The New York herald., 1864-08-27

would respectfully your about the place
The forty six empty Gne; an ysFy re.pssSy &C.
and Engineer IN charge Of Lower Bay Line.
major General D. H. MAumY Mobile
TIE FORMIDABLE MATURE FARRAcrr's UNDERTAKING.
Here, then is range Of forts aud batteries OF the
tons nne the Intervals covering every snproach 90 ,be
bay and extending over semicircuar line OF eighteen
miles IN length Two o. the forts Morgan and Gaines
Dor defence, BY tho general in time OF peace
upon which vast sums OF money and infinite labor had
been expended. They arc complete with bsstion walls
bitches, gaces, raveses bombproofs and every other
appliance OF strength and security. mounted with the
moet approved modern guns, fully garrisoned, pro-
visoned and stocked with boundless stores OF ammu.
milton. In face Of these 1t impossible for vessel
10 enter the bay from any direction without encounter
Eg most destructive cross hpe that would be de
strucon 70 any ordinary ship, and against which
bold attempt for powerful fleet to move Even should
the fire Of the forts be resisted the torpedoes
filling the channels threatened their destruction et every
STEP while unseen and visible obstrucons liable TO
stop their approach at any point where the enemys art
lery could have the most damaging effect
THs REBEL FLEET
Behind this formidable line OF defensive works
and appliances were moored feet OF i've
gunboats carrying the heaviest armament pro-
durable within the rebel lines and at least, the
most complete ana nvuneraoe specimen OF naval arch
lecture aoat that seemed confident alone and unsided
TO defy any feet however strong.
THB HKR0 OF THE UNDERTAKING.
Such was Mobile bay less Than week ago, and
such the formidable character OF its defence But
the time hsd come when II was deemed proper by the
drive the rebel force that occupied into the gradually
but surely narrowing limits allotted them. The task of
accomplishing this herculeap work committed 10 the
joint and land forces that have for long time been
operating in the Gulf. Tho naval OF the expedition
was committed TO Rear Admiral u. g. Farragut, whose
indomitabe will. untiring perseverance,, unaaunted
bravery and wonderful genius forced his fleet OF wooden
ships past Forts Jackson and s., Philip earlier IN the
at later date assisted materially in the reduc
,ou OF the cusaide batteries vcksburg and In tho
whole history Of the war; though more actively and
tnuousiy employed than any other naval officer in
mand OF neos has suffered defeat 10 attempt
euogy on sush IN officer would be simply q work OF
supererrosation. His 10 familiar in every house.
hold IN the land, and bis daring exploits and grand
yARRAGuTs FLEET.
" NOS my privilege AZ this time 20 speak particularly
Of the vesseis composing the squadron under Admiral
FarrARuts command The names OF most OF the ships
and gunboats well their armameuts known 70
the rebels, who have good TO hold them
but there are points Ia the organization Of feet, as
there are 10 the ocmposition OF grand army that
would be msniiestly improper 70 make public long
Hartordthat heroic old ship that has carried the Ad
miras flag through the war; the BROOKLYN and Rich.
Laokawanna, Monop. .ahela Oneida, Kenuebeok Seminole
and 0ssipee ships grade lover "a TO size and weight
o. armament but equally conspicuous for ser
ing and effective guubosts ketaconet, octorara,
Port Royal, itasca and Gaena--such vesse's are
the land. 1hese are but portion OF Farraguts inn.
mense nee but such the seiecied or the dan
sess two Monitor sunpo.,, from ,ss
sea coast the Manhattan and Tecumseh were added n
the feet especial raference this work and also
two double urretted boats OF the general patern
from the Mississippi river-tbe Chckasaw and Whine.
bagothe latter OF which, however was equivalent to
but singe boat because Of the failure OF it's for
ward turrst TO work This EAds turret, pus %
N experiment, promising Improvements the Ercs-
SON. b,t kSe many such ocstly experiments that have
been made though excellent IN theory, decidedly
worthless In practice,
This doet then consisted OF nye Monitor turretscur
vesecscarryne six eleven iuch and four fifteen inch
Dahgrea guns sbrec ss class aoos Of war, having
aggregate armament OF SIX one hundred FOUNDER Par.
rots six t&y pounder PARROTS and ny four nine inch
Dahh,rens; stx slodpe Of the second and third
class. having N aggregate OF ABOUT Twelve one
hundred pcundvr PARROTS and sevestytwo nine.
inch guns. ami Eve sunboats, carrying hundred.
poundsr Psrsoits and nine ard elevennch Dahgrsus,
with fev rssd guns of less cssbrein all eighteen
sells carrying aa aggregate N say two hundred guns oil
N the most ayppcved pattern and heavy caora OF
these vessels Nxrteen were woodep and four ron'
IN addition nv fNis aset OF actual attack considerable
squsdron wse ssv lay outside the bay as reserve,
and also with sh hong range guns to make diversion
the souih aoa sethsassefp fronts OF Fort Morgan
white detlwhment a four euntoats Ia Mississippi
Sound operated asa Vst fcSt POWELL
---------aas~xstv tvv - cr vSA woon's fsssis go, !,
win be rensbe we'd thst all the soops mentioned In
ths squadron ~ Nvsd by stoam In addition TO thor
ssiis Thsr auSniafN motive Towsrs are prepsller
screws The euspas oil which and portions ~ the boilers
81 some Of them are sbO ~ the rstcr ne. Anticipating
ateme doua IRE passing the forts these Slope we're
~ prevonsy sent to Pens Nnoa 10 ~ ter the action
~ uter surefuous r,ee,ue ard their stssboard sdes
me sides t~t would BE- exposed - me hfe ot
No Nrgan--c -capcsite fnerA rngiucs' ana b9ilcrs,
ctvred wth nA4in piA.inG, s2 uhtG passing