Part 18 (1/2)

The command of the Mississippi squadron was given to David D. Porter, who had likewise been rewarded with the rank of rear admiral. He took charge of all the river boats of the fleet, while Farragut, with most of the sea-going vessels, sailed for the Atlantic coast.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ADMIRAL DAVID D. PORTER.]

These vessels were all in need of repairs. His flags.h.i.+p, the _Hartford_, which was in the best condition of all, had two hundred and forty scars from shot and sh.e.l.l.

After the loss of New Orleans, Mobile was the best Gulf port left to the Confederates. This city stands at the head of the broad, shallow bay of Mobile, thirty miles from the Gulf.

The entrance to the bay is very narrow, and it was protected by two strong forts,--Fort Morgan on one side, and Fort Gaines on the other.

Admiral Farragut was ordered to capture these forts. This would prevent the South from using the port of Mobile.

On January 18th, 1864, his s.h.i.+ps having been repaired, Captain Farragut sailed again into the Gulf of Mexico.

He was anxious to make the attack early in the spring, but it was August before his fleet was ready.

In the meantime, the Confederates had made their fortifications stronger. The only channel through which the vessels could pa.s.s was near Fort Morgan. The Confederates strengthened this fort with every defense possible.

A double line of torpedoes, or submarine mines, was stretched across the channel. Above this, lay the Confederate fleet. One of these vessels, the _Tennessee_, was a huge iron ram like the _Merrimac_.

The squadron of Admiral Farragut was a strong one. There were twenty-four wooden war vessels and four ironclads like the _Monitor_.

On the night of August 4th, every preparation was made for the attack.

The seamen, with determined faces, gave their messages and keep-sakes to their messmates, for they hardly expected to come out of this fray alive.

Admiral Farragut, himself, made all his arrangements for the worst, though hoping for the best. He wrote to his wife, ”I am going into Mobile in the morning, if G.o.d is my leader, as I hope He is, and in Him I place my trust. If He thinks it is the place for me to die, I am ready to submit to His will. G.o.d bless and preserve you, if anything should happen to me.”

At sunrise the fleet moved steadily toward Fort Morgan, the stars and stripes flying from every masthead.

The four ironclads were sent ahead, close to the forts. The wooden war vessels followed, lashed together in pairs. This was done so that if one vessel became disabled it could be towed by the other. Farragut wished to lead the fleet in his flags.h.i.+p, the _Hartford_, but his officers dissuaded him, and the _Brooklyn_ went first, the _Hartford_ following.

The admiral climbed up in the rigging, where he could command a view of the entire fleet. As the sh.e.l.ls from the forts began to fall about the vessels, he climbed higher and higher, in order to see above the smoke.

Fearing that a shot would cut the ropes, one of his officers climbed up to him and wound a rope around his body. The end of this was secured to the mast.

The ironclad _Tec.u.mseh_ was now leading the fleet. Suddenly there was a m.u.f.fled explosion. The stern of the _Tec.u.mseh_ rose out of the water and she plunged bow foremost to the bottom of the channel.

At this, the _Brooklyn_ stopped, and with reversed engines began to back water. Admiral Farragut signaled, and asked, ”What's the trouble?”

”Torpedoes,” was the reply.

This was the critical moment of the battle. The backing of the _Brooklyn_ caused confusion among the vessels following so closely upon each other. There was tremendous cheering and firing from the Confederates. They were sure that the victory was theirs.

A signal was made to the _Brooklyn_ to go ahead, but she remained motionless.

What should be done? To remain there, under the guns of the fort, with the other vessels coming up behind, was out of the question. Ahead lay the dreaded line of torpedoes. Everything depended upon prompt decision.

Admiral Farragut ordered the _Hartford_ to go ahead, ”full speed.” She pa.s.sed the _Brooklyn_, and made straight for the mines that had sunk the _Tec.u.mseh_. As they crossed the line of torpedoes, the sailors could hear them grating against the hull of the vessel. None of them exploded, however, and the _Hartford_ pa.s.sed the fatal line in safety.

The effect of this daring deed was wonderful. Men sprang to the guns, and the air was filled with the roar of cannon. The other vessels all followed the _Hartford_ across the torpedoes, into the bay. They then attacked the Confederate fleet, and soon either captured or destroyed all but the ram _Tennessee_. This vessel had taken refuge under the guns of Fort Morgan.