On the night of Jan. 3, 1861,
Col. J. B. Todd, under orders of
Governor Moore, embarked on a steamboat, with four companies of Confederate volunteers,
[
269]
for
Fort Morgan, at the entrance to Mobile Harbor, about 30 miles below the city.
They reached the fort at about 3 A. M. the next-day.
The garrison made no resistance, and cheered the flag of
Alabama when it was put in the place of that of the
United States.
At 5 A. M. the fort was in the hands of the
Confederates.
One of the captors wrote: “We found here about 5,000 shot and shell; and we are ready to receive any distinguished strangers the government may see fit to send on a visit to us.”
Fort Gaines, on
Dauphin Island, opposite
Fort Morgan, shared the fate of the latter.
That morning, Jan. 4, the
United States revenue cutter
Lewis Cass was surrendered to the collector of the port of
Mobile (q. v.). See
Bowyer, Fort.