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abandoned that Fort, and blew up the works, as far as possible, on the night after the capture of the
Tennessee. they fled in such haste, that they left the guns behind them.
Aware of this, and seeing, the
National fleet in full possession of the
Bay,
Anderson knew that further resistance would be useless.
At nearly 10 o'clock in the morning of the 7th, the
Fort and its garrison of six hundred men were surrendered, and the
National flag was unfurled over the works.
It was greeted by cheers from the fleet.
Stronger
Fort Morgan, on
Mobile Point, still held out. It was in charge of
General Richard L. Page, a Virginian.
Being on the main land, he had hopes of receiving re-enforcements.
He had signaled to
Anderson to “Hold on,” and when that officer surrendered
Fort Gaines, Page cried out “
Coward!”
and the entire Confederacy echoed the slander.
Page's turn for a similar trial came, and he met it with less honor than did
Anderson.
Granger's troops were transferred
from
Dauphin Island to the rear of
Fort Morgan, and there lines of investment were constructed across the narrow sand-spit.
When every thing was in readiness, the fleet and these batteries
1 opened fire upon the fort at daylight,
and bombarded it furiously about twenty-four hours. The main work was not much injured; but the sturdy light-house, standing near, and in range of
Farragut's guns, was reduced to the condition delineated in the engraving.
Page made no resistance after the bombardment was fairly be gun, but simply endured it until the next morning, when he displayed a white flag, and surrendered the post and garrison to
Farragut, unconditionally, after damaging the guns and other materials of war to the extent of his ability.
2 With the three forts, the
Government came into possession of