Fort Morgan

[rebelatsea]

Briefly, ...

Fort Morgan is on the east side of the entrance to Mobile Bay. Fort Gaines is on Dauphine Island on the west. They are both pre-war stone / masonry forts. A smaller fort, Ft. Powell, guarded the narrow entrance to Mobile Bay north of Dauphine Island. Various things (like Vicksburg, operations against Texas, the Red River Campaign) kept delaying moves to close Mobile until August 1864, when Farragut led the Gulf Squadron into Mobile Bay, past the forts and the ironclad CSS Tennessee. That's where Farragut said, "**** the torpedoes, full speed ahead." (Or " "**** the torpedoes! Four Bells! Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!" or whatever he really said.)

Fort Morgan surrendered shortly after, to land forces which had cut if off. It's surrender closed Mobile, which didn't actually fall until a few days after Lee surrendered at Appomattox.

" Full speed ahead - what **** torpedoes - oh s***t "

 

[rebelatsea]

Across the bay at Fort Gaines, it had a self-flushing latrine; when the tide came in it would collect the refuse and when the tide went back out, it would take the refuse with it.

So that's why the fishing was so good!

 

[USS ALASKA]

And one of the ships used to subdue Fort Morgan - the former CSS, now USS, Tennessee.

USS Tennessee probably in the Mississippi , circa 1865. A CDV by McPherson & Oliver, New Orleans, LA, with period ink inscription on verso: Ram "Tennessee" captured Mobile Bay August 5th 1864 / Fleet of Rear Admiral D.G. Farragut.

https://www.navsource.net/archives/09/86/098619804.jpg

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

12 Oct 1863

Fort Morgan, Alabama. USS Kanawha, Lieutenant-Commander William K Mayo, and the tender USS Eugenie, Lieutenant Henry W Miller, attempted to destroy a steamer aground under the guns of Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay. The two ships were taken under fire by the fort and USS Kanawha was damaged.

1863 October 12th

October 12 1863 Monday Siege of Chattanooga Bristoe Campaign Shelby’s Raid in Arkansas and Missouri Second Bayou Teche Expedition Go to October 13 1863 Alabama. Skirmish at Buckhorn Tavern near New…

americancivilwarhighcommand.com

Lithograph by Shearman & Hart, New York, circa 1861, entitled "U.S. Steam Gun Boat 'Kanawha'. This image was issued with different titles to represent many, if not all, of the U.S. Navy's "90-Day Gunboats". Collection of CDR, Charles Moran, USNRF. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 2016.

https://www.navsource.net/archives/09/86/098603901.jpg

Drawing by William M.C. Philbrick "The Dispatch Boat Eugenie Between Mobile and New Orleans September 25th 1863". US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 54114

https://www.navsource.net/archives/09/86/098689801.jpg

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

And one of the ships used to subdue Fort Morgan - the former CSS, now USS, Tennessee.

View attachment 557766
USS Tennessee probably in the Mississippi , circa 1865. A CDV by McPherson & Oliver, New Orleans, LA, with period ink inscription on verso: Ram "Tennessee" captured Mobile Bay August 5th 1864 / Fleet of Rear Admiral D.G. Farragut.

https://www.navsource.net/archives/09/86/098619804.jpg

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

The CSS Tennessee is personally my favorite ironclad of the War.