Page:Cambridge Modern History Volume 7.djvu/586

554 Farragut at Mobile Bay. [i864 failed. Admiral Dupont, who was in command, was unwilling to attack, but was overruled by the naval authorities at Washington, owing to their excessive confidence in his armoured vessels, of which he had nine, all but two being of the Monitor pattern. It was impossible to adopt Farragut's tactics, and to steam past the forts, in order to take them in reverse, as the entrance to the harbour was closed by obstructions and torpedoes. The forts to which the squadron was opposed mounted only 77 guns, of which 17 were rifled; but an hour's heavy firing made no impression whatever on the forts, while all the vessels engaged were repeatedly struck. Though the loss of life was insignificant, the turrets were jammed, the conning-towers much damaged, and one of the armourclads was so riddled that she sank next day. This unfortunate experiment showed the grave risks run even by armoured vessels in attacking forts ; but it had no influence on the course of the war, and is of interest mainly from the technical standpoint. The blockade of Charleston continued to be maintained, and the ships engaged were speedily repaired. Far more important in its results was Farragut's capture of the forts defending the entrance to Mobile Bay, in August, 1864. There were two forts to be passed, one of which was two miles distant from the deep-water channel, and therefore played but an insignificant part in the action. The other, Fort Morgan, mounted 35 heavy guns, and stood close to the channel, on its eastern side. Under the guns of the fort a double line of torpedoes had been carried across the channel, with a clear passage, 300 feet wide, for blockade runners, close to the fort. In the bay was a considerable flotilla, the most formidable vessel in which was the Tennessee, a steamer plated with armour from five to six inches thick, but fitted with engines so feeble that she could only make six knots, while her steering gear was exposed and unprotected. She carried six heavy guns, and flew the flag of the Confederate admiral, Buchanan. The three gunboats which supported her were of little account ; but the presence of a hostile ironclad, imperfect though she was, rendered the passage of the forts an extremely dangerous operation. Farragut, however, was a leader of great capacity and daring ; and his repeated successes had given the navy complete confidence in him. He had at his disposal a powerful fleet. Four of his vessels were iron- clads, of the Monitor type, two of them very formidable craft. Besides these he had fourteen wooden steamers. The ships mounted a total of 159 guns, the majority being of large calibre. By Farragut's orders, the monitors were to lead in single line, and the wooden ships were to follow in pairs lashed together, a small vessel being firmly attached to each large ship, on the side away from Fort Morgan. Thus two sets of engines would have to be disabled before any ship would be left helpless, while the weaker vessels would be screened from the fire of the fort. As a measure of protection heavy chains were fastened to the exposed side