Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 06.djvu/230

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,, August 26th, 1864.

Sir—I have the honor to inform you that the enemy's fleet, under Admiral Farragut, consisting of fourteen steamers and four monitors, passed Fort Morgan on the 5th instant, about 6.30 A. M., in the following order and stood into Mobile bay: The four monitors—Tecumseh and Manhattan, each carrying two fifteen-inch guns; the Winnebago and Chickasaw, each carrying four eleven-inch guns—in a single line ahead, about half a mile from the fort; the fourteen steamers—Brooklyn, of twenty-six; Octorora, ten; Hartford, twenty-eight; Metacomet, ten; Richmond, twenty-four; Port Royal, eight; Lackawana, fourteen; Seminole, nine; Monongahela, twelve; Kennebic, five; Ossipee, thirteen; Itasca, four; Oneida, ten, and Galena, fourteen guns—in a double line ahead, each two lashed together; the side-wheel steamers off shore, all about one-quarter of a mile from the monitors,—carrying in all 199 guns and 2,700 men. When they were discovered standing into the channel, signal was made to the Mobile squadron, under my command—consisting of the wooden gunboats Morgan and Gaines, each carrying six guns, and Selma, four—to "follow my motions" in the ram Tennessee, of six guns,—in all 22 guns and 470 men. All were soon under way, and stood towards the enemy in a line abreast. As the Tennessee approached the fleet, when opposite the fort, we opened our battery at short range upon the leading ship, the Admiral's flag-ship Hartford, and made the attempt to run into her, but owing to her superior speed our attempt was frustrated. We then stood towards the next heavy ship, the Brooklyn, with the same view; she also avoided us by her superior speed. During this time the gunboats were also closely engaged with the enemy. All our guns were used to the greatest advantage, and we succeeded in seriously damaging many of the enemy's vessels.

The Selma and Gaines, under Lieutenant-Commandants P. U. Murphy and J. W. Bennett, fought gallantly, and I was gratified to hear from officers of the enemy's fleet that their fire was very destructive. The Gaines was fought until she was found to be in a sinking condition, when she was run on shore near Fort Morgan.

Lieutenant-Commandant Murphy was closely engaged with the