The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-08-23
Admiral Farragufs Official Report
or the late Naval Victory.
WASHINGTON, Monday, Aug. l5.-
The following official dispatches have
been received at the Navy Department;

WASHINGTON, Monday, Aug. l5.-
The following official dispatches have
been received at the Navy Department;
OFFICIAL. ~. ;rl.,,
FLAG SHIP HARTFORD, MOBILE BAY,
Net FRIDAY, Aug. 5, 1854. (
To Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary Of
the Navy: ai = ira
have the honor to report to the
Department that this morning / enter
ed Mobile Bay, passing between Forts
Morgan and Gaines, and encountering
the rebel ram Tennessee and gunboats
of the enemy, viz, the Selma, Morgan
and Gaines.
The attacking fleet was underway by
5:45 a. m. in the following order the
Brooklyn, with the Octorora OH her
port side; the Hartford, with the Meta
comet; the Richmond, with the Port
Royal the Lackawana, with the Semi
mole; the Monongahela, with the Te-
cumseh the Ossipee, with the ltasca;
and the Oneida, with the Galeha.
On the starboard Of the fleet was the
proper position of the monitors or iron
clads. Fort Morgan opened upon us
at ten minutes past seven o'clock, and.
soon after this the action became lively.
AS we steamed up the main ship chan,
mel there was some difficulty ahead and
the Hartford passed on ahead Of the
Brooklyn. AT forty minutes past sew
en- the monitor Tecnmseh 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 pilot and eight or ten
men, who were saved by boat that l
sent from the Metacomet which was
alongside of me. Nf
The Hartford had passed the boats
before eight o'clock. Finding myself
raked by the rebel gunboats, l ordered
the Metacomet to cast off and GO in
pursuit of them, one of which { The Sci
may she succeeded in capturing All
the vessels had passed the forts by $50
but the rebel ram Tennessee was still
apparently uninjurcd in our rear.
"A signal was at once made to all the
fleet to turn again and attack the ram,
not only with guns, but with orders to-
run her down at full speed. The Mo-
nongahela was the first that struck her,
and though she may have injured her
badly, yet she did not succeed n disa-
bling her. The Lackawana also struck
her, but Intellectually. The flag ship
gave q severe shock with her bow, and
as she passed, fired into her whole
port broadside of solid nine inch shot,
and thirteen pounds of powder, at a
distance Of not more than twelve feet.
The iron clads were closing upon her,
and the Hartford and the rest of the
fleet were bearing down on her, when
at a. IN. she surrepdered.
The rest of the rebel fleet, viz, the
Morgan and Gaines, succeeded in get
ting back under the protection of Fort
Morgan. 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 am
putated. ga
Having had many ofmy men wound
ed, and the Surgeon of the Tennessee
being very desirous to have Admiral
Buchanan removed to the hospital, ]
sent a flag of truce to the commanding
officer of Fort Morgan, Brigadier Gen
eral Richard L. Page, to say that if he
would allow the wounded Of the fleet,
as well as the rebels, to be taken to
Pensacola, where they could be better
cared for than here, / would send our
one of our vessels, provided she would
be allowed to return, bringing back
what she did not take out. i 4 an
Gen, Page consented, and the Meta
comet was dispatched. The total loss
OH our side was 40 killed and SO wound
ed.
On the rebel ram Tennessee were
captured 20 officers and about 17O
men. On the Selma were taken 80
officers and men. will send detailed
dispatch by the first opportunity
Very respectfully, your obed't serv't,
ID. G.. FARRAGUT,
r. A. G. w. G. B. Squadron.