View at Grant's Pass. |
such were the defenses of the harbor of Mobile, at its entrance, thirty miles south of the city. Considering all things, they were very formidable, but not sufficiently so to cause the gallant Farragut to hesitate for a moment. He had fixed upon the 4th of August as the day for the attack, but as the Tecumseh had not then arrived, operations were deferred until the next day, when they began before six o'clock in the morning.
Farragut had arranged his wooden ships in couples, lashed together, for the passage of the forts. His flag-ship was tethered to the Metacomet. in order to have a general oversight and direction of all movements, he took the perilous position of the main-top of the Hartford, his flag-ship, where he was lashed, that he might not be dislodged by the shock of battle. By means of a tube, extending from his lofty position to the deck, he was able to give orders clearly, in defiance of the uproar of the strife. In that exposed situation he remained during the perilous passage of the forts and the conflict with the gun-boats, that ensued. It was a marvelous and sublime exhibition of faith and courage. He illustrated his own remark that “exposure is one of the penalties of rank in the navy.” the exploit has been celebrated by the pencil and song.
at the hour above-named, Farragut's fleet steamed up toward Fort Morgan. The four armored vessels passed the bar in advance, and at a little before seven o'clock, the Tecumseh opened fire upon the Fort, then a mile off. The latter soon replied, when a general engagement ensued. Because of