Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 3.

[441] her having four chase-guns, peculiarly adapted for the work in hand, Farragut had allowed the Brooklyn and her tethered companion, the Octorara, to

Entranoe to Mobile Bay.

lead the wooden ships. When that vessel was within range of the Fort, whose guns were trained upon the Hartford (which, with the Metacomet, was close following), she opened a heavy fire of grape-shot, that almost instantly drove the gunners from the more exposed batteries. Just then the Tecumseh, about three hundred yards ahead of the Brooklyn, was seen to be suddenly uplifted, and then to disappear almost instantly beneath the waters. She had struck a sensitive torpedo,¹ which exploded directly under her turret, making a great chasm, into which the water rushed in such volume that she sunk in a few seconds, carrying down with her commander Craven and nearly all of his officers and crew. Only seventeen, of one hundred and thirty, were saved.

the Brooklyn recoiled at the appalling apparition before her, when Farragut ordered Captain Drayton to push on the Hartford, unmindful of torpedoes and every thing else, and directed the rest of the vessels to follow. But no more mines were met. The storm of grape-shot which the ships poured upon the Fort, imposed almost absolute silence upon its guns; but, as the National fleet passed in, the Confederate vessels opened upon them. The ram Tennessee, rushed at the Hartford, but missed her, when the latter returned the fire given by her adversary, and calmly passed on. Then the fire of the three gun-boats was concentrated upon the flag-ship. The Selma raked her at a disadvantage, when Farragut directed the Metacomet to cast off, and close upon the annoying vessel. This was done, and, at the end of an hour's contest, the Selma, armed with four heavy pivot guns, and with a force of ninety-seven men, was a prize to the Metacomet. she had lost, in the fray, fourteen men, killed and wounded. Among the latter was her commander, P. N. Murphy. The other two gun-boats sought safety under the cannon of the Fort; and that night, shielded by darkness, the Morgan escaped and hastened to Mobile. The Gaines, badly injured, was run ashore and burned.

believing the contest to be over, Farragut now ordered most of his vessels to anchor; when, at a quarter before nine o'clock, the Tennessee, which had run some distance up the Bay, came down under a full head of steam, and made directly for the Hartford. a signal was at once given for the National vessels, armored and unarmored, to close in upon and destroy the monster. It seemed invulnerable, even to the heaviest shot and shell, at closest range. The Monongahela first struck it a blow square .in the side,