CAPTURE OF THE CONFEDERATE GUN-BOAT “SELMA״ BY THE “METACOMET.”
THE “MONONGAHELA” RAMMING THE “TENNESSEE.”
THE BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY.
WITH FARRAGUT ON THE “HARTFORD.”
BY JOHN CODDINGTON KINNEY, FIRST LIEUTENANT, 13TH CONNECTICUT INFANTRY. Acting signal-officer, U. S. A., on board of Admiral Farragut’s flag-ship, the “Hartford.”
for the strict naval rules prevented. Finally, after a half-hour’s smoke under the forecastle, all hands turned in. The scene on the flag-ship was representative of the night before the battle throughout the fleet.
It was the admiral’s desire and intention to get under way by daylight, to take advantage of the inflowing tide; but a dense fog came on after midnight and delayed the work of forming line.
It was a weird sight as the big ships “ balanced to partners,” the dim outlines slowly emerging like phantoms in the fog. The vessels were lashed together in pairs, fastened side by side by huge cables. All the vessels had been stripped for the fight, the top-hamper being left at Pensacola, and the starboard boats being either left behind or towed on the port side. The admiral’s steam-launch, the Loyall, named after his son, * steamed alongside the flag-ship on the port side.
It was a quarter of six o’clock before the fleet was in motion. Meantime a light breeze had scattered the fog and left a clear, sunny August day. The line moved slowly, and it was an hour after starting before the opening gun was fired. This was a 15-inch shell from the Tecumseh, and it exploded over Fort Morgan. Half an hour afterward the fleet came within range, and the firing from the starboard vessels became general, the fort and the Confederate fleet replying. The fleet took position across the entrance to the bay and raked the advance vessels fore and aft, doing great damage, to which it was for a time impossible to make effective reply. Gradually the fleet came into close quarters with Fort Morgan, and the firing on both sides became terrific. The wooden vessels moved more rapidly than the monitors, and as the Brooklyn came opposite the fort, and approached the torpedo line, she came nearly alongside the rear monitor. To have kept on would have been to take the * Mrs. Farragut’s maiden name was Loyall.
purpose of cooperating in the capture of the forts. The primary objects of Admiral Farragut in entering the bay were to close Mobile to the outside world, to capture or destroy the Tennessee, and to cut off all possible means of escape from the garrisons of the forts. Incidentally, also, he desired to secure the moral effect of a victory, and to give his fleet, which had been tossed on the uneasy waters of the Gulf for many months, a safe and quiet anchorage. There was no immediate expectation of capturing the city of Mobile, which was safe by reason of a solid row of piles and torpedoes across the river, three miles below the city. Moreover, the larger vessels of the fleet eould not approach within a dozen miles of the city, on account of shallow water. But the lower bay offered a charming resting-place for the fleet, with the additional attraction of plenty of fish and oysters, and an occasional chance to forage on shore.
At sunset the last orders had been issued, every commander knew his duty, and unusual quiet prevailed in the fleet. The sea was smooth, a gentle breeze relieved the midsummer heat, and the night came on serenely and peacefully, and far more quietly than to a yachting fleet at Newport. For the first hour after the candles were lighted below the stillness was almost oppressive. The officers of the Hartford gathered around the ward-room table, writing letters to loved ones far away, or giving instructions in case of death. As brave and thoughtful men, they recognized the dangers that they did not fear, and made provision for the possibilities of the morrow. But this occupied 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. There was no other “ stimulation,” 271
temper, 1862, and outward in January, 1863. After the Mississippi was opened by the capture of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, Farragut turned bis attention to Mobile Bay. The Confederates were engaged in the construction of rams and ironclads at Mobile and above, and it was his desire to force the entrance into Mobile Bay and capture the forts that guarded it, before the new vessels could be finished. In the latter part of July, 1864, General Gordon Granger brought a land force from New Orleans to cooperate with Farragut.
ness with iron will and invincible determination, and with eyes that in repose were full of sweetness and light, but, in emergency, could flash fire and fury. . . .
Before attempting to narrate the events of the next day, it may be well to give an idea of the situation. Mobile Bay gradually widens from the city to the gulf, a distance of thirty miles. The entrance is protected by a long, narrow arm of sand, with Fort Morgan on the extreme western point. Across the channel from Fort Morgan, and perhaps three miles distant, is Dauphine Island, a narrow strip of sand with Fort Gaines at its eastern end. Further to the west is little Fort Powell, commanding a narrow channel through which light-draught vessels could enter the bay. Between Dauphine Island and Fort Morgan, and in front of the main entrance to the bay, is Sand Island, a barren spot, under the lee of which three of our monitors were lying. The army signal-officers were sent on board the fleet, not with any intention of having their services used in passing the forts, but in order to establish communication afterward between the fleet and the army, for the
Note.— Mobile was the only seaport of importance held by the Confederates on the coast of the east Gulf. Measures for its defense were commenced in January, 1861, by the authorities of Alabama, who placed garrisons in old Forts Morgan and Gaines, at the entrance to the bay. The defenses were subsequently increased until, in 1864, there were three lines of works encompassing tile city and ten batteries commanding the lower channel. The blockade was generally effectual, but it was run by the notorious cruiser Florida, inward in Sep-
. . . On the morning of August 4th a detachment of army signal-officers, under command of the late Major Frank W. Marston, arrived by tug from New Orleans. They were distributed among the principal vessels of the fleet, for the purpose of communicating with General Granger’s force after the entrance into the bay had been effected, and it was the good fortune of the writer to be assigned to duty on the Hartford. In the afternoon of the same day, Admiral Farragut, with the commanding officers of the different vessels, made a reconnois-sance on the steam-tender Cowslip, running inside of Sand Island, where the three monitors were anchored, and within easy range of both forts. . . .
The scene on the Cowslip that afternoon of the 4th of August was a notable one, as she steamed within the range of the forts. The central figure was the grand old admiral, his plans all completed, affable with all, evidently not thinking of failure as among the possibilities of the morrow, and filling every one with his enthusiasm. He was sixty-three years old, of medium height, stoutly built, with a finely proportioned head and smoothly shaven face, with an expression combining overflowing kindli-