The morning call., 1894-01-07

eral months patrOlling this part of the
river and planning with Grant, Porter aud
Banks Tor further concerted action.
Early In the year, three heavy guns hav-
ing been sent down by the enemy from
RlckSburg for Farragut's special benefit. u
thew gave him warm reception at Grand
Gull. But Farragut being better prepared
than when last he had passed that wav
returned their compliment with cordial
celebrity and satisfactory effectiveness
At length, Admiral Porter having ar.
rived to take command of this EXPEDITION.
FaTragut returned to New Orleans, leav-
ing the Hartford and Albatross at the
mouth of the Red River.
Three months later august /. 1869. AID.
mTal Porter arriving TO relieve FArragut a,
New Orleans-NickSburg and Fort Hud.
son having at length been taken bv the
combined efforts of army and navy-'Far-
Tagut, says his biographer, returned Ia
his old love, the Hartford, and sailed for
New York" The passage was made in
exactly nine DAYS. The Hartford and her
sister ships were objects OF great popular
interest on their arrival at the BROOKLYN
Navy-yard. 1t was found that the Hart
ford had been struck 240 times bv shot ard
she'll during her nineteen months OF ser
vice.
January. 1864. Farragut again hoisted
his flag on the Hartford aud sailed for the
gulf where he devoted some months 10
the blockade. On August Is was fought
the battle of Mobile Bay, not only ''the
most brilliant action in which Farragut
took part, and the crowning achievement
of his naval career" but unquestionably
one OF the most magnificent exploits of The
Civil War.
strip your vessels and prepare for the
conflict, were the opening words of gen.
eral order No. 10, dated United States flag
ship Hartford, off Mobile Bay, July u,
1864.
1t was the admiraPs intention that the
Hartford should lead the action, which.
unavOidably delayed. took place nearly a
month later; but, because of her superior
fitness in some important respects, the
leadership was assigned 70 the BROOKLYN.
and she we'll nigh led The feet to irremedi-
able disaster.
The following particulars Of the battle
are abridged from the Life of Farragut. -
written by his son:
On the poOp-deck of the Hartford stands
Captain Drayton. ABOUT him are the Off
GERS of the staff-Watson, Yates. Nc
Kinley and BrOwDell-while Knowles. the
signal quartermaster, Identified with the
Hartford, attends TO his duties The three
old sailors at the wheel-Sic Farland
Wood and JassiD-have been in every EN-.
gagemen; Of the ship, and 90 their cool
ness, IL great measure. depends its safety
Tie admiral stood in the port main
rigging, lew Tatllnes up, where he could
see all about him ana at the same time
converse with Jouett. who stood on the
wheeIhOuse of the Metacomet, which was
lashed alongside, as the AIbatross had
been in the Hartford'S previous engage
ments. These consorts, or tenders. were
gunbOats which could do effective fighting
on their own account, as well as act on
occasion as the crutch of disabled war
ship.
Freeman. the trusty pilot, stood above
the admiral In the top. The scene on
deck, where the men worked their guns
with Will. was one of animation. As the
smoke increased and obscured his view.
the admiral step by step assembled the rig
ging. until he found himself partly above
the futtock bands and holding on to the
futtuck shrouds.
The watchful eye of Drayton detected
his perllous position, and fearing that