THE BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY.
The last two actions of the United States navy in the civil war were
destined to be the grandest successes of a long record of daring and
successful exploits. Farragut at Mobile, and Porter at Fort Fisher,
added to their wondrous careers the cap-sheaves of two victories
wrested from apparently unconquerable adversaries.
It was on a bright August morning in 1864 that Admiral Farragut stood
on the deck of his stanch frigate the "Hartford," that had borne him
through so many desperate battles. Around the flagship were clustered
the vessels of the Gulf squadron. There was the battered old
"Brooklyn," scarred with the wounds of a dozen fights; the "Richmond"
and the "Itasca," that received their baptism of fire at the fight
below New Orleans. In all there were fourteen wooden vessels and four
iron-clad monitors assembled in front of the strongest combination of
harbor defences that warships ever yet dared attack. Yet Farragut was
there that bright summer morning to enter that bay, and batter the
forts of the enemy into subjection. To capture the city was not his
purpose,--that he left to the army,--but the harbor forts and the
great ram "Tennessee" must strike their colors to the navy.
Before arranging for the attack, the admiral made a reconnoissance,
the results of which are thus told by one of his officers: "On the
afternoon of the day of our arrival, Admiral Farragut, with the
commanding officers of the different vessels, made a reconnoissance on
the steam-tender 'Cowslip,' running inside of Sand Island, where the
monitors were anchored, and near enough to get a good view of both
forts. On the left, some two miles distant, was Fort Gaines, a small
brick-and-earth work, mounting a few heavy guns, but too far away from
the ship-channel to cause much uneasiness to the fleet. Fort Morgan
was on the right, one of the strongest of the old stone forts, and
greatly strengthened by immense piles of sand-bags covering every
portion of the exposed front. The fort was well equipped with three
tiers of heavy guns, some of them of the best English make, imported
by the Confederates. In addition, there was in front a battery of
eleven powerful guns, at the water's edge on the beach. All the guns,
of both fort and water battery, were within point-blank range of the
only channel through which the fleet could pass. The Rebels considered
the works impregnable, but they did not depend solely upon them. Just
around the point of land, behind Fort Morgan, we could see that
afternoon three saucy-looking gunboats and the famous ram 'Tennessee.'
The latter was then considered the strongest and most powerful
iron-clad ever put afloat; looking like a great turtle, with sloping
sides covered with iron plates six inches in thickness, thoroughly
riveted together, and having a formidable iron beak projecting under
the water. Her armament consisted of six heavy guns of English make,
sending a solid shot weighing one hundred and ten pounds,--a small
affair compared with the heavy guns of the present time, but
irresistible then against every thing but the turrets of the monitors.
In addition to these means of resistance, the narrow channel in front
of the fort had been lined with torpedoes. These were under the water,
anchored to the bottom, and were chiefly in the shape of beer-kegs
filled with powder, from the sides of which projected numerous little
tubes containing fulminate, which it was expected would be exploded by
contact with the passing vessels.
"Except for what Farragut had already accomplished on the Mississippi,
it would have been considered a foolhardy experiment for wooden
vessels to attempt to pass so close to one of the strongest forts on
the coast; but when to the forts were added the knowledge of the
strength of the ram, and the supposed deadly character of the
torpedoes, it may be imagined that the coming event impressed the
person taking his first glimpse of naval warfare as decidedly
hazardous and unpleasant. So daring an attempt was never made in any
country but this, and was never successfully made by any commander
except Farragut, who in this, as in his previous exploits in passing
the forts of the Mississippi, proved himself the greatest naval
commander the world has ever seen. It was the confidence reposed in
him, the recollection that he had never failed in any of his attempts,
and his manifest faith in the success of the projected movement, that
inspired all around him."
When the reconnoissance was completed, the admiral called a council of
his captains in the wardroom of the "Hartford," and announced that the
attack would be made early the following morning. The council over,
each commander returned to his ship, there to make ready for the dread
business of the morrow. The same writer whom we have before quoted
tells how the night before a battle is spent by brave men not afraid
of death:--
"At sunset the last order had been issued. Every commanding officer
knew his duty, and unusual quiet prevailed in the fleet. The waters of
the Gulf rested for a time from their customary tumult, a gentle
breeze relieved the midsummer heat, and the evening closed upon us as
peacefully as if we had been on board a yachting squadron at Newport.
During the early part of the night, the stillness was almost
oppressive. The officers of the 'Hartford' gathered around the
capacious wardroom table, writing what they knew might be their last
letters to loved ones far away, or giving to friends messages and
instructions in case of death. There were no signs of fear; but, like
brave and intelligent men, they recognized the stern possibilities of
the morrow, and acted accordingly.
"But this occupied but little time; and then, business over, there
followed an hour of unrestrained jollity. Many an old story was
retold, and ancient conundrum repeated. Old officers forgot for the
moment their customary dignity, and it was evident that all were
exhilarated and stimulated by the knowledge of the coming struggle.
Capt. Heywood of the marines proposed a final 'walk-around;' Tyson
solemnly requested information as to 'Which would you rather do or go
by Fort Morgan?' and all agreed they would prefer to 'do.' La Rue
Adams repeated the benediction with which the French instructor at the
naval academy was wont to greet his boys as they were going into
examination: 'Vell, fellows, I hope ve vill do as vell as I hope ve
vill do.' Finally, Chief Engineer Williamson suggested an adjournment
to the forecastle for a last smoke, and the smoking club went forward;
but somehow smoke had lost its customary flavor, and, after a few
whiffs, all hands turned in, to enjoy what sleep would come."
When the morning dawned, the men were called to quarters, and the
advance upon the forts was begun at once. It was a foggy morning, and
the ships looked like phantom vessels as they moved forward in line of
battle, with the "Brooklyn" in the van. Second came the "Hartford,"
with the admiral high up in the rigging, where he could overlook the
whole scene.
"Nearly every man had his watch in his hand, and waited for the first
shot. To us, ignorant of every thing going on above, every minute
seemed an hour; and there was a feeling of great relief when the boom
of the first gun was heard. This was from the monitor 'Tecumseh,' at
forty-seven minutes past six o'clock. Presently one or two of our
forward guns opened, and we could hear the distant sound of the guns
of the fort in reply. Soon the cannon-balls began to crash through the
deck above us, and then the thunder of our whole broadside of twelve
Dahlgren guns kept the vessel in a quiver. But as yet no wounded were
sent down, and we knew we were still at comparatively long range. In
the intense excitement of the occasion, it seemed that hours had
passed; but it was just twenty minutes from the time we went below
when an officer shouted down the hatchway: 'Send up an army
signal-officer immediately: the 'Brooklyn' is signalling.' In a moment
the writer was on deck, where he found the situation as follows: The
'Brooklyn,' directly in front of us, had stopped, and was backing and
signalling; the tide was with us, setting strongly through the
channel, and the stopping of the 'Brooklyn' threatened to bring the
whole fleet into collision and confusion; the advance vessels of the
line were trying to back to prevent a catastrophe, but were apparently
not able to overcome the force of the current; and there was danger
not only of collision, but of being drifted on shore."
While the fleet was thus embarrassed and hampered, the gunners in the
forts were pouring in their shot thick and fast. On the decks of the
ships the most terrible scenes of death were visible. Along the port
side the bodies of the dead were ranged in long rows, while the
wounded were carried below, until the surgeon's room was filled to
its last corner. One poor fellow on the "Hartford" lost both legs by a
cannon-ball, and, falling, threw up both arms just in time to have
them carried away also. Strange to say, he recovered from these
fearful wounds.
Just as the fight was at its hottest, and the vessels were nearing the
line, the passage of which meant victory, there went up a cry from the
whole fleet, "The 'Tecumseh!' Look at the 'Tecumseh!'" All eyes were
turned on the monitor, and every one saw that she was sinking. She
staggered for a moment, and went down with a rush, carrying her brave
commander and over a hundred of her crew. A few escaped, the last of
whom was the pilot. As the pilot was rushing for the hatchway that led
to the open air and to life, he met at the foot of a narrow ladder
Commander Craven. Craven stepped back, saying gravely, "After you,
pilot;" and the pilot passed out. "There was nothing after me," said
he, in relating the story afterwards; "for as I sprang out of the
hatchway the water rushed in, carrying all behind me to the bottom."
This terrible sight made the ships stop for a moment in some
confusion; but Farragut signalled sternly from his flagship, "Go on,"
and all advanced again. As the fight grew fiercer, the admiral grew
tired of being on the second ship in the line, and ordered the
"Hartford" to forge ahead.
"On board a war steamer the engines are directed by the tap of a bell,
the wires connected with which lead to the quarter-deck. One stroke of
the bell means 'go ahead;' two, 'stop;' three, 'back;' and four, 'go
ahead as fast as possible.' Leaning down through the shrouds to the
officer on deck at the bell-pull, the admiral shouted, 'Four bells,
_eight bells_, SIXTEEN BELLS! Give her all the steam you've got!' The
order was instantly transmitted, and the old ship seemed imbued with
the admiral's spirit; and running past the "Brooklyn" and the
monitors, regardless of fort, ram, gunboats, and the unseen foe
beneath, dashed ahead, all alone, save for her gallant consort, the
'Metacomet.'"
[Illustration: Fight at Mobile Bay.]
But by this time the fleet was well abreast of the forts, and now,
pouring out broadside after broadside, they swept along past the
terrible ramparts. The Confederate gunboats had found the fight too
hot for them, and had fled for shelter, with the exception of the
dreaded "Tennessee," which seemed to be holding itself in reserve. It
was but a short time before the vessels were safely past the fort, and
out of range, floating on the smooth waters of the inner bay. Then
the crews were piped to breakfast, and all hands began to recount
their narrow escapes.
But the end was not yet, for the ram "Tennessee" was now ready to try
her mettle with the fleet. Lieut. Kinney of the "Hartford" tells
graphically the story of the desperate fight that the ram carried on
alone against the whole attacking flotilla.
"We were just beginning to feel the re-action following such a season
of extreme peril and excitement, when we were brought to our senses by
the sharp, penetrating voice of executive officer Kimberly calling all
hands to quarters; and a messenger-boy hurried down to us with the
word, 'The ram is coming.' Every man hastened to his post, the writer
to the quarter-deck, where the admiral and fleet-captain were
standing. The cause of the new excitement was evident at once. The
'Tennessee,' as if ashamed of her failure, had left the fort and was
making at full speed directly for the "Hartford," being then perhaps a
mile and a half distant. The spectacle was a grand one, and was viewed
by the Rebel soldiers in both forts, who were now out of range of our
guns, and lined the walls. Few audiences have ever witnessed so
imposing a sight. The great ram came on for a single-handed contest
with the fleet. She was believed to be invulnerable, and had powerful
double engines by which she could be easily handled; while our
monitors were so slow-gaited that they were unable to offer any
serious obstacle to her approach. Farragut himself seemed to place his
chief dependence on his wooden vessels. Doubtless the crowd of
Confederate soldiers who watched the fight expected to see the
'Tennessee' sink the Yankee vessels in detail, and the chances seemed
in its favor....
"Meanwhile, the general signal, 'Attack the enemy,' had gone up to the
peak of the 'Hartford;' and there followed a general slipping of
cables, and a friendly rivalry to see which could quickest meet the
foe. The 'Monongahela,' with her artificial iron prow, was bravely in
the lead, and struck the Rebel craft amidships at full speed, doing no
damage to the ram, but having her own iron prow destroyed, and being
otherwise injured. Next came the 'Lackawanna,' with a like result. The
huge iron frame of the 'Tennessee' scarcely felt the shock, while the
wooden bow of the Union ship was badly demoralized. For an instant the
two vessels swung head and stern alongside of each other. In his
official report, Capt. Marchand naively remarks:--
"'A few of the enemy were seen through their ports, who were using
_most opprobrious_ language. Our marines opened on them with muskets:
even a spittoon and a holystone were thrown at them from our deck,
which drove them away.'
"The 'Tennessee' fired two shots through her bow, and then kept on for
the 'Hartford.' The two flag-ships approached each other, bow to bow.
The two admirals, Farragut and Buchanan, had entered our navy together
as boys, and up to the outbreak of the war had been warm friends. But
now each was hoping for the overthrow of the other; and, had Buchanan
possessed the grit of Farragut, it is probable that moment would have
witnessed the destruction of both vessels. For had the ram struck us
square, as it came, bows on, it would have ploughed its way half
through the 'Hartford;' and, as we sank, we should have carried it to
the bottom, unable to extricate itself. But the Rebel admiral was not
desirous of so much glory; and, just as the two vessels were meeting,
the course of the 'Tennessee' was slightly changed, enough to strike
us only a glancing blow on the port-bow, which left us uninjured,
while the two vessels grated past each other. He tried to sink us with
a broadside as he went by; but only one of his guns went off, the
primers in all the others failing. That gun sent a shell that entered
the berth-deck of the 'Hartford,' and killed five men."
But by this time the unequal conflict was becoming too much even for a
man of Buchanan's courage. The armor of the ram was penetrated in
several places, and at last came a shot that almost fatally wounded
her commander. With the controlling mind that guided her course gone,
the ram was useless; and in a moment a white flag fluttered from the
shattered stump of her flagstaff. And so closed the naval battle that
effectually ended Confederate rule on the Gulf coast, and earned for
Farragut his proudest laurels.