The National tribune., 1889-08-22
MOBILE BAY.
One OF the Greatest Naval Engagements or Modern
Times

lost Mt the battle of Mobile Bay, but was sorry
that Comrade Thompson cut his yarn so
short.
A quarter of century has elaped since that
battle was fought Our Government and people
are renewing their interest in naval matters,
and large preparations are being made for the
representation Of naval battle at Milwaukee
during Encampment week. Ii seems TO me that
that would be cit time and place for grand
Reunion of navy men, especially those who
served in the Mobile fleet; 3d. with a view to
excite tho interest of the naval vets, not TO
bring down shower of criticism, offer the
following "Reminiscences of q "blue-jacket"
The 9Th of August, 1864, is still vivid in the
memory of the survivors of that fierce contest
A month before, on July z, the monitor Man
haitian arrived Mt Pensacola, and Immediately
the rumor became current In the blockading
feet off Mobile that preparations were being
made for an attack on the rebel defenses at an
early day, which were verified by subsequent
events.
The prospect of battle was not altogether
distasteful TO those who had been rolling and
pitching at anchor on that blockade for many
months. The land lubbers" aboard had got
on their "sea legs" pretty well, but wero per-
fectly willing to renounce that accomplishment
If they could get to smooth water inside the
bay.
On July 20 the monitor Manhattan arrived
off Mobile and anchored near Sand Island, just
inside the bar, at the entrance to the main ship
channel, on account of smooth water.
On August two light-draft ironclads from
the Mississippi squadron arrived--the Winnie
hago and Chickasaw--qu eer-looking craft each
having two turrets, armed with 1l-incb guns
The fleet was further reinforced by the arrival
Of the monitor Tecumseh.
The latter part of July and the first four days
of August were busy days of preparation. Sew
eral ships from the feet made trips in turn to
Pensacola, our nearest supply station, for light
repairs, coal, provisions ammunition, etc. Our
ship, the Port Royal, was the last to 20 on this
errand, and on the evening of August we
steamed out of Pensacola harbor. with schoon-
er in tow loaded with ammunition, for the feet
We arrived of Mobile soon after daylight on
the memorable 5th
The feet was soon under weigh, the COM
manders Of vessels having received their orders
beforehand. The sun rose in spendor and dis
PEELED the msts of morning as the fleet steamed
slowly over the bar into the main ship chan
mel. Theironeads Manhattan, Tecumseh, Win
nebago aud Chickasaw took the lead, aud were
followed by the wooden vessels. which were
dashed together in pairs in the following order:
the Brooklyn and 0ctorora, Hartford and Met
tacomet, Richmond and Port Royal, Lacka-
wanna and Seminole, Monongabela and Galena,
0sspee and Itasca, Oneida aud Kennebec.
The larger vesses--tbe first. named Of each
pair-were on the starboard, and had 10 bear
the brunt of the fight, while the smaller ones
were to throw in shot as opportunity offered,
and TO tow their consorts through into the bay
In case their machinery was disabled by tho
enemy's shot The aeet was slowly advancing
being borue in on the food tide, each pair of
vessels following the preceding pair as closely
as due regard for safety admitted.
Our antagonists were on the alert and ready
for Us. Fort Morgan, originally one of our best
AaF. I.-1 A.
ened by the Confederates. It's armament
mainly Of heavy guns OF English make, which
completely raked the ship channel from the
bar to the inner bay, with a water-battery of
IL heavy guns covering the channel immedi-
ately In front, seemed sufficient 10 defy the
strongest naval force that could be brought 10
bear upon IT, But tho Confederates did not
trust 10 those deieHses alone, for they bad
planted the channel thickly with submerged
torpedocs In front of the water battery: leaving
narrow space clear. however, along the beach
for the accommodation of blockade. runners
A knowledge Of that fact, gained in some
way by Admiral Farfagut, doubtless proved
the salvation of several ships and many lives,
and contributed largely 10 tho success of the
battle Inside Of Mobile Point and the torpedo
line was the Confederate navy, drawn an 10
battle array, consisting OF the wooden gunboafs
Morgan, Gaines and Selma and the formidable
ironclad ram Tennessee, the most powerful
vessel that the Confederatcs ever had and
armed with battery of 100 pound rified guns
Of English make; all under command Of Ad-
miral Buchanan, formerly United States naval
officer.
Fort Gaines, situated on Dauphln Island, TO
the westward. did not give much trouble 10
being at long range, and the garrison was
busy watching q division OF Union troops,
under Gen. Granger, who were GA the Island
in their rear.
The battle being set in order on both sides.
we will now proceed with the movements Of
the Union feet which at this moment was
slowly advancing towards Fort Morgan. Every
vessel Was decked out with bunting. presenting
the appearance OF q Fourth of July review
rather than the approach TO sanguinary con-
fiiet.
The spectacle. as Viewed from tho parapets
Of the forts, must have been grand, and be-
leving, as they doubtless did, that our feet
was destined TO sure destruction could they
repress feeling Of regret that dire disaster
was to end this grand display
On board OF the feet all was quiet; each man
had bis duty assigned. and every one was ut
his post. The guns had been loaded, aud the
crews stood with sponge, ramner and hand.
spike Ia hand ready for work. Some hearta
beat O reveille beneath tho blue navy shirts ;
some faces were bianched, perhapa, not with
fear, but as brave men, having stern duty 20
perform, do IL, contemplating the awful posi-
bilities Of the next hour, when, the conflict
over, they perhaps may be writing ia agony
under the Surgeons knife. or their poor bodies,
all mangled apd torn, may DO sewed up In q
hammock. with round shot Mt their feet, and
launched into the sea-food for tho raycnous
sharks.
II has been truly said that the short time
preceding the opening Of battle Is the most
trying 10 a soldiers nerves.
All bands were waiting in o state OF expect
aney, when Mt about 6.30 a. m. n boom was
heard and volume of smoke belched forth
from the Tecumsehs big guns, and the ball
was opened. Now all was excitement aud
eagerness 10 SOC what was going on ahead One
after another the four iTonclads, at short inter-
walls, sent forth their huge missiles but did not
elicit reply until about o'clock, when Fort
Morgan, the ram Tennessee and the three rebel
gunboats opened q spirited fire on the ad yanc.
ing feet. Twenty minutes later the ironclads
were ia short range. abreast Of the fort, and
the fight waxed hotter and hotter as the lead
ing ships advanced 10 position where their
broadside guns would bear on the fort, when
| the Inflated Tecumseh, steering her course
somewhat farther out from the shore, ran on
| TO the snnken torpedoes. one of which exploded,
crushing In her bottom, and she sunk almost
instantly, entombing all Of her crew who were
| below decks The gunners and pilot escaped
| by jumping into the water aud swimming for
their lives, and they were soon picked up by O
boat from the hlettacomet.
This appalling catastrophe caused moment
| airy hesitation In the leading ships, and there
was danger for a time that the vessels OF the
| Union fleet would fall afoul of each other.
| whick might have caused irretrievable disaster
| but signal flags were soon auttering from the