Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-27

THE BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY.
A Sailors Record OF q Famous Sea-
Fight.
HOW ADMIRAL FARRAGUT "DAMNED THE
TORpEDoEs" AND WENT AHEAD-THE SINK
ING OF THE TEcUMsEH-A VIVID DEscR1P-
TON FROM AsEAMAN's DIARY.
The following description OF the beginning OF
the attack on Mobile by the fleet under CON-
mand OF Admiral Farragut, was copied by
STAR reporter from the diary of sailor who
was on board the Hartford, from which were
taken the sketches of the Mississippirive bat
ties that appeared in THE STAR some time ago:
"Ihe Hartford arrived at New Orleans July
Ioth, 1853, after taking part in the various en-
gagements on the Mississippi river, which re-
suited in giving US possession of the river from
its source to its mouth. Admiral Farragut had
given orders for an immediate attack on Mo
bile, but board of survey decided that the
Hartford was so torn and weakened that she
could not engage In any more battles without
repairs, SO we started ut once for New 7 ork:
Alter thorough Overhauling of both nun ana
/ rigging at New York the Hartford put to sea
again about the 22d of December, 1858, ana
narlved at New Orleans early in January Fpe
Mobile. Our stay in New Orleans was short
one.
STRIPPING READY FOR THE FIGHT.
AiiiNluS dG IenSdCOld we SJrlppeU Iuc sup
to her fighting trim. The other ships of our
fleet that were to take part in the battle were
also stripped, many OF them taking aboard
heavy guns where there was room to work
them. 1t was while we were at Pensacola that
the admiral received information that the ram
Mobile, and with the confederate feet, was
about to attack our vessels on the blockade.
fne Hartford with the other vessels OF the
MoDlle blockade. We anchored in the center
of the halfcircle formed by our feet around
the entrance to Mobile bay and between four
ana i've miles from the forts. We had a good
view OF our enemy: On the east side of the en-
, ira E and occupying the whole point Of land
ana guns, commanding the main ship chan
G Gel; On pauPhin Island opposite, was Fort
miles within the bay Fort Powell
commanded Grant pass, an entrance from Mis-
sshs Sa sound behind Dauphn island About
mouth of the bay and nearer to our fleet lay
sand island, a barren pile of sand, on which
nothing could be seen but the remains OF
horse which was said to have fallen overheard
from ship load that was being landed at Fort
NC early In the war. From where we lay
we could watch the movements of the ram
tennessee and the enemy's fleet behind Fort
Morgan. An occasional deserter would tell us
the fleet by the people of the city and forts, and
that they were only waiting for favorable
weather to come out and
SINK THE YANKEE FLEET
doubt the intention of Admiral Buchanan, but
the arrival of the vessels from Pensacola and
the continued increase of our fleet from all
points at this time rather put him on the de-
d1hslve: Blockading was not the most agree
side and the great waste of waters ON the other.
Ihere was no communication with the outer
world except through the irregular mail boats
from the north. We were continually on the
alert for blockade runners. Our ships lay thick
around the mouth OF the bay ana some were i'm
riad N no
blockade, few succeeding, however We also
experienced some terrific storms and many of
the heavy guns broke from their mOorings,
which ii not captured and secured at once or
let overheard, would be certain destruction to
the ship. The Hartford was singularly fortu-
nate In this respect, being one of the best sea
boats in the fleet, if not in the navy. Often she
lay comparatively comfortable while other
ships rolled about with their lower yards under
water. On the LIST OF August, 1868 two mont
tors arrived from the north and anchored just
out of range of the enemy's guns inside Sand
Island. Three days later two double-turreted
monitors arrived from the Mississippi river
and took position with the others. All the YES
sells that were to take part in the battle were
now present-sixteen wooden vessels and four
ironclads besides large humber of mail and
freight boats.
BOLD BLOCKADE RUNNER.
On the night OF the LIST OF August an English
blockade runner succeeded in getting through
the fleet. She was so pressed by our gunboats,
however, that she ran too close to shore and
grounded as she reached Fort Morgan. The
admiral was much annoyed that such a large
amount of supplies should be landed at the fort
at this time. He Immediately ordered an ex-
petition of two boats from each OF the larger
ships to go in that night and cut her out or de-
strOy her. The expedition was composed of
about one hundred men, in ten boats They
left the Hartford about 10 p. m, and returned
at 3 a. M, reporting that the vessel could not
be found. When this failure reported to
the admiral he was still more annoyed, and,
calling Lieut.. }. Z. Watson, of his staff, he said:
Mr.. Watson, take the barge crew. want YOU
to go in tonight and destroy that vessel
There could not have been a more agreeable
selection to the men who were to form the eX-
petition. Lieut.. Watson, by his cool, deter
mined bravery on many previous occasions, had
established confidence that no other officer
could inspire. was one Of the barge crew, and
we were soon making preparations The men
among them who did not want to go. There
was no answer. We were ordered to wear white
caps, that we might better distinguish our men
man was provided with a revolver. cutlass and
carbine. The boat was also supplied with COM
bustible matter with which to fire the blockade
runner. Soon after dark We pulled alongside
the steamer Metacomet, which lowed us within
three miles of Fort Morgan. We then cast off
and rOwed in the direction of the fort which
now doomed up in the darkness just ahead We
soon distinguished the blockade runner lying
in the shadow of the tort. We headed direct
for her, and boarded her on the forward part of
her starboard wheelhouse. After short strug-
gle her crew were driven before US, and escap-
ing from the ship to the fort gave the alarm
We now distributed the cOmbustibles and
placing a large tank OF powder in the center of
her machinery, set her on fire. After seeing
the flames wei. started we returned to our boat
under heavy fire from Fort Morgan, which
was kept up until we had pulled out of range
The shot made the water foam about us, but
fortunately none struck US, and we reached our
ship about daylight, without loss accident.
PREPARING FOR BATTLE.
AT 3 a. m. on the 9th of August, 1864 all
hands were called and served with coffee and
hard tack. No preparations were needed, as
we lay ready for action at a moments notice.
About $40 a. m. the Hartford signaled the
fleet to get under way and form in line OF bat
tie. The ships were soon all in motion, and
were dashed together, two by two, a large and a
small one, SO that in case one should become
disabled or be sunk by torpedoes the other
could afford relief. AS we moved ahead the
ships formed in the following ORDER The Brook
Ign, Commander James Alden, with the Octo-
rora Lieut.. j.. II. Green, dashed on her port side;
the flagship Hartford, Capt p. Drayton, with
the Metacomet. Lieut.. James e. .Jouett; the
Richmond, Commander L. A. Jenkins with the
Port Royal, Lieut.. Il. Gherardi; the Lackawanna
Capt. j. Il. Merchant, with the Seminole, Com
mander b. Donaldson; the MOnongahela, Com
mander j. II. Strong, with the Kennebec. Lieut.
w. T. McCann; the Ossipee, Commander w. F.
Leroy, with the Itasca, Lieut.. Geo. Brown; the
Oneida, Commander j. T. Mullaney, with the
Gaiena, Lieut.. G. II. Wells. The four mon
iiors, Tecumseh, Comde L. A. NJ. Craven; the
Manhattan, Com'der J. Nicholson: Winneba-
go, Com der L. A. Stevens, and Chickasaw, Lieut.
Z. IL. Perkins, formed a line abreast of the four
leading ships, and between them and Fort