M is for Mobile Bay (Blogging Through the Alphabet)

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

Even though I really enjoy studying the American Civil War, the battles and events that I am less familiar with are those relating to naval action or those in the Western Theater. The Battle of Mobile Bay, taking place on August 5, 1864, is one of those battles that I was not very familiar with prior to writing this post in my Civil War Blogging Through the Alphabet Series. The Union wanted to block off Mobile Bay, Alabama but was unsuccessful until the late summer of 1864. This was one of the last Confederate ports that was still open for the Confederacy.

Part of the reason why the Union was unable to capture Mobile Bay for so long was due to the number of forts that the Confederates had defending it. These forts included: Fort Powell, Fort Gaines, and Fort Morgan. In addition to these three forts, there were also torpedoes and mines that the Confederates had placed in the channels leading into the bay. And on top of the forts and the mines and torpedoes, the Confederates had their ironclad – the Tennessee – stationed to protect the bay.  So with what was supposedly the most powerful ironclad, the Confederates had a very well-defended bay. 

Early on August 5, Union Admiral David G. Farragut sent his fleet of 14 wooden ships and 4 ironclad monitors in a double column to attack Mobile Bay. During the battle, Farragut climbed to the top of his flagship, the USS Hartford, and was lashed to the mast by a quartermaster. From there he could see what was happening all around him. 

Full Speed Ahead! 

One of the 18 ships, the ironclad Tecumseh, met heavy fire from Fort Morgan and was eventually sunk after striking a torpedo. It was with the sinking of this ship, another memorable statement from the American Civil War would be said (the other being "There stands Jackson, like a Stonewall."). When the Tecumseh was sunk, the whole fleet stopped due to the attack by Fort Morgan and the torpedoes and mines in the water. Farragut responded by shouting: "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" The Hartford went forward and the other Union vessels followed. 

The Tecumseh would be the only Union ship lost as they moved between Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines and the torpedoes to meet the smaller Confederate fleet commanded by Confederate Admiral Franklin Buchanan. The Confederate fleet also contained the CCS ironclad Tennessee which the Union fleet surrounded and pounded into submission. This left the smaller gunboats, which the Union quickly subdued. 

Even though the Union would control the waters at Mobile Bay, the forts did not surrender right away. However, the Confederate forts would be helpless without the support of the Confederate fleets. There would be no resupplying of food, materials, or men to the Confederate forts. By August 23, 1864, all three forts had surrendered to the Union. The city of Mobile would not surrender till after Lee's surrender at Appomattox but the port was closed down by Farragut in August 1864. 

Impact of the Battle of Mobile Bay 

The Battle of Mobile Bay helped imprint Farragut into American military history first by his being lashed to the mast of his ship and then with his famous quote (and yes there has been questions as to its authenticity but let's not erase every piece of fun history). Mobile Bay was also the start of a number of Union victories that may have helped President Lincoln win the reelection against the Democratic candidate, former Union General George McClellan.

Do You Want to Join Blogging Through the Alphabet? 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter