TMM
J)TH
-J. JxLo
VOL.XIY NO. 38.
PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, "AUGUST 15, 1870.
DOUBLE SHEET THREE CENTS.
FIltB T EDITION
OBITUARY,
ADMIRAL FARBAGUT.
Our Great Naval Hero.
Ilifs Dcatli YeNtcrclay.
Jk Sketch of 21 is lifo.
Sixty Years in the Service.
Twenty five Years at Sea.
The (3re;it Stones in His Career.
etc. lite. Etc. Etc. Etc.
The Death of Admiral Inrrngut.
Portsmouth, N. 11., August 15. Admiral
Farragut died very peacefully yesterday, at noon
precisely, surrounded by his friends and family,
at the residence of Commodore Fennock. His
remains will be deposited temporarily in a vault
here until his final resting place shall be decided
upon.
Washington, Am?. 15.
TbeOfllrlnl Announcement.
Hp'evoX Despatch to Th Evening Telegraph.
The Navy Department has Issued the following
order in relation to the death of Admiral Far
ragut: Navy Dkpaiitment, Washington, Aug.
15, 1870. The Secretary ef the Navy has tuo
painful duty of announcing to the navy and the
country the death of the highest olllcor ot the
service. David Glascoe Farragnt, Admiral of
the avy of the United States, died at Ports
mouth, New Hampshire, at meridian, the 14th
inst., in the seventieth year of his ago. The life
of this olllcer has been spent in the service of
his country The record of his deeds is writ
ten on the noblest pages of her history, and his
death will be mourned by the whole
people who loved while they honored him.
He will be buried from St. John's Church,
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on Wednesday, i
the 17th Instant, at meridian. The flag will bo
displayed at half-mast at all the navy yards and
stations and on all United (States ships of war in
commission in our own waters on the dav ot tho
funeral and on all United States ships-of-war in
foreign waters on the day after the receipt of this
order, and thirteen minute guns will be lired
at noon on th.e, day of the funeral at all the navy
yards and stations where this order in received
in time. Tho commandant of tho navy yard at
Portsmouth will furnish a funeral escort to pay
prdper respect to the deceased. Otlicers of the
navy and Marino Corps will wear erapo on the
left arm for the period of thirty days.
Gkokge M. Robeson, Secretary of tho Navy.
AU.UlltAI, KAUKAtJUT'M CAKKKIt.
The death of Admiral Farragut;, which is an
nounced from Portsmouth, N. II., will create a
profound impression not only in the United States,
but throughout the world. The records of Von
Trump and Nelson present nothing which can sur
pass, even if it approaches, the heroic deeds wilh
which history will associate his name. And the
quiet dignity and unaffected modesty with which he
has borne himself since his nanie has been carried to
the corners of the earth, endeared him to the people
in whose righteous cause he did such manly and
timely service.
Ills Enrly Life. "
The father of Admiral Farragut was of Spanish ex
traction, and a native of the island of Minorca. He
came to America in the year 1770, and entering the
Revolutionary army, rose to the rank of Major. At
the close of the war, the elder Farragut married a
North Carolina ludv. and subsequently migrated to
t TonnoBuoA taLlnor mi lilu rpuiripnee ni'HT 1 hrt town nf
Knoxville, where, at a place called Campbell's
Station, David Glaseoe Farragut, his illustri
ous son, was born in the year 101. In his early
boyhood he evinced a passion for a sailor's life, and
his ambition was satisfied before he had fairly en
tered npou his teens. Commodore Porter, one of
the most noted of our early naval heroes, was an in
timate friend of his father, and it was through his
Influence that a midshipman's warrant was secured
for young Farragut, bearing the date of December
IT, 1810. Porter took him on board his own ship,
and nnder the eye of this old Bailor he received his
first lessons in naval warfare. When but thirteen
years old, he participated in tho famous encounter
in Valparaiso bay, being then attached to Porter's
celebrated ship, the Essex, which, on March 28,
1814, after a desperate encounter of three hours, was
captured by the Phu.be and Cherub. For Ids manly
conduct on toils occasion he received the special
commendation of the Commodore, although he was
hi ill too young to be recommended for promotion. It
was In this encounter that ho received his first aud
only wound, being knocked down the hatch by a
falling man and severely bruised in the fall.
Ills Career Before the War.
A brief period of schooling, passed at Cheater, in
this State, followed tins early sea experience, uud he
finally started on the road to the highest rank In the
service in those days. Jn 1816 he was again in active
service on board tiie flagship of the Mediterranean
squadron. Here he found in the chaplain, Rev.
Charles Folsom, a friend and Instructor, to whom
he attributes much ot the usefulness and success
which have marked his subsequent career. When,
shortly after, Mr. Folsom' was appointed Consul at
Tunis, young Farragut accompanied him, and the
period of his life spent here was a most important
one in its influences upon bis character. He was
promoted to a lieutenant on January 1, lsil, and
ordered to tho West Indies, where, under
Commodore porter, he took part iu the attack on
the pirate rendezvous at Cape Cruz, on the south
side of the Island of Cuba, July 23, 123. The attack
lng vessels were the schooners Greyhound and
Beagle, which, after a contest lasting twelve hours,
captured the boats of the pirates, the work being
finally wound up by the destruction of their village
by fire. Subsequently he was on duty at the Not folk
Navy Yard unitl l:i:i, except during l$2 aud lsao,
In which years he cruised iu the Vandalia on the
Brazilian station.
In 1834 he returned to the Brazilian station, as
exeeutive officer of the aloop-of-war Natchez.. In
1838 be waa again on duty iu the West Indies, and in
1841, having been commissioned commander on
September 8 of that year, he was ouce more ordered
, co the Brazilian station on the aloop-of-war Decatur.
In 1843 he waa given three years leave of absence,
at the expiration of which tune he was ouce more
ordered to the Norfolk Navy Yard. From ISiT to
1849 be was In command of the sloop-of-war
(Saratoga, of the home squadron ; was stationed at
the Norfolk Navy Yard again in 150; and, having
been commissioned as captain at that time the
highest rank known in the service in March, ISM,
Was placed Ou ufiuauJo Ju'.y uu'.U li. i'.OJl lSjj
to :8 he was in coinnjiud of the Mare taUnd Navy
Yard, at San Francisco, California 5 after which ser
vice he commanded the ' sioop-of-war Brooklyn, of
the home sqaadron, until May, I860.
At the Oatbreak of the Wnr
he was sixty yesrsof age, and of these nearly ffty
had been passed in the service of his country. But
the sixty years sat lightly upon him had not damp
ened his energies or tempered the tire of his sotiU
One who saw him then would not have Imagined
him to be beyond middle age. He was proof, too,
against all the allurements which assailed every
ofllcer of Southern birth, connections, or associa
tions. Buchanan, Tatnall, Maury, Page, Semmcs,
Mafllt, and nearly all the Southern men who at that
time held high rank in tho navy, espoused the cause
or the Rebellion; but Farragut was tine to the flag
under which he had sailed on every sea. The out
break of the war found him on shore duty at Nor
folk, Va., where he had married years before and
possessed a small estate. When the hand of treason
was raised against the nation, be left all his worldly
possessions and made his escape quietly to the North,
leaving Norfolk on the 18th or April, 1861. His
family accompanied him and took up their residence
at Hasting, on the Hudson, while Farragut proceeded
to the capital and placed himself at the service of
the Government.
fn t'omwnnd of the WeMerii fSolf Siiuadron.
He was ordered on duty as a member of
the Naval Retiring Board, which met at New
York in October, 1S61, and his first oppor
tunity to achieve a marked success was
not presented until he was placed, In January,
18C2, in command of tho Western Gult Squadron,
with the rank of Flag Officer. His Instructions re
quired him to take command or the Western GnU
blockading squadron, and to attempt the passage of
the obstructions upou tho Mississippi, below New
Orleans, the capture of that city being the grand ob
ject to be kept In view.
On February 20, 1fid2, Farragut reached Ship Island,
a full month before the arrival of General Batler
with the land forces which were to co-operat e with,
him in tin; attempt upon New Orleans. He did not
await the arrival of Butler, bnt proceeded with the
Hartford, his flag -ship, and the other vessels of his
fleet, to the mouth of the Mississippi, where several
weeks were occupied in getting them over the bar,
which was not accomplished until the 8th of April,
and even then the Colorado and the Wabash he was
Obliged to leave behind," in consequence of the shal
lowness or the water.
The fleet with which he llnally entered the iuvs's-
slppl consisted of forty-live vessels of all classes,
live being powerful steam sloops the largest vessels
which had ever crossed the liar seventeen gun
boats, tweuty-one mortar schooners, and two large
sailiug vessels. Altogether, they curried two hun
dred guns and mortars, many of which were of
very heavy calibre. The time which elapsed before
the commencement of active operations was de
voted to the perfection of the arrangements for
assaulting the fortifications which guarded the ap
proaches to the city.
The position of the Kebcls was certainly one of
great slrcngtlu As the control of the Mississippi
depended in great measure upon the ponsessiou of
the lower portion of the stream, they had expended
all their energies In strengthening their hold upon
it. Some seventy-five miles below the city, and
about twenly-Uve miles from the "passes'' of the
river, they had possession of two strong works con
structed many years before by the rutted States
Coverninent, Fort St Philip on tho left or north
bank, and Fort Jackson ou the right. Their united
armament was 126 gnus, many of them of the very
largest calibre. Starting opposite Fort Jackson and
extending to a point a quarter of a mile below Fort
St. Philip, a stout chain cable was stretched across
the stream (here TOO yards wide), supported by a raft
of logs and eight hulks securely moored. Adjoining
Fort Jackson was a water battery. Under cover or
the torts was a fleet of thirteen gunbouts, the power
ful iron-clad battery Louisiana, und the Iron-clad
ram Manassas, the naval forces being commanded
by Commodore 15. N. IloHins. Between Sew Orleans
and the forts several earthworks, well armed, com
manded the channel. "Our only fear," said the
press of New Orleans of April 5, "is that the Nori'i
ern invaders may not appear. We have mn e such
extensive preparations to receive them tht 1; it were
vexatious if their Invincible armada eacujics the fate
we have in store for It"
Bombardment of Fort Jackson mid St. Philip.
On the morning of tho 17th of April the fleet was
finally drawn np in close order, four miles below the
forts. The enemy tirst tried the efficacy of fire-rafts,
which were sent down tho river during the entire
day and the following, night, but without doing any
harm. On the morning of the isth preparations were
ready for tin, nibardment, the foremost of the
iKmib-vessels aboiu' a mile and a half below Fort
Jackson. For three days the bombardment, under
the direct supervision of Admiral, then Commander,
Porter, continued, 4000 shells being thrown at it,
with very disastrous results, including the firing of
the citadel and the destruction of the clothing and
commissary stores, while but little damage waa sus
tained by the attacking fleet, only one of the mortar
boats being sunk and the casualties numbering two
men killed and five wounded. Farragut then con
cluded that the mortar-fleet could never reduce the
forts, and determined to attempt to run past them.
Running the Gnuntlpt or the Forts.
To Bell, the ileet-captain and commander of the
flag-ship, was assigned the task of breaking the
barricade which stood in the way of such an attempt.
This was accomplished on the night of the 20th,
nnder cover of darkness and a fierce bombardment.
The way to New Orleans was then open to Farragut,
and he dared make the venture. Engineer Moore,
of the Richmond, suggested the guarding of the
sides of the vfrssels by the iron-chain cables, which
were looped over, forming a sort of armor which
served to protect the line of the engines. Every
possible precaution aud preliminary were taken, la
accordance with Farragut's general order, addressed
to the commander ot each vessel.
The time for tho run was fixed for the night or the
23d or April. The bombardment was kept up until
then, to occupy the attention of tho enemy. At a
o'clock on the morning or tho 24th, the signal for the
advance was given, and at half-past 8 the whole
fleet was under way. The Hartford, with Farragut
perched in the forerigglng aud peering anxiously
through his glass into the thick darkness, led the
column en the left, the Cayuga led the right, and fol
lowing them came three other steamers and twelve
gunboats, carrying iu all 24 guns, the mortar fleet
with its own steamers and the sailing vessels being
left behind, to cover the advance with their fire.
It is impossible, in the space and time at our com
wand, to go into the details of the memorable con
fllct which ensued. It was terriiic. But the greater
portion of the fleet succeeded in running the fiery
ordeaL Farragut's flagship, the Hartford, had
scarcely gotten under way before she received the
lire of Fort Jackson. The response of the Hartford
drove every mau in the fort under cover, but did
not interrupt the hot tire from the casemate guns.
Fort St. Philip soon opeued upon the advancing
fleet, and the smoke became so dense that the flash
of the guns was the only object at which cither forts
or fleet could direct their aim. A huge lire-raft then
loomed up through the darkness, and in endeavor
ing to avoid this Farragut rau his vesel ashore. The
raft, pushed forward by the ram Mauassaa, whose
black hull was invisible, was shoved square upon the
Hartford. In a moment the good ship was on fire
half way up to her tops, the flames bursting through
ser porta and running np the rlgglug. The "tire
quarters" were beaten, the flumes extinguished, and
the steamer backing off from the' shore succeeded in
extricating herself from the raft, and agttiu started
up the stream. Iu a few moments she was brought
opposite St. ltiillp, upon which she poured her fire
from one broadside, while the other still blazed away
at Fort Jackson. A half hour more of this hot work
L0 iJa.) Uiii
4 titugbt Lcr aiLorg the remnants of the UsUl fleet,
THE LATE ADMIRAL FARRAGUT.
which had been pretty thoroughly dealt with In the
advance. After Farragut's fleet had passed the ob
structions and the forts, In the dawn of the morning
an attempt was made to retrieve tho fortunes or the
fight on the part of the Confederates. The ram Ma
nassas started up the stream, but was encountered
by the Mississippi, which dashed towurda her with
the full velocity of steam and stream. When they
were but fifty yards apart the ram put her helm
a-port, dodged the blow, and, running full on the
banks, her crew succeeded in getting ashore. The
Mississippi ponrcd in two broadsides, thoroughly
riddling the Manassas, and then boardd her, but
she was not worth the effort of saving.
During the fight, the Varuna, one of Farmgnt's ves
sels, went to the bottom, but not until she had
seized, sunk, or disabled six of the enemy's fleet.
The Winona aud Kennebec, had got fouled among
the hooks of the barricade, and at layllght found
themselves the mark for the whole fire of tho two
forts, against which it was useless to coutend ; they
had therefore been forced to turn their heads down
stream. The Itasca had desisted from tho attempt
to pass the forts only when several shots from Fort
Jackson had passed through her, one piercing iter
boiler, making an aperture through which thesteaui
rushed in a dense cloud, tilling the engine-room anfl
driving every man below from his post. The seven
1. ays' bombardment and the three hours' fight with
the Confederate forts and fleet had cost the loyal
navy 37 men k'.Ued and 171 wounded, more than halX
of the loss tailing upon the live steamers.
orreadrr ot New Orleans
Although Farragut found his fleet somewhat bat
tered, it waa still In sufficient trim to finish thu task
he had begun. Word was sent to Porter and Butler,
still below the forts, of the success which had at
tended the advance, and the latter was told that the
way was clear for him to send his troops up to the
city in the rear of the forts.
On the morning of April til, Farragut started np
the stream for New Orleans, encountering no farther
opposition of a serious character, and at noon tho
fleet rounded the bend in the river and cast anchor
iu full view ot the city. The shore was lined with
blazing , fires, the stream waa filled with burning
vessels, and tho levee was swarming with an excited
mob. A faint cheer for the Union was raised, but
the men who thus tendered awclcomo t the In
vaders were speedily hunted down by the mob, and
their patriotic ebullition suppressed. The rain soon
began to descend, and the crowd gradually dwin
dled away.
While the rain was still descending, a boat pus off
from tho Hartford, without a flag of truce. Two
officers, charged with the duty of demanding the sur
render of the city, stepped ashore, amid cheers for
Jeff Davis and groans for Lincoln, and pro
ceeded to the City Hall, Rome of tho crowd
acting as an escort and attempting to shield
the messengers ;from the Insnlts of the
yelling mob which followed them. One of the
New Orleans Journals the next morning suld: "No
violence was offered to the ofllotrs, though certain
persons who were suspected of favoring their flag
and cause were set npou with great fury and roughly
handled. On arriving at the City Hall, H required
the intervention of several citizens to prover.t vio
lence being offered to the rash ambaaudors of an
execrated dynasty aud government," The o.llcers
presented themselves to the notorious desperado,
John T. Monroe, who was at that
time Mayor or tho city, demanding Its
surrender and the hoisting or tho Lnlon flagon the
public buildings. Monroe responded that he bad bo
authority to surrender the towu, aud declined to
hoist the flag, (ieneral Lovell, the military com
mander, was then sent for, and when he arrived, ho
declared that he had evacuated the city, and there
fore could not surrender it. He said he weald witti.
draw, and permit the municipal authorities to do as
they thought best. The Mayor thereupon promised
to consult the City Cotiucll and report the result the
next day.
On the morning or the vwtli the City council was
called together to listen to tho response of Monroe
to the demand for a surrender. It waa very bom
bastic and indefinite, but received their hearty ap
proval. "The city is yours," read the document, "by
the power of brutal force. As to the hoisting of any
other flag than the one of our own adoption, the man
lives not in our midst whoso hand and heart would
not bo palsied at the mere thought of such as act;
nor could I find in my entire constituency so
w retched aud desperate a renegade as would dare
to 1 mil a ne with his hand th sacred emblem of our
aspirations.'
On the followlug inuniin, the tftth, Farragnt sent
a party on shore to hoist the I niou flag on the Cus
tom notise and Mint, with instruction ta use their
amis only when assailed. Iusult, but not violence,
was tendered them, and tho rtai were left without
a guard, but a 1th au intimation that the fleet would
open tire upon the Mini, if au attempt was make to
disturb thu flag on that bulMlur. About boon, how
ever, four men ascended to tho roof uud tore down
the flag, which was dragged through the mire of tua
streets, torn Into shreds, aud lie pieces UlstribuUid
tiniong tlm crowd. A soon m tin? ii't.iiipf upon thi
jnuik In 4 been trained upuu the baUdiu;, Hie dtrUis
v 4'
were pulled, without direct orders. But no shot fol
lowed, an the wafers had been removed from tho
guns, in view of an approaching shower. Farragut
at mice wrote to the Mayor, detailing the oulrago
and noticing the refusal to haul down the State flag,
and notifying him to remove the women and children
from the city within forty-eight hours, If his deter
mination had been rightly understood. An insolent
rcsioiisc was Made to this notice, when Farragnt
gain wrote, sajlug that the Mayor's letter was so
offensive that all Intercourse between them was at
an end. He was further told that General Butler was
close at hand with his forces, and would soon take
possession of the city. In the meantime, the Union
Dag was to be displayed from the Custom Houso and
41 other ensigns to disappear. Captain Bell, at the
bead of a small force of marines, then proceeded to
the Custom House, hauled down the Confederate
flatr, replacing it with tho Stars and Stripes, and,
after locking the building and curry lug off the keys,
again left the flag without a guard. But It was not
tigalu molested.
On the 28th or April Forts Jacksn and St. Philip
capitulated. Butler passed up the stream with his
troops, and on the first of May took possession or tho
city, relieving Farragut from his dilemma,
t Operatlona on the .HiNstdiitI.
j After she forts and city had been fully occupied by
1 the military, forces, Farragnt supervised several
. minor operations on the river above. Baton Kongo
j was taken possession of on May 7, and Natchez on
May 12, and ou May isth the advance of the
qtiadron arrived near Vicksburg, Farragut coming
! upon the scene a rew days afterwards. On the nights
: of June 2-2T, Porter's mortar fleet opened tiro upon
I the town and a string of formiablo batteries which
lined the heights, and on the morning of June 28th
j the squadron mode amove to pass the batteries,
being supported by the mortar fleet, as below New
j Orleans. Farragut's flagship, the HarUord, with
I several other vessels, succeeded in passing the bat-
, terles, which extended a distance of three miles, )u
' the face or a strong current, but no substantial bene
j fit resulted, owing to there not being a su indent
1 land force to co-operate iu the attack.
1 Ifuvf nor off.wto.l m ii i rw't inn with tha limt aw . .
boat flotilla of Flag-Officer Davis, Farragut started
on an expedition up the Yazoo river on tho morning
of July is. Near the month of this steamer he en-
eucountered the Rebel ram Arkansas, which, after a
severe contest, succeeded in forcing her way through
the united Federal fleet, and took refuge under the
guns of Vicksburg. Farragut then determined upon
again running the gauntlet of the batteries near
Vicksburg, for the purpose of supporting the portion
ef his fleet which had remained below, and with tho
hope of destroying the ram Arkansas, in passing.
He succeeded In getting below Vicksburg. with but
little loss of life, but the darkness of the night pre
vented him from accomplishing the latter object.
On the 28th of July, 1SG2, he arrived again at New
Orleans, with the greater portion of bis fleet, having
been ordered by the Secretary of the Navy to pro
cecd down the river before the water got too low to
prevent bis retreat. On tho 1 it h of August he sailed
again for Ship Island, and thus closed one of the
g 1 amies t operations in naval history.
Appointed a Itcar-Admlriil.
OnttiettStu of July, laoz. Congress passed a law
creating tho additional ranks In the navy of Conuuo
dore ami ltear-Adinlral, and iu August following
Captain Farragut was promoted to the latter post
tlon, beading the list and ranking all the other otli
cers in the navy, Previous to this, by recommenda
tion of the President, he received tho formal thanks
of both houses of Congress.
The Ciuuntlet of Port JIudAon, and Um Capture.
The naval movemeuts during the closing months
of 1W2 were uot or a startling character, aud Farra
gut had no opportunity, while engaged in the routine
duty or directing the operations of his blockading
fleet, to figure so pi omlueutly as he had done below
New Orleans and iu front of Vicksburg. When,
1 however, In the latter part of January, 1863, the
army or tienerai uraiit and tuo Mississippi notuia,
under Kcar-AdiulrnJ Porter, commenced the siege of
Vicksburg, Farragnt was ordered to move np Hie
river and open communication with these two com
manders, who were operattug above the
town. On the night of March 14 he
rait the gauntlet ' of the batteries
at Port Hudson w ith his own staunch ship, the Hart
ford, and the Albatross, the Mississippi being de
stroyed and the remainder of the fleet driven back,
Farragut's ship pa3sed tho batteries without diih
culiy, the gunboat Albatross lashed to her side. The
smoke from tho bring was so dense, however, that it
obscured the outlines of the river, aud impeded the
operations of the vessels following In his wake. The
Hichmond, having received a shot through her
steam-drum, dropped out of lire, with three f her
crewkilled uud seven wounded, Tho Mouongahela
also dropped dowu the river anil cast unchor. The
gunboat Kineo, her propeller fouled by the hawser
and with a shot through her rud lcr post, followed
I their example. So great, ludced, was tho Ore from
1 the batteries that the destruction of the whole fleet
appeared to be imminent. The Mississippi finally
grounded, and her commander, Captaiu Kuiitli, after.
Uei.;i.-iiJS ll e.'ljes, sjilk;'i-f tl.- in, :t ! pitm
Hit vcsfl on fire, abandoned her with his officers and
ercw, and escaped to the opposite side of the river.
Tho vessel soon drifted down the stream and ex
ploded. Onc beyond Port Hudson, Farragut succeeded in
approaching to within a short distance of Vicksburg.
He then opened communication with the other
Federal commanders across tho Peninsula, after
which he blockaded effectually the mouth or the Red
river for Beveral weeks, Intercepting the supplies
from Texas which wero destined for tho Rebel
forces at Port Hudson and Vicksburg. Early In May,
however, ho was relieved from this duty by Rear
Admiral Torter, who had mn tho Vicksburg bat
teries with a portion of his floet. He then returned
to New Orleans by way of the Atchafalaya, and
exorcised the general direction of tho naval opera
tions against Port Hudson until its surrender, on
July 8, Immediately after the capitulation of
Vicksburg. Tho Rebel position having been for
mally. Invested by Ucncral Banks, Farra
gnt co-operated with him In the famous
assault, on the 27th of May, upon
the Rebel works. The attention or the enemy being
mainly absorbed by the land attack, they sustained
severe damage from Farragut's fleet, which
rained upon their works a constant shower of shot
and shell, after compelling them to abandon entirely
their southernmost battery.
When the great river highway was thus finally
thrown open, the entire control of the fleets ope
rating upon the Western waters above New Orleans
was turned over to Forter by Farragnt, who still
remained, however, in command of tho Western
Gulf Squadron until ho was temporarily relieved, In
July, by his secoud In command, Commodore Boll.
Thn Rattle of .11 obi In liny.
Early In 1804, Farragut, having resumed command
of the Western Gulf Squadron, directed his atten
tion to the fortifications guarding the entrance to
Mobile Bay. The Rebels, under their shelter, had
constrncted several formidable lrou-clads, with
which they threatened to raise the blockade of tho
port. Having reconnoitred the approaches to the
city, he offered, with the assistance of ouo or two
lrou-clads and a few thousand troops, to gain full
possession of tho Bay. Neither of these could at
ouce be furnished, and so he was forced to content
himself for several months with threatening demon
strations, although, as ho confidentially Informed
the Navy Department, the Issue would have been a
doubtful one if the Rebel iron-ciadB had ventured
out from behind the land works and attacked this
wooden fleet.
In the latter part of July, at length, four monitors
were added to his squadron, and on the morning of
the 6th of August, the entire fleet, consisting of the
ronr iron-clads aud fourteen wooden ships, moved
up the bay, two abreast and lashed together. Farra
gnt was still on board his old flag-ship, the Hartford.
History has already recorded that, in order to get an
unobstructed view of the scene of operations, ho
caused himself to be lashed to -the main-top on this
memorable occasion, but the followlug Is tho origin
of the story, as given by the Admiral himself when
on his vlBlt to San Francisco:
"At the commencement of the battle In Mobile
bay, for tho purposo of obtaining the best view of
the movements 01 tne enemy ami r oetter govern
the fleet under my command, I got Into the lower
part of the rigging or the Hartford, just above wMiat
Is known as the hammock-railing. As the smoko
ascended from tno heavy cannonading my view
becume more obscured, and I was compelled
to ascend the rigging, gradually, until finally
I got some little distance beneath tho maintop. At
this luucture. Captain Perelval Drayton, my Fleet
f 'aptaiu, fearing, as he said, that I might fall over
board in ease 01 neinir woiiiwnu, caueu one or the
(iiinrtprmiLi-u v- :lui1 e.iittlnir off a niece of th ulcrnul
halyards (a small rope) ordered him to biing it up to
me that 1 might render my position more secure.
With this rope I attached myself to the rigging, but
not near the masthead. The truth of the matter
affords an evidence of how a well-told and plausible
story, frequently repeated, oecomes universally ac
cepted as fact.''
When the head of the floating column came
abreast of Fort Morgan, the latter opened fire, and
the action soon became general. But such a terrific
and continuous broadside was poured into the forts
that the Rebel gunners were sooa drives from their
positions. By 8 o'clock the whole column had passed
Forts Morgan and Gaines, with no serious disaster
beyond the loss of the monitor Tec nmseh, through
the bottom or which, just nnder the turret, a hole
was blown by the explosion of a torpedo.
The Rebel fle et, consulting of the iron-clad ram
Tennessee and three gunboats, were meanwhile
pouring a terrific fire upon the Union vessels from
their sheltered position under the guns of Fort
Morgan. The Tennessee, during the passage of the
forts, had made a dash at the advancing fleet, but
soon returned to her place of security. After this
abortive demonstration, Farragut thought that the
Rebel vessels were determined not to risk close quar
ters, and hence ordered his fleet to cast off their
couplings and come to anchor. The light draught
gunboats were then entrusted with the task of de
stroylng the Rebel gunboats, one of which was cap-
tured and another so seriously Injured that she had
to be destroyed.
When several or the larger vessels of his fleet were
already at anchor, Farragut perceived, about nine
o'clock, that the IVniu ssec was standing towards the
Hartford, of the encounter which followed, he has
given the following account:
"I was not long in comprehending his intentions to
be the destruction of the flagship. Tho monitors,
and such of the wooden vessels as I thought best
adapted for the purposo, were immediately ordered
t attack the ram, not only with their guns, but
bows on at full speed, aud then began one of the
fiercest naval combats on record. The Monongahela,
Commander Strong, was the first vessel that struck
her. and in doing so carried away his own iron prow.
together with tho cutwater, without apparently uoing
Iier adversary much injury. The Iju kawanna, Cap
taiu Marchand, was the next vessel to strike her,
which she did at full speed; but though her stem
was cut and crushed to the plank ends for the dis
tance of three feet alwtve the water's edge to five
feet below, the only perceptible effect 011 tho ram
was to give her a heavy lift. Tho Hartford was the
third vessel which struck her, but, as the Tennessee
quickly shifted her helm, the blow was a glancing
one, aud as she rasped along our side, we pourea
our whole port broadside ot D-inch solid shot within
ten feet of her caseinaio. 1110 monitors worked
slow lv. but delivered their tiro as opportiiuity offered,
The Chickasaw succeeded in getting nnder her
stern, and a 16-lnch shot from tho Manhattan broke
through ner iron piaung ana neavy woooeu nacKing,
thonirh the missile itself did not enter the vessel.
Immediately after the collision wlih the flagship, I
directed Captain Drayton to bear down for the rain
again. He was doing so al full speed when, un'or
tuuatelv. the 1-ackawanna run into the Hartford lust
forward of the mlzzenmasr. cutting iier down
within two feet of the water's edge. We soon got
clear agaiB, however, and wero fast approaching our
adversary, when suesirucx uer colors and ran up
the white flag.
"She was at this time sore beset; the Chickasaw
was pounding away at her siern, the Ossipee was
approacmng nerat 11111 spi-en, ana 1110 .lonoiiganepi,
Lackawanna, and this siiip were bearing down mon
her, determined upon ner destruction, iier smoKe
stack haI been shot away, her siM iiiu? chains were
eone. compelling a resort to her relieving lactles.
and several of her port-shutters were jammed, in
deed, from tne tune tne itanioru sirucic ii-t uum
her snrreuder, she never tired a gun. As the Ossi
pee, Commander Le Rov, was about to irike Iier,
she hoisted the white flair, and that vessel imme
diately stopped her engine though not in time to
avoid a glancing blow. During this contest with the
Rebel gunboats aud the ram Tennessee, and which
terminated by her surrender at lu o'ebx-k, we lost
many more men Uiau from the fire of the butteries of
Fort Morgan."
The casualties sustained by Farragut's fleet during
this entire contest, exclusive of the lnssus ou board
of the sunken Teoumseh, were 62 men killed and 170
wounded. Of the Teeuinseu's officers aud ere , all
were drowned save four onioers aud seventeen men,
and four men who swam ashore, and were made
prisoners. Admiral Buchanan, tho Rebel comrnau
der, who was on board the Tennessee, lost a leg, and
ten or twelve of his crew were k tiled, while -if) of his
officers and about 170 men were made prisoners, in
addition to the 90 officer and men captured ou the
, cbel go n boat Selnis,
'nit Powell, oip: 1 l'ie 'i''n.r d nf pi
j hi t.!, t.vwa up by them vu tne vcuiug 01 the
day or the battle; Fort Gaines, with Its garrison of
819 men, was forced to surrender unconditionally
on the 7th, after being besieged Jointly by the Admi
ral's fleet and a land force nnder General Granger;
and on the 22d siege was laid to Fort Morgan, which
capitulated on the following day, but not until Gene
ral Page, the commander, had, with what Farragut
called "childish spltcfulness," destroyed many of the
guns and other property.
Appointed Vlre-Adinlrnl and Admiral.
Towards the close of tho year 1S04, Farragut wa
relieved of the command of the Western Gulf
Squadron, by Acting Rear-Admiral Thatcher. No
other noticeable event marked his career during the
remaining months of tho war. He was tendered the
chief command of tho squadron which was sent
against Fort Fisher, but, on account of his falling
neaitn, wnicn nad been undermined by the severity
of the Southern climate and the arduous nature or
his previous labors, he asked to be excused rrom
this final service, and his request was cheerfully
compiled with. He had certainly gained tho
right to a season of repose, for ho had done
his full share towaMs maintaining the honor of the
flag and the integrity of the country, and by his in
valuable services had attalnod a place In the hearts
or the people by the side of Grant and Sherman.
Congress, Immediately on assembling in December,
proceeded to tenner mm a suitable reward. A bill
was passed by both houses creating tho office of
Vice-Admiral, which received the signature of Presi
dent Lincoln, who Immediately nominated Farragnt
to this elevated rank. Ills name was sent to the
Senate on tho very day that the bill became a law
December 21, 1S6-1, anil that body, without making
the usual reference to a committee, unanimously
ratified the appointment. His subsequent appoint
ment to the still higher grade of Admiral was an
other fitting recognition of the magnitude of his
public services. The oftlco was created by an act of
Congress approved July 2Ti, lscfl, tho same day on
which the bill creating the office of Goneral or the
Army became a law, and, as In the case of the latter,
the action of Congress was dictated by the desire to
express the gratitude of the country In an unmis
takable manner.
A Visit to Norfolk.
In April, 1S66, Farragut revisited Norfolk for the
first time since he had left it In l&U, and was re
ceived with an address or welcome from a com
mittee of the Loyal League or that city. In his reply
to their congratulations he made the following per
tinent remarks concerning his own share la 'the
Rebellion :
"I was unwilling to believe that this difttculty
would not have been settled ; hut it was all in va'n,
and, as every man must do in a revolution, as ho
puts his foot down so It marks his life; so it has
pleased God to protect me thus tar, and make me
somew hat instrumental in dealing heavy blows at
the Rebellion. I have been nothing more than an
instrument in the hands or God, well supported by
otlicers aud men, who have done their duty faith
fully." IIli Kuroprnn Ovullon.
The first duly upon which Farragut was detailed,
after attaining the rank of full Admiral, was the
command of the European squadron, to which ho
was ordered on the 6th of June, 1867. While holding
this command he made a tour of the European ports,
being everywhere tendered a literal ovation which la
without a parallel In naval history. During the sum
mer ho visited in succession tho principal porta or
France, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, England, ami
Spain, passing the greater part of August in Russian
waters, and arriving at Lisbon on tho 28th of Octo
ber, nis reception during this tour was of tho most
cordial and enthusiastic character, but was
destined to be eclipsed by the grand ova
tion upon which ho was about to enter.
leaving Lisbon in November, 1807, after havuig been
received by the King and royal family of Portugal,
he proceeded along the coasts of Spain, France) and
Italy, touching at the ports of Gibraltar, Carthagena,
Toulon, Vlllefranche, and Spezla.
At Madrid the Queen and King-Consort treated
him with distinguished consideration, and during
his subsequent travels each village in Minorca wel
comed him as a descendant ef one of their ancient
families. King Victor Emanuel entertained him
at his palace in Florence; the Pope gave him an
audience at Roma, while the public-spirited citizens
of Venice, Genoa, and Naples vied with each other
in their considerate attentions. His departure from
Malta, on tho 12th or April, accompanied by the Ti
conderoga and Frolic, was tho occasion of an un
usual naval compliment, given by Vice-Admiral
Paget, commanding the British fleet in the Mediter
ranean. The entire fleet, headed by the flag-ship
Caledonia, passed close alongside tho American
squadron, the crews manning the rigging and cheer
ing, and the bands playing "Hall Columbia," Ad
miral Paget then hoisted the "Stars and Stripes' at
the main and fired a salute of seventeen guns, to
which suitable returns were inado, and "God Save
the Queen" given by tho band.
Admiral Farragut sailed to Holland by way of
Lisbon, dined with King Leopold at Brussels, and
soon after welcomed the royal guests on board the
Franklin at Ostend. At Southampton the Franklin
was anchored, while a two months' tour was made
through the naval establishments of Loudon, York,
Newcastle, Edinburgh, aud Glasgow. He rejoined
the Franklin in July, received an official visit from
the Duke of Edinburgh, captain of the Galatea, on
the 10th, aud two days after dined with hlni ami
other distinguished persons. The Prince of Wales
and the Duke visited the Franklin on the 14th, and
three days afterwards Admiral Farragut called on
Queen Victoria at Osborn House.
After a visit rrom the corporato authorities of
Southampton, the Franklin sailed on July 19th and
arrived at Syra on the -if hot August. Transferring
his broad pennant to the Frolic, Admiral Farragut
sailed for the Dardanelles, aud having received the
rare honor of a flrniau from the Sultan, anchored In
the Bosphorus on the 8th. Accompanied by a large
numl)cr ol his naval oitlcers, he was received by the
Sultan, Abdul Azls, In his palace on the Asiatic shore,
on the 13th, and subsequently called on the visiting
Viceroy of Egypt. After several days' delay, by
authority of a new llrniau anchor was dropped
directly off Constantinople on the Slst, whereupon
courtesies were tendered by the Grand Vizier and
others high in authority. '
lie left the Bosphorus on the 39th, and anchored
iu the noted harbor of Fincus, Greece, 011 the last
day of August, At Athens he was presented to the
King and Queen, and, by special invitation, attended
the baptism of the young prince and also a banquet
at the palace. The visit was returned by tho King
and royal family, with their court suites, the Greek
oillclals, aud the diplomatic corps.
On the loth of September the Admiral left Piiwns,
aud on his arrival off Trieste received official calls
and other courtesies. Thence, homeward bound, he
sailed on the 27th, anchored off Gibraltar Octobers,
left for New York on the isth , and was welcomed
home by the glad clangor of bells and guns, and
plaudits of his gratified countrymen, on the 10th of
Novemlter. Throughout his entire tour, Admiral
Fa nugut represented his country and Government
wilh a courteous skill worthy of all commendation,
and received the trying hwuors heaped upou Mm
with a modesty of demeanor only equalled by his
indomitable valor.
Ilia l.nt Para.
On returning from his European command Ad
miral Farragut passed the winter of lSoS-69 in repose,
residing the greater part of the time in New York
city. In the summer lie started on a tour across the
continent by way of the Pacific Railroad, being
everywhere received with the greatest enthaslasm.
On bis arrival at Chicago In the latter part of Sep
tember, 1S69, while on his homeward Journey, he was
prostrated by a severe illness, aggravated by a coU
which he caught while taking a pleasure trfp oa
Lake Michigan. From this illness he never folly
recovered, although early in Noveuber he had re
ci v ' if'' pertb-li ml. t" far on his homeward jour-
ICWtuwrf mi Ik Huh I J