August 6, 1864 The New York Herald ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ August 6, 1864 The New York Herald HIGHLY IMPORTANT NEWS. The defenses of Mobile Attacked by Admiral Farragut Fleet. The Contending Forces and Their Strength. The following is a description of the contending forces now at Mobile, and by it our readers will be able, in a measure, to see that since this rebellion commenced, no two such formidable fleets have met in combat. We shall await with much anxiety the result of this struggle for the supremacy of the great bay of the Gulf City. The map which we give will enable all to see how well fortified the rebels are, and at the same time be able to comprehend the difficulties the dashing Old Salamander will have to overcome before he can claim a full victory: - OPERATIONS PREVIOUS TO THE ATTACK. Mobile has been threatened on two occasions previous to the present movement, one shortly after the capture of New Orleans and again in February of this year, the first movement being made by Portermortar flotilla, and the second by Admiral Farragut. The latter was made at GrantPass, and was intended only to distract attention from other points. OBJECT OF THE MOVEMENT. The present movement is probably designed not so much for the capture of the city of Mobile as it is to obtain possession of Dauphin Island and Mobile Point, so that the harbor can be effectually blockaded, and at the same time relieve the large Union fleet now off that place, who have been hourly threatened with an attack from the rebel iron-clads lying under the guns of Fort Morgan. THE DEFENCES OF THE CHANNELS. Mobile is perhaps the best defenced place in the Gulf, and it will require all the dash of Farragut to gain a foothold inside of the defences. It is not only protected by heavyforts, well armed, but by a formidable flotilla of iron-clad rams, gunboats and cotton-clads; and this fleet must be destroyed or driven well up the bay before it will be safe for the wooden vessels to pass in. Nature, in laying out the bay, ran out a long, sandy peninsula, called Mobile Point, upon which the United States government placed a strong work mounting one hundred and thirty-six guns, two tiers in casemate and one en barbette. This is situated on the starboard or right side of the entrance to the bay, through the swash channel. On the port or left hand side is situated Dauphin Island, on whose eastern extremity is located Fort Gaines; also a casemated work mounting some fifty guns or more, commanding the middle channel and the passage up the bay. Outlying from these two points of land is a small island known as Sand Island. From Fort Gaines, on Dauphin Island, in a northerly direction, and on the shore line, is a water battery mounting nine guns of long range, and from this battery to the northward and westward ad up to GrantPass are a series of earthworks, and a work known as Fort Powell, mounting twelve guns. THE HARBOR OBSTRUCTIONS. Extending from Fort Morgan across the swash and middle channels is a line of spile obstructions, being under the cover and protection of the guns of both forts. These were placed there some time since, and are represented to be quite formidable and not readily passed through or removed. A small passage way has been left to allow the blockade runners to pass in and out t sea. This opening, lying close to the fort, is carefully watched over at night by small picket boats, which can, at the approach of our vessels, give a signal, and the guns of Fort Morgan - a number of which are always trained upon that spot - will open upon the invaders; and in addition to this safeguard the rebel iron-clads are moored so that they can move readily to the further assistance of the fort in preventing any vessel passing through. So much for the outer land defences. THE REBEL FLOTILLA. The energies of Admiral Buchanan, who has commanded that naval station since the war, have been directed to the preparation of a flotilla to aid the land forces in repulsing any attack upon that stronghold, and, as Mobile was thought at the beginning of the rebellion to be too near the sea for a naval depot, it was located at Selma, where it would be secure from attack. Here no less than one ram and four or five gunboats have been constructed for the navy of the confederacy. To give an idea of the importance of this naval station we have only to append a list of the officers on duty there: - Commander - E. Farrand. First Lieutenant - Van R. Morgan. Assistant Paymaster - G. H. O'Neil. Master - John Pearson. First Assistant Engineer - W. Frick, Jr. Carpenter - John T. Rustio. In addition to these officers there have been attached to the station at various times ordnance officers of the best talent in the rebel service, and several hundred men have been constantly employed in the construction of new gunboats and in refitting old vessels; and at the present time the rebel navy in Mobile bay consists of the following vessels: - Names of Vessels Class No. Of Guns. Tennessee.............Iron-clad ram, flagship.....7 Nashville.................Iron-clad...............6 Morgan....................Iron-clad...............5 Baltic....................Iron-clad...............5 Selma...................Cotton-clad...............4 Gaines..................Cotton-clad...............4 Crescent................Cotton-clad...............4 Alert.....................Steamer.................5 Coast guard - four small steamers................10 ___ Total, vessels......12 Total guns..........50 THE REBEL NAVAL OFFICERS. Admiral FRANKLIN BUCHANAN commanding. STAFF OFFICERS AND OFFICERS OF THE FLAGSHIP TENNESSEE. Lieutenant - J.R. Eggleston. Surgeons - L.W. Miner, O.S. Englehart. Commander - E. Farrand. Lieutenant - Alphonso Barbolt. Paymasters - T.W. Ware, G.H. O'Neil. Master - John Pearson. Midshipman - W.S. Hogue. Engineer - W. Frick, Jr. Gunner - B.F. Hughes. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE REBEL RAM NASHVILLE. Lieutenants - C. Ap. R. Jones, George W. Gift. Surgeon - H.W.W. Washington. Assistant Surgeon - M.R. Ford. Assistant Paymaster - L.E. Brooke. Masters - H.H. Marmaduke, J. McBaker. Passed Midshipman - Daniel Trigg. Midshipmen - W.J. Creigh, W.R. Mayhew, C.K. Mallory. Engineers - First Assistant, John W. Tyman; Second Assistant, Huey Fagan; Third Assistant, John Dent. Gunner - Jas. Lovett, LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE REBEL GUNBOAT MORGAN. Commander - C.H. McBlair. Lieutenants - C.J. Graves, T.L. Harrison. Assistant Surgeon - E.G. Booth. Assistant Paymaster - R.L. MacKall. Midshipmen - H.H. Scott, T.G. Garret, W.F. Wilson, H.H. Tyson, J.R. Norris, F. Arthur. Engineer - H.B. Willy. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE REBEL RAM BALTIC. Lieutenants - James D. Johnston, Wm. P.A. Campbell, John Grunball. Second Lieutenants - Geo. A. Borchett, E.G. Read, A.G. Hudgins. Surgeons - J.T. Mason, W.F. Carrington. Assistant Paymaster - M.M. Leay. Masters - Ivey Foreman, H.W. Perrin. Midshipmen - S.P. Blanc, F.B. Dornin, J.H. Hamilton, E.A. Swain. Engineers - W.M. Fauntleroy, F.G. Simpson. Gunners - W.H. Haynes, E.G. McCoomb. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE REBEL GUNBOAT SELMA. Lieutenant - P.U. Murphy. Midshipmen - J.B. Retcliffe. LOST OF OFFICERS OF THE REBEL GUNBOAT GAINES. Commander - T.T. Hunter. Lieutenants - J.W. Bennett, Hilary Cenas. Assistant Surgeon - T.B. Ford. Assistant Paymaster - J.E. Armur. Master - E.C. Stockton. Midshipmen - J.A. Merriweather, J.M. Gardner, D.D. Colcock, W.D. Goode, W.H. Sterling, J.H. Dyke, W.F. Clayton. RECAPITULATION OF DEFENCES Land Works. Guns. Fort Morgan........................136 Fort Gaines........................ 50 Battery on Dauphin Island.......... 9 Fort Powell, GrantPass......... 12 Other works....................... 10 ____ Total guns.................... 217 Flotilla. Guns. Iron-clads and gunboats........... 40 State gunboats.................... 10 ____ Total guns.................... 50 Grand Total guns.................. 267 THE UNION FLEET. Admiral Farragutfleet, which has been gathering off Mobile for some time past, is one of the largest ever employed in one action on our coast during this war, and the vessels are provided with the heaviest known ordnance, and its operations will be noted with the greatest interest. It is composed of the following vessels: - FLAGSHIP. Name. Class. Guns. Hartford...........Screw sloop........ 20 IRON-CLADS. Winnebago......2 turret Monitor....... 4 Chickasaw......2 turret Monitor....... 4 Tecumseh.......1 turret Monitor....... 2 Manhattan......1 turret Monitor....... 2 Four Mississippi river iron-clads.... 10 SCREW SLOOPS. Richmond..........First class........ 18 Brooklyn..........First class........ 24 Monongahela......Second class........ 12 Lackawanna.......Second class........ 14 Oneida...........Second class........ 10 Ossipee..........Second class........ 13 Galena...........Second class........ 14 Genesee..........Second class........ 8 DOUBLE ENDERS. Metacomet........Side-wheel.......... 10 Sebago...........Side-wheel.......... 10 Port Royal.......Side-wheel.......... 8 Conemaugh........Side-wheel.......... 9 SCREW GUNBOATS. Kenneboc......... 5 Pembina.......... 4 Panola........... 4 Penguin.......... 7 Itasca........... 4 Tennessee........ 5 TUGS. Cowslip.......... 2 Jasmine.......... 2 Philippi......... 2 Buckthorne....... 2 Glasgow.......... 2 Total vessels........................32 Total guns..........................231 UNION OFFICERS. Rear Admiral DAVID GLASCOE FARRAGUT commanding. STAFF. Fleet Captain - Percoval Drayton. Flag Lieutenant - John Crittenden Watson AdmiralSecretary - A. Van Der Heuvel. AdmiralClerks - Mr. Brownell, Theo, Davis. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE FLAGSHIP HARTFORD. Commodore - James S. Palmer. Lieutenant Commander - L.W. Kimberly. Lieutenant - W.B. Tyson. Surgeon - J.J. << Gibson>> . Assistant Surgeon - James Hugg. Paymaster - W.T. Meredith. Acting Master - F.G. Prier. Chaplain - F.W. Taylor. Marine Officers - Captain, Charles Heywood; Lieutenant _________. Ensigns - H.T. Grafton, C.D. Jones and L.R.P. Adams. Acting Ensigns - W.H. Whiting and D.G.B. Glidden. Acting MasterMates - W.H. Childs, G.R. Avery, W.H. Hawthorne and J.J. Tinelli. Engineers - Chief, Thomas Williamson; First Assistant, E.B. Latch; Second Assistant, John Wilson; Acting Third Assistants, C.M. Burchard and Alfred Hoyt. Boatswain - Robert Dixon. Gunner - J.L. Staple. Carpenter - O.F. Stinson. Sailmaker - T.C. Herbert. AdmiralSteward - John H. Brooks. LOST OF OFFICERS OF THE IRON-CLAD MANHATTAN. Commander - J.W.A. Nicholson. Lieutenant and Executive Officer - C.N. Schoonmaker. Assistant Surgeon - J.H. Austin. Acting Assistant Paymaster - H.G. Thayer. Acting Master - Robert B. Ely. Acting Ensigns - John B. Trott, George B. Mott, James B. Church. Engineers - Acting Chief, John N. Gallagher; Acting First Assistant, Wm. H. Miller; Acting Second Assistants, Thomas Finnie, James B. Ferrand; Acting Third Assistants, John S. Hays, John H. Lee, Edward Misset. CaptainClerk - Addison W. Maxwell. PaymasterSteward - John J. Corbett. SurgeonSteward - Charles E. Nichols. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE IRON CLAD TECUMSEH. Commander - ___________ Lieutenant - J.W. Kelly. Acting Assistant Surgeon - Henry A. Danker. Acting Assistant Paymaster - George Work. Acting Master - Charles F. Langley. Ensigns - F.H. de Estamanville, G. Cottrell. Engineers - Chief, John Farron; First Assistants, Chas. Pennington, W.L. Penell; Third Assistants, F. Scott, W.D. Kay. Clerk to Captain - Isaiah Conley. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE RICHMOND. Captain - E.A. Jenkins. Lieutenant Commander - E. Terry. Surgeon - L.J. Williams. Assistant Surgeon - J.D. Murphy. Paymaster - E. Stewart. Acting Masters - P.S. Borden, C.J. Gibbs. Marine Officer - First Lieutenant S.W. Powell. Ensign - P.H. Cooper. Acting Ensigns - J.F. Byer, C.M. Chester, L. Clark. Acting MasterMates - W.R. Cox, J. West, T.J. Warner, W.C. Seymour. Engineers - Chief, J. McElwell; First Assistant, E.J. Brooks; Second Assistant, A.J. Kenyon; Third Assistant, A.J. Kirby, R. Wier, Jas. Patterson, J.D. Ford, W.H. Crawford, C.W.C. Senter. Boatswain - L.P. Choate. Gunner - W. Cheney. Carpenter - H.L. Dixon. Sailmaker - W. Rogers. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE BROOKLYN. Captain - James Alden. Lieutenant Commander - Edward P. Lull. Lieutenant - Thomas L. Swann. Ensign - Charles F. Blake. Acting Ensigns - C.H. Pendleton, John Utter. Surgeon - George Maulsby. Assistant Surgeon - Heber Smith. Paymaster - Gilbert E. Thornton. Captain of Marines - G. Porter Houston. Engineers - Chief, Mortimer Kellogg; Second Assistants, David Hardie, John D. Toppin; Haviland Barstow, George E. Tower; Third Assistants, Francis C. Goodwin, Joel A. Ballard, Wm. H. DeHart; Acting Third Assistant, Henry H. Arthur. Boatswain - Charles A. Braydon. Gunner - Thomas S. Cassidy. Carpenter - Robert G. Thomas. Sailmaker - David C. Brayton. Acting MasterMates - Henry Webb, F.C. Duncan, A.L. Stevens, Wm. N. Cook. CaptainClerk - Robert D. Bogart. PaymasterClerk - Alfred E. Baker. PaymasterSteward - John Parker. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE MONONGAHELA. Commander - J.H. Strong. Lieutenant - R. Prentis. Surgeon - D. Kindleberger. Assistant Paymaster - F. Parker. Acting Masters - E. Leonard, C. Higgins. Ensign - G.M. Brown; Acting do., C.D. Sigsbee, D.W. Malien, H. Grinnell. Acting MasterMate - W.S. Armand. Engineers - Chief, G.F. Kutz; Second Assistants, J. Willey, N.B. Clark; Third Assistants, J.J. Bissett, E. Cheny, P.G. Eastwick, P.J. Lunger. Boatswain - W. Green. Gunner - J.D. Fletcher. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE LACKAWANNA. Captain - J.B. Marchand. Lieutenant - J.C. Bowes, S.A. McCarty. Surgeon - T.W. Leach. Paymaster - J. Fulton. Acting Master - J. McCurley. Ensigns - G.H. Wadleigh, F. Wildes; Acting do., G.T. Chapman. Acting MasterMates - C. Welles, John Cannon. Engineers - Acting Chief, W.A.R. Lattimer; Second Assistants, R.H. Grinnell, E.J. Whittaker; Third Assistants, G.W. Roche, C.F. Marsland, B.E. Pike, J.B. Fort. Boatswain - W.E. Leeds. Gunner - J.G. Foster. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE ONEIDA. Commander - W.E. Le Roy. Lieutenant - C.L. Huntington. Surgeon - J.T. Taylor. Paymaster - C.W. Hassler. Acting Masters - T. Edwards, E. Rose. Ensign - E.N. Kellog. Acting Ensigns - C.V. Gridley, John Sears. Acting MasterMates - E. Bird, D.H. Clark, C. Gainesford. Engineers - Chief, W.H. Hunt; Second Assistants, J.H. Morrison, R.H. Fitch; Third Assistants, W.D. McIlvaines, C.W. Breaker; Acting Third Assistants, W.E. Dearer, N. Dillon. Boatswain - H. Dickinson. Gunner - W. Parker, LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE OSSIPEE. Captain - J.P. Gillis. Lieutenant - J.A. Howell. Surgeon - B.F. Gibbs. Assistant Surgeon - G.E. Baumgarten. Paymaster - E. Foster. Acting Master - C.C. Bunker. Acting Ensigns - H.S. Lambert, C. Putnam, C.W. Adams, W.A. Van Vleek, C.E. Clark. Acting MasterMates - W. Wingood, W.W. Black, P.P. Hawkes. Engineers - Acting Chief, J.M. Adams; Acting First Assistant, G. Harrie; Acting Second Assistant, J.W. Webb; Third Assistants, G.W. Kidder, J. Mathews, Wm. Collier, W.W. Vanderbilt; Acting Third Assistant, J. Germon. Boatswain - A. Milne. Gunner - J.Q. Adams. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE GALENA. Lieutenant Commander - C.H. Wells. Acting Assistant Surgeon - G.P. Wright. Acting Assistant Paymaster - Theo. Kitching. Acting Master - R.J. Hoffner. Acting Ensigns - D.C. Kells, J. Cullaton, H. Pease, Jr., S.S. Miner. Acting MasterMates - O. Robbins, F. Tuttle, J.H. Delano. Engineers - Acting Chief, W.G. Buchler; Second Assistants, C.H. Greenleaf, J.A. Scott; Acting Third Assistants, P. Burns, W. Welcker. CaptainClerk - L.G. Morrow. PaymasterClerk - E.B. Bultz. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE GENNESSEE. Lieutenant Commander - E.C. Grafton. Lieutenant - T.S. Spencer. Acting Assistant Surgeon - W.F. Hutchinson. Acting Assistant Paymaster - F.C. Alley. Acting Masters - W. Hansom, C.M. Merchant. Acting Ensigns - C.H. Baxter, E.W. Halcro. Acting MasterMates - W.J. Crosby, J. Cusner. Engineers - Acting First Assistant, J. Cahill; Acting Second Assistant, C.H. Harrab; Acting Third Assistants, C. Milton, M. McLaughlin, H. Webster. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE METACOMET. Lieutenant Commander - James E. Jarrett. Acting Master and Executive Officer - Henry J. Sleeper. Acting Sailing Master - G.W. Wilson. Assistant Paymaster - Horace M. Harriman. Assistant Surgeon - E.D. Payne. Acting Ensigns - John White, John O. Morse, George E. Wing. Acting MasterMates - J.K. Gordon, C.C. Jones, R.N. Miller. Engineers - First Assistant and Chief, James Atkins; Second Assistant, ____ Hunt; Third Assistants, George B. Rogers, James H. Nash, S.W. King, Samuel Fowler. Acting Gunner - Peter McGoren. PaymasterClerk - George C. Heath. CaptainClerk - Jesse T. Lee. SurgeonSteward - L.D. Montanye. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE SERAGO. Lieutenant Commander - Joseph E.D. Haven. Assistant Surgeon - _____ Coen. Assistant Paymaster - Henry A. Strong. Acting Masters - Jerome Rogers, William H. Mallard. Ensigns - S.G. Blood, C.B. Dorrence and E.D. Martin. Engineers - First Assistant (in charge) F.A.R. George; Second Assistant, W.P. Ayres; Third Assistants, B. Kerley, F. Babcock and Robert Miller. Acting Gunner - John Roberts. CaptainClerk - ______ Davidson. PaymasterClerk - John A. Goin. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE PORT ROYAL. Lieutenant Commaner - G.U. Morris. Acting Assistant Surgeon - E.R. Hutchings. Paymaster - G.A. Sawyer. Acting Masters - E. Van Slyck, E. Herrick. Acting Ensigns - W. Hull, P. Faunce. Acting MasterMates - E.O. Tyson, H.D. Baldwin, W.A. Prescott. Engineers - Second Assistant, W.C. Selden; Third Assistants, E.M. Breeze, F.B. Allen, H. Snyder, W.C.F. Reichenbach. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE CONEMAUGH. Assistant Surgeon - J.J. Allingham. Acting Assistant Paymaster - C.C. Adams. Acting Masters - J.W. Stapleford and J.L. Lee. Acting Ensign - G.F. Morse. Acting MasterMates - G.H. French, J.H. Wainwright and G.G. Brown. Engineers - Second Assistants, L.J. Allen, J. Lloyd; Third Assistants, P. Kendrickson and J.F. Knowlton. Gunner - I.D. Barton. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE KENNEBEC. Lieutenant Commanding - W.P. McCann. Assistant Surgeon - C.H. Perry. Acting Assistant Paymaster - C.L. Burnett. Acting Master - E. Baker. Acting Ensigns - A.L. Emerson, J.J. Butler, J.D. Ellis and H.A. Tinckham. Acting MasterMate - H.C. Nields. Engineers - Third Assistants, B.C. Gowing, E.E. Roberts, L.W. Robinson and G.R. Holt. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE PANOLA. Lieutenant Commander - O.F. Stanton. Assistant Surgeon - L.M. Lyon. Acting Assistant Paymaster - A.B. Robinson. Acting Master - W.P. Gibbs. Acting Ensigns - C.V. Rummell, G.M. Bogart and H. Crosby. Acting MasterMate - J.G. Rosling. Engineers - First Assistant, J. Johnson; Third Assistant, J. Everding; Acting Third Assistants, F.E. Hosmer, C.O. Tacoit and S.A. Appold. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE ITASCA. Lieutenant Commander - George Brown. Acting Master and Executive Officer - Richard Hustace. Acting Ensigns - Mr. Hand and Mr. Igoe. Acting Assistant Paymaster - Geo. L. Mead. Acting Assistant Surgeon - Henry Rockwood. Engineers - Second Assistant, Mr. Borthwick; Third Assistants, Mr. Ireland, Mr. Laws and Mr. Reaney. MasterMates - Mr. Spencer, Mr. Megrow and' Mr. Kimball. PaymasterClerk - Marcus Chapman. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE PEMBINA. Lieutenant Commander - L.H. Newman. Acting Assistant Surgeon - A.R. Holmes. Acting Assistant Paymaster - Walter Fuller. Acting Masters - H. Allen, J.W. Saunders. Acting Ensigns - B.M. Chester, W. Lyddon. Acting MasterMates - O. Sandstrom, H.T. Davis. Engineers - Second Assistants, T.A. Stephens, A.V. Frazer; Third Assistants, J.T. Bingham, R.M. Hidgson, C.F. Nagle. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE PENGUIN. Acting Volunteer Lieutenant - J.R. Reers. Acting Assistant Surgeon - C.D. White. Acting Assistant Paymaster - T.C. Hutchinson. Acting Master - T. Dunham. Acting Ensigns - C. Knowles, N.S. Hayden, B. Caulet. Acting MasterMates - C. Smith, Jr., F.C. Almy, W.A. Hannah. Engineers - Acting First Assistant, F.W. Warner; Acting Second Assistant, M. Randall; Acting Third Assistants, J. Webster, E. Riley, DeW. C. McBride. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE TENNESSEE. Acting Volunteer Lieutenant - Pierre Giraud. Assistant Surgeon - W.C. Hull. Acting Assistant Paymaster - B.F.D. Fitch. Acting Master - G.E. Nelson. Acting Ensigns - J.B. TRott, W.S. Bacon, J. Marthon. Acting MasterMate - H.E. Giraud. Engineers - Acting First Assistant, D. Frazier; Acting Second Assistant, E.C. Maloy; Acting Third Assistants, P. Fitzgerald, G.W. Keersted, T. Campbell. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************