93. Sinking the Tecumseh
By LOYALL FARRAGUT (1864)
FARRAGUT had fully intended to run into Mobile Bay on the
4th of August; but the non-arrival of the Tecumseh from
Pensacola, prevented him from doing so. It was with great
satisfaction that he saw her steam behind Sand Island on that
afternoon, and take up her anchorage with the Winnebago,
Manhattan, and Chicksaw.
On the morning of the 5th, long before day, through the whole
fleet could be heard the boatswains' cheery pipes and calls of
"all hands"and "up all hammocks"—sounds so familiar on
shipboard; and soon after an orderly entered the cabin and
called Captain Drayton. While the Admiral, Drayton, and
Palmer were partaking of their breakfast, daybreak was
reported, but weather threatening rain. The clouds worked
round, however, and in
[_]
Mobile was defended by a fort, a powerful ironclad, and torpedoes. To attack was very
dangerous.
spite of its being Friday, the sailor's day of misgivings, they
congratulated themselves on the good omen. The wind, too,
was west-southwest, just where Farragut wanted it, as it
would blow the smoke of the guns on Fort Morgan.
At four o'clock the wooden ships formed in double column,
lashed in pairs. The Brooklyn was appointed to lead, because
she had four chase guns, and apparatus for picking up
torpedoes.
At half past five the Admiral still sipping his tea,
quietly said, "Well, Drayton, we might as well get under way."
In one minute answering signals came from the whole fleet, the
wooden vessels taking up their respective positions, and
steering for Sand Island Channel, while the four monitors filed
out of Monitor Bay, and formed in a single column to the right
of the wooden ships, the leading one being abreast of the
Brooklyn.
The Confederate vessels had in the meantime taken up their
position in single line across the channel, with their port
batteries bearing on the fleet. The Tennessee was a little
westward of the red buoy and close to the inner line of
torpedoes.
At 6:47 A.M. the booming of the Tecumseh's guns was heard,
and shortly afterwards Morgan replied. As the fleet of wooden
vessels came within shorter range, Farragut made signal for "
closer order,"which was promptly obeyed, each vessel closing
up to within a few yards of the one ahead, and a little on the
starboard quarter, thus enabling such of the ships as had
chase guns to bring them to bear. The ball had opened, but the
enemy had the advantage, and the Union fleet now received a
raking fire from forts and rebel gunboats for fully half an hour
before they could bring their broadsides to bear with effect.
But at the end of that time the Brooklyn and Hartford were
enabled to pour in their broadsides, driving the gunners from
the barbette and water batteries.
By half past seven the Tecumseh was well up with the fort, and
drawing slowly by the Tennessee, having her on the port beam,
when suddenly she reeled to port and went down with almost
every soul on board, destroyed by a torpedo.
Craven, in his eagerness to engage the ram, had
[_]
Barbette guns mounted on a wall, with no roof over them.
passed to the west of the fatal buoy. If he had gone but his
breadth of beam eastward of it, he would have been safe so far
as torpedoes were concerned.
This appalling disaster was not immediately realized by the
fleet. Some supposed the Tennessee had been sunk, or some
advantage gained over the enemy, and cheer after cheer from
the Hartford was taken up and echoed along the line. But
Farragut from his lofty perch, saw the true state of affairs, and
his anxiety was not decreased when the Brooklyn, next ahead,
suddenly stopped. He hailed his pilot, Freeman, above him in
the top, to ask, "What is the matter with the Brooklyn ? She
must have plenty of water there.""Plenty and to spare,
Admiral,"the man replied. Alden had seen the Tecumseh go
down, and the heavy line of torpedoes across the channel
made him pause. The Brooklyn began to back; the vessels in
the rear, pressing on those in the van, soon created confusion,
and disaster seemed imminent. "The batteries of our ships
were almost silent,"says an eye-witness, "while the whole of
Mobile Point was a living flame."
"What's the trouble?"was shouted through a trumpet from the
flag-ship to the Brooklyn.
"Torpedoes! "was shouted back in reply.
"Damn the torpedoes!"said Farragut. "Four bells! Captain
Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!"And the Haqford
passed the Brooklyn, assuming the head of the line, and led
the fleet to victory. It was the one only way out of the
difficulty, and any hesitation would have closed even this
escape from a frightful disaster. Nor did the Admiral forget the
poor fellows who were struggling in
[_]
Not a refined expression, but it is what he said.
the water where the
Tecumseh had gone down, but ordered
Jouett to lower the boat and pick up the survivors.
