The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-15
AND THE MOBILE BAY
Farraguts Brilliant Feat in Running the Forts and Torpe-
does Was the Example Dewey Followed.


here reproduced of Havana harbor and
Mobile bay sufiices to reveal the re-
markable geographical semblanc
between the two sheets of water: but
in addition to this the map of Mobile
bay, reprinted from one made during
the civil war. shows that the fortif-
cations of the confederates were SINH
lar to those of the Spanish about Ha-
vana harbor to-day.
MORO Castle with its forts stand
like the Angel of the Flaming Sword
at the entrance to the harbor. just as
Fort Morgan commanded the entrance
to Mob bay; while upo the other
sid the fort of La Punta frowns as
did Fort Gaines from the opposite
shore. In addition Mobile bay was
guarded by to~rpedoes much as Ha-
vana harbor is guarded to-day. All
this gives an especial and present in
terest to the famous bay fight. the
most famous perhaps i'm the annals of
our navy. For history is ever repeat
ing itself, and i'm all probability the re-
markable tactics of Farragut in his
capture of the city of Mobile will he
repeated in the coming capture of Ha-
vana.
Points of Resemblance.
Commander NJ. +. Tobin. the presid-
ing officer of the Associated Veterans
of F~arragut's Fleet an organization
of survivors of men who
served under F%arragut. has made a
careful study OF havana harbor and
Its Notifications and defenses. 1t Is his
firm conviction that F~arragut's plan
of attack will be. repeated at Havana,
though new notifications may be made
TO suit present exigencies and the diff
ferences hat exist between the battle
hip of to-day and those of the civil
war period. 80
Commander Tobin is one of the sev-
en- survivors of the original ships
- n. IHas..1 Ssntna ataar n
Octorara. the historic ship that was
selected, together with the Brooklyn,
10 lead Farraguts fleet of is hip in
the memorable battle of Mobile bay.
Commander Tobin was wounded in
that battle. consequently the encounter
is indelibly impressed upon his mind,
for should memory fail he has scars
TO quicken il.
Farragut's entrance into the bay was
accomplished under great difficulties.
Fort Morgan on the one side, one or
the most powerful forts in the United
States. and Fort Gaines on the other.
guarded the entrance. Within the
bay was "a fleet of four confederate
ships headed by the principal ram
Tennessee. commanded by Admira
Buchanan of Merrimac fame. the man
who burned the Congress and sank the
Cumberland To reach this fleet the
narrow guarded entrance had to be
passed in which We're sunk number
less torpedoes-torpedoes so thickly
strewn that even a slight deviation
from the line mapped out by farra-
gut meant instant
In the same way the entrance to
Havana harbor is lined with torpedoes,
which are also concealed In the mar
Dor itself. as was the case in Mobile
bay. The fortificatioDs defending the
entrance. as has been pointed out. are
very similarly placed TO those of Mo
bile. consequently IL is a natural infer
ence that the plans of our most re-
nowned naval hero will influence the
attack that must soon be made upon
havana.
The battle OF Mobile bay is of course
a twice told tale in history. But his
torians are but rarely eye-witnesses OF
the events which they narrate, so the
testimony of an actual participator OF
an historical event often throws new
light upon IL, and makes 1t a presens
reality to the minds eye in a way inn
possible TO ever the most brilliant pen
scratching over dusty archives.
From Commander Tobin's own notes
and observations l give a brief review
of tina famous conflict, the like OF
which is perhaps soon to be repeated al
Havana.
Fsrragut's Famous Order.
Just here It is well TO give the fa'
nous order which Farragut issued on
JULY II, three weeks before the snsdSf-
ment. He had been waiting for the
monitors and also 10 get a wind and
tide in his favor. a wind that would
blow the smoke into the faces OF th1
enemy:
General order No. 10.
L. 8. Flagship Hartford. on Mobile
Bay. July II. 1864.
Strip your vessel and prepare for the
conflict. Send dow all your superfiuous
spars n rigging. Trice up or remove
the whiskers. Put up the splinter nets
on the starboard side. and barricade
the wheel and steersmen with sails ana
hammocks. Lay chains or
on the deck over the machinery. to re-
sist a p~lunging fire. Hang the sheet
chains over the side. or make any othes
arrangement for security that your in
cenuity NAV x Land your star
board boats. or lower and tow them on
port side and lower the port boats down
10 the waters edge. Place a quarter
boat. or the one most convenient to the
commander.
The yesssIs will run past the forts
I'm couples. dashed sid by side. as here
matter designated.
The Flagship.
Changed at request of commander. VIII
lead and steer from Sand island y. by
Il. by compass. until abreast of Fort
Morgan: then -. w. half y. until past
the Middle Ground. then N. by W. and
the others as designated in the draw
ing. will follow in due order. until or
dered 10 anchor; but the bow and quar-