Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-10-07
Correspondence.
y. S. S. " kENNEBBc," "
August Eth, 1864

DkAR PARENTS -
informed you in my last that pre-
parations were nearly completed Tor run
ming he gauntlet of the forts, defending
the entrance to Mobile Bay those
preparations after several unavoidable
delays, were completed on the evening of
the 4th inst, and the Admiral had
ordered the trial to be made on the morn
ing of the 5,h.
The fleet lay together off the bar
through the night, distant about six miles
from the forts, and at $50 A. NJ. Of the
9th, the shrill piping OF the Boatswsin's
whistle could be heard on the various
ships composing the fleet, followed by the
order i" all hands and up all hamnocks.'
after which came coffee for all hands /;
then the ships proceeded to make the
final preparations Of making fast to con-
sorts previous to taking position in linc
Of battle, which was assumed in the fol-
lowing order : first one single turretod
monitor, then = double turrted monitor,
followed by another s,nyle turrted monitor
then in the rear another doable turrted
one making an advance division of four
monitors which advanced towards the
formidable rebel defences, at the mouth
of the bay Immediately behind the
monitors came Admiral Farragut's for
midable feet of wooden walls and iron
hearts. The wooden ships were lashcd
together in pairs as | will name them,
and in the following order
Brooklyn 2S guns, and Octorora 10;
Hartford % guns, and Metacomet 10;
Richmond "a guns, and Port Royal S !;
Sackawana IA guns, and Seminole 9 4,
Monosgahela II, and kennebec :;
Ossipec l3, and Stasca 4 Galena IA
and Oneida 10 making fleet of IS
vessels of all classes, mounting POI guns
all calibres. Line being formed at about
Ga. ~, the Hartford made signals to
{" ADVANCE" and at 6 Is started. steaming
slowly towards the entrance of the bay.
Beat to quarters and cleared ships for
action. At go signals from the Hart
ford" close order Of steaming; $50
ships in close order steaming ahead slow
", and crossing the Bar. at 6.35 over
the bar, and the whole line hauled up tor
fort Morgan. at seven the fleet stopped to
close up and get into line of battle
Monitors got into position little aaead,
and on starboard bow Of the leading ship.
The rebel. having no ammunition to waste
at long range did not open fire till 7:lO,
they firing the first gun, but neither one
gun, nor one thousand guns, gould make
our lion hearted commander-in-chiei alter
his course or change his purpose. Then
the answer was sent from our monitor
and the famous old Brooklyn, and the
feet displayed upon every mast and peak
the glorious flag Of our coahtry, while the
rebels unfuried upon the opposing battle
ments, the flag for which they have sacri-
feed the comforts Of a happy and pros
porous country; and while the fleet
steamed slowly ahead, it presented more
the picture of some gala day, than the
approach Of fearful aud deadly s.rug'
Gle. As each successive ship came into
range it opened fire, and the csnnonadlng
became fast and furious. Solid shot
hurtled aud shells and rife projec,iles
whistled through the air like so many
demons, and the many that failed to reach
the mark for which they had been aimed
dashed the waters Of the bay (into foam
- they went ricocheting over it. When
the monitors reached a position opposite
and near the fort, they moved slightly tc
the right, and out of line of the wooden
ships, and paid particular attention Il
keeping the garrison in the fort busy and
diverting their attention to some extsn
from the wooden ships. Now the rebe
gunboats, Morgan, Gaines, Selma and the
great ram Tennessee, came out from be
hind the fort, and opened fire on th'
wooden ships. At7:40 the action became
general and the firing most terrific, there
being at this time over two hundred o
the very heaviest cannon belcaing forth
fame aud smoke, and throwing their de
structiye and deadly missiles at each on