succeeded in capturing.
All the vessels had passed the forts by $50. but
the rebel ram Tennessee STILL apparently unin-
Jured, in our rear. A signal was at once made tn
all the Heet to turn again and attack The ram. not
only with guns, but with orders to run her own at
full speed. The MonoRgaheIa was the frat that
struck her, and though she may nave injured her
badly, yet she did not succeed in disabling her
Inc LdcEGUdnG also struck her, but in effectuaIIv
The flag ship gave her severe shock with her bow
and as she passed fred into her a whole mort
broadside of solid 9-inch shot and 13 nounds of
powder at distance of no: more than ~ feet
Ihe IRON clads were closing upon her and the Hart
ord and the rest of the fleet were bearing down on
her when at 10 a. N. she surrendered The rest of
the rebel fleet, viz Morgan and Gdtnes succeeded
III gettlng PACK IN 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 a compound fracture
OF the leg, which it is supposed will have to be
putate1. Having had many of nv own men woun-
ded and the surgeon of the Tennessee being very
desrous to have Admiral Buchanan removed tc
the hospital, sent flag of truce to the command
ing officer of Fort Morgan, Brig. Gen. r. L. Page,
to say that if he would ALLOW the wounded of our
fleet well their own to be taken to Pensacola,
where they would be better cared for than here, |
would send out one of our vessels, provided she
would be permitted to return, bringing back moth
ing she did not take Gen. Page consented
and the Metaconaet was dispatched
The total loss side 40 killed and 50
wounded On the rebel ram Tennessee were cap
were taken 90 officers and 1 will send de-
tailed dispatch by the first opportunity
Very respectfully,
D. G. FARRAGUT,
Rear Admiral Commanding West Gulf Block aiding
Squadron.