The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-19

sci will keep a very little on the star
board quarter Of his next ahead, and,
when abreast of the fort, will keep d.
rectlS astern, and. as we pass the fort
will take the same distance, on the
port-auarter OF the next ahead, to en-
able the stern guns 10. fire clear Of the
next vessel astern.
1t will be the-obtect of the admiral to
get as close to the fort a. possible be-
fore opening fire: the ships, however.
will open fire the moment the enemy
opens upon us, with their chase and
other guns, as fast as they can be
brought to bear. Use short fuses for
the shell apd shrapnel, and as SOC as
within three or four hundred yards,
give them grape. 1t Is understood that
heretofore we have fired too high. but,
with grape shot 1t Is. necessary to ele-
waite a little above the object. as grape
will dcibble from the muzzle OF the
gun.
II one or more of the vessels be dis
abled, their partners must carry them
through, IL possible, but II they cannot,
then the next astern must render the
required assistance; but as the admiral
contemplates moving with the Good
tide, 1t will only require sufficient pow.
er 10 keep the crippled vessels in the
channel. Garry low steam.
Vessels that can, must place guns up
on the poop and top-gallant forecastle.
and in the tops on the starboard side.
Should the enemy fire grape, they will
remove the men from the top-gallant
forecastle and poop, to the guns below
until out Of grape range. The howitz-
ers must keep up a constant fire from
the time they. "a reach with shrapnel
until out Of Its range.
~ f I'D. G. FARRAGUT,
| Rear Admiral.
Commanding W. G. B. Squadron.
| HOW THE. BATTLE WAS FOUGHT
1t was 3 :o'clock In the morning of the
memorable August 5. 1864. when Ad-
mSiral Farragut akSoke from a sound
slumber and asked How Is the wlnd?"
"Sou-sou-weSt." was the answer. He
determined then to. proceed to the at
tack at once. Nearly all the crews OF
the various vessels Ind remained up all
night in the expectancy OF beginning
the attack in the morning.
4At.4:30 the signal was given from the
flagship to get under way and the fleet
made toward the distant forts In a well
defined order OF battle. The wooden
ships were dashed together in couples
and advanced In columns, the. Brooklyn
and Octorara leading, with Farraguts
| flagship, the Hartford, and the Meta
comet following, aud close after them
| the Richmond and Port Royal. The four
i%ronclads in single file steamed abreast
OF the leaders on the %starboard side,
standing between the fleet and Fort
Morgan, the monitors being so slow in
the water as to allow the wooden ships
to fire above them.
Never was n fleet more handicapped.
Fort Morgan on the right. Fort Gaines
| on the left, a feet of Confederate YES
sells dead ahead, and the bay and the
entrance filled with torpedoes. a mar
row passage not over q hundred yards
wide had been left unobstructed by
piles and torpedoes for the use Of the
blockade runners. and through this, nar-
row passage Farragut had determined
to take his feet.
THE FIRST SHOT.
The first shot OF the battle was fired
by the leader OF the monitors. the Te-
cumseh,. at Fort Morgan. Later the fort
opened Are on the 'Brooklyn.a and wound
ed Ensign Cassel. a messmate of. sigs-
bees OF Maine fame, who was then also
an ensign. and as the other vessels got
into range the battle became general.
The Confederate gunboats steamed out
from Fort Morgan and commenced to
deliver a rakIng fire upon the fleet.
Farragut's fleet had got fairly abreast
OF Fort Morgan when the Tecumseh de-
Waited slightly from the line In her eag-
erness to attack the ram Tennessee, and
was Immediately struck by n torpedo
and went down head foremost. Con-
fusion now arose among the feet. The
Brooklyn and Octarara began to back,
which put the other vessels out OF line,
and the guns OF the wooden vessels
were rendered useless. for the most
part the boys being thrown towards the
fort which raked them severely.
whats the matter?" shouted Farra-