Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-08-26

that port useless to the enemy, had long
been lavorite project with the naval com
mander in the Gulf; but IL was not until
late in the summer of 1864 that he was sup
piled with the requisite force. A combined
attack was arranged for the 9th of August,
and was made with success. The enemy
were confident of their ability to repulse
their assailants, relying much on the pow
er of their famous armored ship, the Ten
nessee, supposed to be the most powerful
war vessel in the world. They handled
her well, and she and her associates made
n vigorous resistance, and were most gal
lantly sustained by the forts; but all re-
sistance proved vain i'm the end, though
more than once in the course of the action
the event seemed doubtful. The Tennes-
see was taken, and all the rest of the enc
my's naval force destroyed; and on the
9th one of the forts was abandoned, and
another surrendered on the sth. The third
held held out to the 23d, when 1t succumb-
ed under tremendous bombardment.
These successes destroyed Mobile as port
of the enemy. There was no more block
ade breaking heard of in that quarter.
Like all his exploits, Rear-Admiral Far
raguts actions at Mobile combined to an
extraordinary extent usefulness with brill
liancy, utility and daring. The whole
country was full of his praise, and the re-
gard in which he was held was unalloyed
by any feeling of doubt or envy. Foreign
countries were almost as loud in his praise
as our own. The English, who are good
naval critics, took the lead, and were as
warm in lauding him as they were in sing
ing the greatness of Gen. Lee. The Lon
don United Service Magazine, which was
by no means given to speaking favorable
of our commanders, said, "Farragut is
Columbia's Nelson," the highest praise an
Engishman could bestow on a foreign ma
val officer The Prince dc Joinvlle said
of the battle near Mobile, 1.-The Americans
there accomplished feat of arms of which
they have reason to be proud, for there is
not more transcendent one in the naval
history of our time and the slNiliulness,
the energy shown on this occasion, as in so
many others by Admiral Farragut, incon-
testably place him in the first rank among
the naval officers of all nations
In November, 1864, Rear-Admiral Far
ragut went to Washington to give his
views with regard to certain contemplated
naval operations. The next month he re-
ceived the thanks of Congress, and the
grade of Vice-Admiral was created for our
navy, and he was appointed to hold it,
which placed him, under the President, at
the head of the naval service. \ number
of New York merchants gave him the sum
of $4,000. He had done SO much in the
fighting line that he had had no opportuni-
ty to make a fortune us a catcher of block
ade breakers. In 1867 and 1868 he made
his memorable cruise in the U. ). steam
frigate Franklin, which occupied period
of seventeen months, during which time
he visited every country in Europe, touch
ed at Asia and Africa, and was everywhere
received in a manner and with an enthusi-
asm which is unparalleled in the annals of
| international courtesies.
Admiral Farragut was twice married.
| His first wife, native of Norfolk, died
young and at the end of some years he
married Miss Virginia Loyal, also of Nor
| forl, and belonging to a well known family
| ono Of whose number was long member
| of Congress. and subsequently held a civil
appointment in the Norfolk navy yard.
Mrs. Farragut is a lady OF great worth, and
is warmly esteemed by all who know her.
Her only child, Loyal Farragut, belongs
to the United States army.