Admiral Farragut ordered the Hartford to go ahead, "full speed." She passed the Brooklyn, and made straight for the mines that had sunk the Tecumseh. 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 passed 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.
Admiral Farragut then anchored about four miles up the bay. While his men were having breakfast the iron ram steamed out boldly from the fort to attack the whole fleet.
ADMIRAL BUCHANAN.
Admiral Buchanan, the commander of the Confederate fleet, was a brave officer. Not until after a fierce combat, which lasted over an hour, was he forced to surrender the Tennessee.
This ended the battle of Mobile Bay. "It was one of the hardest earned victories of my life, and the most desperate battle I ever fought since the days of the Essex," said Farragut.
Not quite three hours had passed from the time that Fort Morgan fired its first gun until the Tennessee surrendered.
With the Confederate fleet destroyed, and Mobile Bay in possession of Farragut, the forts were soon captured.
While Farragut had been winning these victories in the Gulf, a very brilliant naval battle had been fought off the coast of France.