The National tribune., 1892-02-11


would oppose the entrance TO the bay Of the
Admiral and his squadron. by looking al the
accompanying map the reader will perceive
that the bay is shaped somewhat ike a funnel,
gradually narrowing from the entrance TO the
city. The entrance is protected by Mobile
Point, a long marrow arm Of sand extending
from the mainland westerly. ON its extreme
western point stands Fort Morgan, mounting
a. guns Of the heaviest caIber. Across the
channel from Fort Morgan, distance of about
three miles, is Dauphin Island, narrow strip
Of sand, on the eastern point Of which is stu
ated Fort Gaines, mounting Fl guns and is
directly opposite Font Morgan. short dis
tauce up the bay, in a E0rthwcstcrly direction,
and about midway between Little DauPhin
Island aud Cedar Point. IS Shell Island, upon
which stands Fort Powell, q small fort built OF
sand, and mounting eight or nine guns.
THE DEFENzEs AFLoAr
consisted Of the ironrlad ram Tennessee, plated
with a thickness of six inches of iron and
carrying a battery Of four lO-iuch coiumbiads
and two 71.inrh Brooke rifles. She had speed
Of seven aud "a halt knots. The Tennessee
was the flagship Of Commodore Franklin Buc-
hanan, who commanded the ram Merrimac in
her memorable battle with the little Monitor
ia Hampton Roads Va. Besides the Teuncs.
see the Conicler4tes had three gunb0ats-the
Selma, Gaines, aud Morgan. Tho rebel cngi.
uccTs had made every effort 10 make the main
channel jmpassabie The water way between
Forts Gaines and Morgan was obstructed for
more than tWO-thirds Of its width By a line 81
piles extending from Fort Gaines 10 the edge Of
the main channel, which passed close 10 Fort
Morgan, and which compelled every vessel en-
toring the bay 10 pass close under the guns Of
the latter work. But the most dangerous OF
all the obstacles that ObstructCd the passage be-
tween the forts were the tOrpcdUcs the deadly
character oi which was well known to some Of
the naval officers from experience. Quite
Humb Der Of the internal machines were planted
in the main channel directly opposite Fort
Morgan, beneath the surface Of the water, in
such way as 10 be struck By passing vessels,
and TO explode on contact. A gap OF 800 yards
4 was left u the line Of t0rpcloes, through which
1 TIE biOckade-ranners could pass IN aud out.
/ This gap was, however, only known 10 the
I pilots on the runners. The most OF the
/ heaviest guns Of Font Morgan had a command
/ ing range down the channel especially the
i il guns that composed the water battery con
ncetud with the fort
IN the latter part Of February Admiral Far
ragnt made an unsuccessful attempt 10 batter
4 down Fort Powell which guards Grand Pass
The entrance 10 the bay from Mississippi sound
4 through which channel De hoped TO pass some
+ 81 his lighter EuubOats. The bombaFdment
lasted FROM The pa Of February 10 the 2d Of
March without d0nP the work any serious
damage, owing, perhaus 10 the great distance
4 1900 yards 40 which tie bonn bardmeul took
place. In view Of
THE FORMIDABLE DEFESsEs
on land, the deadly character Of the tornadoes.
I aud Commodore Buchanan's fleet, including
the Tennessee, the most formidable r0nclad
ram the C9nicdCratcs ever built, Admiral Far
Iagut came 10 the conclusion that 10 attack the
delrUscs with his wooden ships would be ex-
trrmely hazardous aud would ia all probability
Hr.. b nHH H . ..HHH. HNH O NJ.
20 Tho powers That be at Washington 10
have an addition made 10 his wooden feet of
one Dr two IT0uciaas, which was granted Not
only two but four ITJuC.aGs Of the monitor
class were ordered 10 report 10 him. But not
until The latter part Of July did they make
their appearance The Manhattan. Commander
j. W. a. Nicholson, was tho first % arrive and
report Tor duty. few days later the two
duub.e-turFC,ed monitors Cb.cEasaw, Llrutcn-
ant Commander q. IN. Perkins, aud Winnie
bago Commander y. lI. stevens, arrived from
AeB Orleans, they having been detached from
The Mississippi Squadron, aud on the evening
81 Aug. q iAe Richmond hove IN sight towing
1 Tho ll-talel IucgmsDh, Commander II. a,
4 3l. Craven Tie 4uCuMseh aud Manhattan
were sing c-tuwgggi aud carried two lJ-inch
guns each. The other two monitors were
double tgrrcted and carried four ll-inch guns
each The vessels having au arrived aud an
being prepared lOr Tie 4RAt, no further delay
Waa necessary.
Two days previous 10 The day appointed fol
iAc attack l.lg Admiral. iu company with iAa
, commander yi tile vessels 0f his Gccl made \
, reconnaissance uB tAe tug CJwslip as far q,
sand Island, under Tie Ice of which the m0ui
tors were anchored. After rcquainting them,
solves with the lay of The land and inspect
5 Jug tAc monitors eHc Of which was ordered q
send shell in toward Fort Gaines which
INrLoDID NEAR ITS BASE,
the commanding officers repaired 10 the Aag
ship to make iual arrangements for the attack
This lual meeting Of thc officers was only note
worthy from ihc fact that il was here that tA,
I 1 Admiral was OyCrPeTauaded 10 give up hi
4 original determination TO lead the fleet inl,
4 battle This was much against his own julg
mcnt. aud The events Of next day proved tia
De was right. Tho Brooklyn, Capt. Alden
was lnaly selected 10 take the lead she brinl
provided with an eXiemp5rized t0lpedo-catchcr
/ Daylight WAS just beginning TO struppl
through dense log on the morning Of the 81
Ol August at about o'clock, when the Zee
began 10 get under way aud the vessels 20 NOV
into the positions 10 which they had beol
, assigned. The precautions necessary for ma
q uuyarng through Tho fog made an unavoia
q able delay FOR t was the Admiral's intention
, Eaf&rat1 avyes re-e%aRF~