The civil wars landmark naval battle is remembered for a. On august 5, 1864, the sailors in farraguts 18ship flotilla awoke at 3 a. Alabamas largest permanent military post between 1900 and 1923, the fort served during the spanishamerican war and world wars i and ii. Feb 14, 2015 detail of an 1865 map showing the confederate defenses of mobile shows the location of fort morgan and the location of rear adm. The handwritten diary describes the ships operations during the blockade of mobile, alabama on the gulf of mexico, the battle of mobile bay, and its subsequent service off the coast of texas.
The first weekend in august, well be staying in gulf shores thanks to one of the great hot deals offered through brettrobinson vacations. Fort morgan reenacts battle of mobile bay beach blogs from. Naval history was uttered during the heat of battle in the waters off fort morgan at mobile point on august 5, 1864. The citadel at fort morgan as it appeared after its surrender following the battle of mobile bay. The entrance to the bay was narrow, and defended by a pair of forts fort gaines and fort morgan. Civil war diary covering the second enlistment of u. The battle of mobile bay during the civil war occurred just offshore. Fort morgan, alabama stronghold of mobile bay legends of. After passing the forts, farragut forced the confederate naval forces, under adm. Gift shop fort morgan state historic site fort bowyer. Damn the torpedoes naval history magazine august 2014. The flagship will lead and steer from sand island n.
Fort morgan state historic site is a 3rd system masonry fort finished in 1834, that is managed by the alabama historical commission. Aug 31, 2018 on august 5, 1864, the sailors in farraguts 18ship flotilla awoke at 3 a. Mar 31, 2015 if you would prefer to really enhance your experience, why not hop on the mobile bay ferry at dauphin island and cruise over to the port just outside the admission gates at fort morgan. Historic sites battle of mobile bay alabama civil war sites. On august 5, union admiral farragut attempted to lead several ships into mobile bay, past formidable confederate forts and the ironclad c. Confederate ironclads morgan, gaines, and tennessee approach from the left, and union ironclads manhattan and winnebago approach from behind. In the battle of mobile bay, fort morgan suffered five casualties, while the union fleet had fiftytwo fatalities, in addition to the ninetythree sailors that went down with the tecumseh. At the western end of the bay was fort powell, smallest of the three with 18 guns and about 140 men. History buffs will not want to miss visiting fort morgan, one of the sites that comprise the mobile bay civil war trail. The imposing knuckles of fort morgan and fort gaines. And the capture of forts powell, gaines and morgan, by the combined sea and land forces of the united states, under the command of rearadmiral david glasgow farragut, and majorgeneral gordon granger, august, 1864 included various materials in addition to parkers history.
Fort morgan reenacts battle of mobile bay beach blogs. Historic alabama civil war sites battle of mobile bay. Fort powell was the smallest fort at the end of fort powell. Lambert of new jersey, 18631864, including his service aboard the gunboat u. The main effort was a naval operation, but army ground forces took part in seizing two separate fortifications, including the mighty fort morgan at the mouth of the bay. Across the main channel from fort morgan on dauphin island was fort gaines, containing 26 guns, and with a garrison of about 600. Battle of mobile bay admiral david farragut damned. October 2019 ask paul s about fort morgan state historic site. The first historian to look at this issue in depth was farraguts biographer, charles lewis, who in 1943 contended that farraguts phrase first appeared in 1878, in commodore foxhall a. Davidson in 1886, depicts the famous civil war naval battle. The trail is a guide to the military movements, famous civil war battles, including the battle of mobile bay, and life as it was lived during the war. Farragut had tied himself to the rigging of the uss hartford to better observe and direct the battle and reportedly. After farragut and his ships forced their way into the bay, union soldiers laid siege to fort gaines, which surrendered on august 8, 1864. Battle of mobile bay by harrie webster, third assistant engineer, uss manhattan about half past seven, while the action was at its height, our gun had just been revolved for a shot at fort morgan, a momentary view was had of the tecumseh, and in that instant occurred the catastrophe whereby a good ship filled with men, with a brave captain, in.
As soon as the surrender of fort gaines was completed, granger moved his force from dauphin island to the narrow strip of mainland behind fort morgan, where they were landed without opposition about 4 mi 6. If you would prefer to really enhance your experience, why not hop on the mobile bay ferry at dauphin island and cruise over to the port just outside the admission gates at fort morgan. The first battle of mobile bay occurred in the winter of 1864, some seven months before the yankees attacked fort gaines and fort morgan. Union ground forces led by general gordon granger conducted a short siege of the confederate garrison at the mouth of mobile bay under the command of general richard l. Detail of an 1865 map showing the confederate defenses of mobile shows the location of fort morgan and the location of rear adm. Lackawanna, winnebago, ossipee, brooklyn, itasca, richmond, hartford and chickasaw. Mobile bay passing of forts morgan and gaines ehistory.
The fort played an important role in the battle of mobile bay and it was within sight of its walls that union admiral david g. In the late summer of 1864, a union combined armynavy force began operations to close mobile bay to blockaderunning vessels from the port city of mobile, alabama. Mobile bay civil war trail includes fort morgan meyer. Parkers original volume, entitled the battle of mobile bay. Personal account of the battle of mobile bay by harrie webster, uss manhattan. Fort morgan remained in confederate hands until 23 aug 1864 when it was surrendered after the battle of mobile bay to a union fleet commanded by adm.
The fort morgan civil war highlight came on august 5, 1864, when the fort played a key role during the battle of mobile bay before surrendering to union forces after a twoweek siege. On august 5, 1864, at the battle of mobile bay during the american civil war 186165, union admiral david farragut 180170 led his flotilla through the. Tourist attractions in fort morgan, alabama usa today. The battle of mobile bay essential civil war curriculum. American battlefield trusts map of the battle of mobile bay. The cornerstones of this defense were forts morgan 46 guns and gaines 26, which guarded the main channel into the bay. Driscoll and since i grew up in the pensacola area, i am excited to dive into that book soon. Two forts at the bays entrance, fort gaines on dauphin island and fort morgan on mobile point, surrendered immediately thereafter. And the capture of forts powell, gaines and morgan. The scene captures the sinking of the ironclad uss tecumseh. I have the honor to report to the department that this morning i entered mobile bay, passing between forts morgan and gaines, and encountering the rebel ram tennessee and the gunboats of the enemy, viz, selma, morgan, and gaines.
Farragut were able to get past fort morgan and enter the bay, where they captured. Fort morgan, alabama stronghold of mobile bay legends. In order to pass into mobile bay he had to breach three formidable obstacles simultaneously. Discover the historical military occupation from the war of 1812 thru wwii at mobile point. The port was well situated for defence at the top of mobile bay, thirty miles from the sea. Photo gallery battle of mobile bay civil war trail. Some union forces landed on dauphin island and laid siege to fort gaines. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image. I have been interested in getting some books on the battle of mobile bay and mobile campaign after visiting fort morgan, fort gaines and fort blakeley recently. Occupying the strategic point where mobile bay meets the gulf of mexico, fort morgan played a critical role in the battle of mobile bay in august 1864 and was also used during the spanishamerican war, wwi and wwii. The battle of mobile bay of august 5, 1864, was an engagement of the american civil war in. Farraguts union fleet of eighteen ships entered mobile bay and received a devastating fire from forts gaines and morgan and other points. Meanwhile, fort gaines, with only one gun able to reach the channel, inflicted no damage on the union fleet.
Ghosts of many wars roam the historic forts of mobile. Operational art and the campaigns for mobile, 186465. Entitled surrender of the tennessee, battle of mobile bay, it depicts css tennessee in the center foreground, surrounded by the union warships from left to right. Two prewar stone forts, fort gaines on dauphin island and fort morgan on the mainland, guarded the entrance. The siege of fort morgan occurred during the american civil war, as part of the battle for mobile bay, in alabama u. Navy, regarding the battle of mobile bay, august 5, 1864. Two forts at the bays entrance, fort gaines on dauphin island and fort morgan on mobile point, surrendered immediately. And the capture of forts powell, gaines and morgan, by the combined sea and land forces of the united states under the command of rearadmiral david glasgow farragut and majorgeneral gordon granger, august, 1864. By the summer of 1864 mobile, alabama, was one of the few confederate ports still available for blockade runners. With the fall of new orleans in april 1862, mobile, alabama became the confederacys principal port in the eastern gulf of mexico. Full text of the battle of mobile bay, and the capture of.
The military site and national historic landmark is located 22 miles west of. At that time, union naval forces under admiral david g. In this joint operation, conducted on the east side of mobile bay, the ser. Damn the torpedoes the battle of mobile bay beyond the. Full text of the battle of mobile bay, and the capture of forts powell, gaines and morgan, by the combined sea and land forces of the united states under the command of rearadmiral david glasgow farragut and majorgeneral gordon granger, august, 1864 see other formats. Situated at the head of mobile bay, the city relied on a series of forts at the bay s mouth to provide protection from naval attack. Full text of the battle of mobile bay, and the capture of forts powell, gaines and morgan, by the combined sea and land forces of the united states under the command of rearadmiral david glasgow farragut and majorgeneral gordon granger, august, 1864. Fort morgan, across the bay on mobile point, proved a tougher nut to crack. In the battle in the spring of 1865, when farragut forced an entrance into mobile bay, the little vessel was soon driven under the shelter of the guns of fort morgan, the ram css selma, a 320ton sidewheel gunboat, was built in 1856 at mobile, alabama, as the civilian coastal steamer florida. There are several information boards and graphics that describe the battle of mobile bay of 1864 at one of the overlooks. The confederate surrender helped shut down mobile, alabama, as an effective. Situated at the head of mobile bay, the city relied on a series of forts at the bays mouth to provide protection from naval attack.
Tours of the masonry fort, completed in 1833, bring the past to vivid life in the present time. After passing the forts, farragut engaged in a slugfest with the confederate. Passing fort morgan and the torpedoes, painted by j. The battle of mobile bay also known as the passing of forts morgan and. Fort morgan and the battle of mobile bay teaching with historic. Print shows battle between union monitors and sloops against confederate ships and ram css tennessee in mobile bay with fort morgan in the distance. A combined union force initiated operations to close mobile bay to blockade running. Standing guard where the bay meets the gulf of mexico, the fort played a significant role in the battle of mobile bay in august 1864. On august 5, 1864, rear admiral david farraguts union fleet of eighteen ships entered mobile bay in two columns and received a devastating fire from forts gaines and morgan at the mouth of the bay. The port functioned until august 1864, when the battle of mobile bay, fought between the opposing union and confederate fleets, was won by the union admiral david farragut. Federal forces laid siege to the powerful masonry fort and fired 3,000 shells into it within 24 hours before the garrison finally hoisted the white flag on august 23, 1864. Farragut were able to get past fort morgan and enter the bay, where they captured several ships in the flotilla as well as fort gaines.
The battle of mobile bay began on the morning of august 5 when confederate guns from fort morgan opened fire on farraguts advancing fleet. Map shows confederate fortifications forts powell, gaines, morgan and the location of union fleet in mobile bay and the gulf of mexico. But a quote actually appeared earlier, less than two weeks after the battle. This is a special weekend at fort morgan, and we want to be there for as much of it as we can. Mar 24, 2020 there are several information boards and graphics that describe the battle of mobile bay of 1864 at one of the overlooks.
The second campaign took place the following spring of 1865. Since 1834 fort morgan has stood as the guardian of mobile bay. The importance of the battle of mobile bay the naval war. Fort gaines, alabama civil war era post legends of america. Farragut issued his immortal command, damn the torpedoes. The confederate defenders managed to sink the federal monitor tecumseh in the battle and the fort sustained more than 3000 cannonball impacts on 22 aug before surrendering on 23 aug. Fort morgan is a historic masonry pentagonal bastion fort at the mouth of mobile bay, alabama, united states.
Franklin buchanan, to surrender, which effectively closed mobile bay. Fort morgan and the battle of mobile bay teaching with historic places. Battle of mobile bay news newspapers books scholar jstor august. I actually just picked up the civil war on pensacola bay by john k.
Named for revolutionary war hero daniel morgan, it was built on the site of the earlier fort bowyer, an earthen and stockade type fortification involved in the final land battles of the war of 1812. The battle of mobile bay and millions of other books are. How admiral farragut got whipped in the first battle of. On august 5, farraguts union fleet of eighteen ships entered mobile bay and received a devastating fire from forts gaines and morgan and other points. Find civil war reenactment photos, pictures of civil war cannons and weapons and more in this battle of mobile bay photo gallery. The forts of mobile bay special 26m 46s in the nineteenth century, fort gaines, fort morgan and fort powell played a pivotal role in americas coastal defense. May 01, 2020 fort morgan state historic site is a 3rd system masonry fort finished in 1834, that is managed by the alabama historical commission.
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