The Probert Encyclopaedia of Warfare

BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY

The Battle of Mobile Bay was a naval engagement between the Federal and
Confederate fleets between August the 5th to the 23rd, 1864 during the American Civil War. Farragut commanded the National fleet of eighteen vessels, fourteen of these being of wood and four ironclads, the Tecumseh, Winnebago, Manhattan and Chickasaw. The Confederate Admiral Buchanan had far fewer vessels, three gunboats, the Morgan, Gaines and Selma and the ram Tennessee. Still he was defended by three strongly garrisoned forts, Gaines, Morgan and Powell, at the harbour's entrance, and the Tennessee was deemed a host in itself.

Farragut entered the harbour with the gunboat Brooklyn leading and the entire fleet firing upon Fort Morgan, whence a lively reply was begun. The Tecumseh immediately struck a torpedo and was sunk. The fleet became confused and for some moments was in great danger. But Farragut forged ahead with the flag-ship Hartford and was attacked by the Tennessee. The other Federal vessels quickly destroyed the Selma and chased away the Morgan and the Gaines. The Monongahela and the Lackawanna were struck by the Tennessee, but the latter was disabled by a broadside at close range from the Hartford. The other boats closed around her. Her smokestack and steering chains were gone, her crew panic-stricken and she soon became unmanageable. She therefore surrendered. The Confederate forts were shelled for several days. Fort Powell was blown up and abandoned. Forts Gaines and Morgan surrendered.
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