The vessels were lashed side by side in couples, for better protection, and in order to assist each other when any became disabled. Chains and sand bags were laid on the decks over the machinery, to resist a plunging fire; while sheet chains and other protective material were hung on the sides of the vessels. The first object of the Admiral was to pass the forts, inflicting as much damage to them as possible in the transit, and then to engage and overcome the rebel gunboats, and the formidable ram which lay in the inner waters. The attacking fleet comprised fourteen wooden vessels, and four iron-clad monitors.
About seven o’clock the leading vessels came under fire from Fort Morgan, and the rebel gunboats anchored under the guns of the fort; while the Federal vessels, advancing in as close order as safety permitted, replied with their rifled bow guns, and as soon as the range permitted, with their formidable broadsides, driving the rebels from their guns, and breaching the walls of their defences. The Admiral was lashed in the main-top of his flagship, the Hartford, from which exposed situation he had a good view of the battle, and communicated his orders through speaking tubes.
At half-past seven the leading Monitor, the Tecumseh, struck a torpedo, which exploded with terrific and fatal force, and the staunch vessel, overcome by the terrible concussion, sank in the vortex, engulfing her brave commander, Captain T. A. M. Craven, and all but ten of her crew. This remnant was picked up while struggling in the water by a boat from the Metacomet, under a storm of shot and shell. The fate of the Tecumseh did not check the advance of the fleet, for all the brave sailors in the squadron well knew that they were exposed to the same frightful fate, and had entered the combat prepared to encounter the danger. The flagship Hartford, with the Metacomet lashed to her port side, now took the lead, and, boldly followed by the remainder of the squadron, passed the forts without serious damage, and were out of range in an hour’s time.
The Hartford was now assailed by the rebel ram Tennessee; a most formidable vessel upon which the rebels confidently relied for the destruction of the whole Federal fleet, should they succeed in passing the forts, and avoiding the dangerous obstructions. The Confederate gunboats Morgan, Gaines, and Selma, also courageously took part in the combat, but were soon disposed of by the Union vessels as they came up. In half an hour the Selma was a prize to the Metacomet, and the Gaines had ran ashore under the guns of Fort Morgan, while the Morgan had escaped to the city docks.
The iron-clad Tennessee, bearing the flag of Admiral Buchanan, maintained a fierce and sanguinary combat with the heavier Union vessels for nearly two hours. This vessel was one hundred and eighty feet in length, sheathed with iron plates, five inches in thickness, of narrow plates, strongly bolted, and backed by two feet of solid oak. She was armed with a powerful ram, and had two ports on either side, closed by iron shutters turning upon a pivot. The wooden ships defiantly encountered the Tennessee, although her armor was impervious to their guns, while the iron-clads grappled fiercely with their formidable antagonist. The Manhattan, with one of her fifteen-inch shot, broke through the armor of the Tennessee, and a monitor shot disabled the steering gear, and thus rendered her helpless. At ten o’clock she surrendered. Twenty officers and about one hundred and seventy men were captured in this vessel, and ninety officers and men in the Selma. The capture of these two vessels terminated the glorious battle of the 5th of August. On the following day one of the iron-clads shelled Fort Gaines with such effect that Colonel Anderson the commander sent a communication to Admiral Farragut offering to surrender. General Granger, commanding the United States military forces then investing Mobile, was sent for, and the terms of capitulation were signed by the respective parties on board the Hartford.
On the night of the 5th of August, Fort Powell was attacked, and blown up, the guns falling into the hands of the naval commander. From this time onward movements were in preparation for attacking Fort Morgan, and on the 22nd of August, with day-dawn, a bombardment was opened from the shore batteries, the Monitors and ships inside, and the vessels outside the bar. At six A. M. on the 23d, a white flag was displayed by the rebels, and at two o’clock the fort was unconditionally surrendered to the navy and army of the United States by General Page, the commander.
The capture of Forts Powell, Gaines and Morgan, and the destruction of the rebel fleet, gave the navy possession of the bay, and closed the port to all ingress or egress of blockade runners. This was all that was contemplated. Possession of the city of Mobile could not make the blockade more effectual, and without a sufficient cooperating land force, which could not then be spared to take and hold the place, further demonstration was not advisable.
To obstruct naval operations, the bay had been strewn with torpedoes, and as late as the 13th of September, Rear Admiral Farragut wrote the department that he was still engaged in removing them. One hundred, it was reported, had been placed in the bay by the rebels.
SHERMAN’S MARCH FROM SAVANNAH TO GOLDSBORO’, N. C.
January to March, 1865.
The city of Savannah, and the forts around it, were, on the 18th of January, 1865, transferred to General Foster, who commanded the Department of the South, and General Sherman once more pushed forward—this time to reach Goldsboro’, in North Carolina, and open communication with cooperating forces from that point. The capture of Charleston was incidental to this campaign; but was left to General Foster’s command. The order to march was given on the 19th of January. Savannah was garrisoned by a division of the 19th Army corps, under General Grover, while General Schofield’s corps, the Twenty-third, was sent to reinforce Generals Terry and Palmer, who were operating on the coast of North Carolina.