The record-union., 1898-05-01
FOUGHT AT MOBILE BAY.
HENRY WRIGHT,S RECOLLEC-
TIONS OF FARRAGUT.
How He Was Lashed in the Rigging
His Fatherly Oversight
Of His Men.

the few survivors who were in the IA
nous battle of Mobile Bay and on the
old flagship Hartford Moreover he
was on duty in such a position during
the entire contest that he could not fail
to be an eye witness of every actual
occurrence of any great Importance
When the Times reporter dropped
into the "Massasoit" newsroom, in
Springfield, quite by accident, Mr..
Wright and another man were discuss
ing the coming event in this city in
connection with the figurehead of the
old flagship Hartford and, incidentally,
the conversation turned upon the bat
tie of Mobile Bay. 1t transpired that
Mr. Wright took a prominent part in
this contest, and his account of it was
indeed interesting.
Yes" he said. Il was one of the
crew during Farragut's second cam
paign down the Gulf, when Mobile Bay
was taken possession of. This resulted
in the capture Of Forts Morgan and
Gaines, also the destruction and cap
ture of the rebel fleet, including the
iron-clad ram Tennessee. The latter
surrendered after a long and hot fight.
She was badly used up. do not think
was alone the cause of her giving up,
as has been sometimes asserted. Her
commander got the idea that we did not
have any guns that could penetrate his
vessel, but he soon found that we did
and when we had convinced him that
it could be done, and that other condi-
tions had meanwhile developed render
ing his ship weaker, he threw up his
hands, and the jig was up. He raised
the devil with some of US, though be-
fore he surrendered. The. only gun we
had that did penetrate the Tennessee
was the fifteen-inch, one on the monitor
Manhattan. The shots were heavy
ones, about 400 pounds each. The ef-
feet from one shot, the one that did
the business, too was very strange. It
struck her side about 'midships, made
a hole nearly large enough to put a
flour barrel through, and yet the shot
did not enter the vessel, but bounded
back into the water. All other boats in
their fleet were either captured or de-
stroyed, except one which had run up
the bay out of our reach.
"a hard fight? Now, I tell you it
was hot from Z o'clock in the morning
until about noon, The old ship was
badly battered, and if our large anchor
chains had not been fastened to the
ships side several of the enemy's shots
would have reached our boilers and
machinery. The old ship was built to
stand hard treatment, and she did
nobly."
Mr. Wright said it was pleasant to
know that the Hartford is to be pre-
served by the Government and again
is to sail the seas. He referred to the
officers as "a splendid lot of gentlemen
without exception, from the Admiral
down" The petty officers, too, We're
"a bang-up good set of men," Captain
Drayton, Executive Officer Kimberly
and Lieutenant Watson being especi-
ally popular.
No wonder the Admiral was loved by
his men, for he often had pleasant
word for them, and never assumed an
air Of unapproachable dignity con-
tinued Mr.. Wright, and he illustrated
these characteristics by little pleasan-
tries that he still remembered. OF the
Admirals interest in his men, he could
give an example from his own expert
ence, something in the nature of rep
rimand.
SOIlic IlIlIS d1tCI lIIc l1OOllS III titC
Admiral received a letter from my
mother telling him that she had not
heard from me for long time. I YVES
sent for. AS came forward the Admiral
Inquired, When did you write home
last?' / told him as near as I could
remember. He then said: You young
fellows forget all about your good horne
when on the sea. Now, take this
handing me half-sheet torn from my
mothers letter-'go down into the ward
room, write to your mother, then give
it to Mr.. Watson to NALL wish YOU
also to write letter every week to your
mother, and give it to Mr.. Watson to
mail, so that will know that you are
writing home
FARRAGUT NOT A COLD MAN.
mo, sir: he was not cold man by
any means. Why, after the Mobile
fight Mr.. Drayton asked the Admiral if
he did not wish to go down and see the
wounded. He had no desire to see the
sufferers. but replied: You had better
go down and see that the poor fellows
are we'll cared for It resulted in sur
geons being sent for from other vessels
where there were but a few to care for.
and enabled our wounded to be promptly
attended to-
But you were talking about the IA
nous incident of the Admiral being
lashed in the rigging, when l. came in,
said THE Times" reporter.
We'll, history has said that Quarter
master Knowles did it, and 1t does not
look we'll for me to dispute it at this late
day" "s
But if you know differently it is an