These vessels were all in need of repairs. His flagship, the Hartford, which was in the best condition of all, had two hundred and forty scars from shot and shell.
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 ships 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 pass 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.