Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-18
IN MoBIhUs BAY.
How a Farragut Passed the Forts and
Fought the Confederate Fleet.

From ne Washington Star.
CATER the Hartford took the lead"
the narrative of the fight in Mobile
INV from the diary Of sailor on the
hartford, Fort Morgan on our right,
tort Games on our left, Fort Powell and
me Confederate fleet ahead, all seemed
n concentrate their dre upon her and
made il warm work for us on board. We
NOW changed our charges from shot and
:bell to grape aud canister, with which
Ne showered Fort Morgan. The smoke
became so thick that little could be seen
rom our decks. The admiral, VINO had
remained about the poop-deck and lower
mlzzen rigging, now came FORWARD, WIN
gbout four fathOms OF small rope cOlleu
n mis- left hand. SprInging from gun
% the hammock netting, he started Slowly
up the main rigging, apparently more Se-
sorbed in watching the battle Win 1is
glasses than IN his own movements ne
fingered for awhile half way up, out as
the smoka thickened he continued the as
cent until he was directly under the top.
Here he passed an end OF the rope over
one of the puttOck shrOuds, ana geIIlng
between both parts, which formed long
loon coming under his arms, ne neld the
ends at his breast with MS lelC mana,
while he used his glasses with ms right.
He remained in this position through
most OF the battle, but just as we entered
the bay he went into the top with the
Slot. The above is all there was to the
historic and interesting story about his
being dashed to the mast. In the mean
lime the old familiar scene OF Wild ac-
Hyity was enacted on the deck, but
without the slightest confusion. Scarcely
word was spoken, so intent was every
man upon his own work. The well
trained guns seemed imbued with life
and were as restless as their crews. The
captain would aim them as they were
run out. throwing up his left arm as a
signal to stand clear, and firing as they
reached the port. The guns would then
bound back, recOiling from the discharge.
The hurried run OF powder boys and
shellmen from the magazines at the steer
age and tire matches, with supplies FOR
their guns, added to the apparent confu-
sion. The noise from the cannon was so
great and so continuous that it was inn
possible to distinguish a single report.
We could hear, however, the peculiar
scream of shot passing over US, the burst
ting OF shell and the quick swapping crash
of those that struck. The cut rigging
swung aloft or fell upon the deck. The
men were smeared and begrimed with
burnt powder, and the smell of it was al
most sufocatlng.
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED
were hurried from all parts of the ship TO
the main hatchWay, when they were
placed in a swinging cot and lowered to
the temporary hospital in the main hold.
One poor fellow, when placed in the cot,
attempted to turn in his agony and fell
nearly thirty feet, and ended his suffer-
ings. The explosion OF one she'll killed or
nil a No @ (4nna |
and were disabled by the loss OF fifteen
men until REINFORCED from other guns.
Men were dropping all over the ship. A
mau working at one side would the next
moment be hurried to the main hatch 10
his last agonies. The decks and sides
were smeared and tracked with blood,
which ran in crooked streams to the
seuppers. Mangled portions OF the hu-
man body we're showed into Out-oi-the-
way places or stuck to the sides, ropes
and masts. These were some of the
sights on the Hartford during her pas
sage through the deadly storm of shot,
she'll and tOrpedoes between Fort Morgan
and Fort Gaines. During this time Capt.
Dravton remained about the DOop-deck,
glasses in hand, nearly always accom-
panied by Lieut.. j. G. Watson, the signal
officer, who invariably wore the same
agreeable smile, whether fighting or con-
versing.
Commander Kimberly, speaking trum-
pet in hand, slowly walked fore and aft
the main deck, always the first to be pre-
sent at any mishap and experimenting
the care of the killed and wounded. After
one hour of this murderOus work we
cleared the iron hail OF the DO It's and en-
tered the bay, where the enemy's fleet
awaited US. They were formed in line on
the right or east side of the channel.
fhe monster ram Tennessee, the nearest,
advanced to meet us. We now loaded
with solid shot, and the guns were trained
sharp forward. Neglecting all else for
,he moment, we gave her the benefit OF
our whole bToadsides until we had passed
her. Much to our surprise, she gave us
no more attention than to return our
fire, and then continued in the direction
of the engagements at the forts. We
werel now more than a mile inside the
bay, but the rest of the feet seemed not
TO have recovered from the confusion
caused by the Brooklyn, as none of them
had yet appeared inside the forts. The
Hartford was now beset by the whole Of
the enemy's fleet, the Selma ahead and
raking US, the Gaines on our star board
BOW, the Morgan on our starbOard beam
and the Tennessee astern, all keeping up
arspid and destructive fire. The Selma
lid the greatest damage and raked US
lore ana ait. her position aued0 was
such that we could bring only the one
f0recastle gun 10 bear on her. and shot
rom her disabled that killing half its
crew. One Of them was literally
BLOWN TO ATOMS,
nothing remaining but his boots, which
we're found in different parts Of the ship.
commander Jouett hailed the admiral for
permission 10 90 forward and engage the
selma and the request was granted. The
Hartford and the MetacOmet, which up
10 this time had been lashed together,
we're now hurriedly cut loose, COmman-
der Jouett himself cutting many Of the
iastenings with Ratchet. The Meta
comet was the fastest vessel in tue feet,
and, IN few moments, was spinning
anead, receiving hearty cheer as she
LEFT the Hartford. We now gave our
whole attention 10 the Morgan and Gaines.
The Tennessee either thought US 10 in
significant or that the other three gun
boats would take care Of us. for she con
unued in the direction Of the forts. Our
eroadsldes soon proved too much tor the
Morgan and the Gaines, tor the former
aauled OF in the direction OF Fort Morgan
aud the latter ran for the beach in a sink
ing condition and grounded 10 avoid sink
~ about half "A mile from Fort Morgan,
"here she was fred and abandoned by
ser crew. After the Metacomet cast OF
rom the Hartford she gradually gained
on tne selma. Iney were equal In the
aumber ofguns aud men and a desperate
unning hght followed FOR nearly an hour,
When the Mafnnrrnaf hoortlaH and nan