Friday, March 28, 2014

150 Anniversary of Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay

The 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay, and the Siege of Fort Morgan will be commemorated on August 1-3rd, 2014. This should be an spectacular three-day event. Re-enactors from all parts of the United States will participate.



The Battle of Mobile Bay, August 5, 1864, pitted the Federal Fleet commanded by Rear Admiral David G. Farragut (of "Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead" fame) against a lesser known  Confederate  Admiral Franklin Buchanan, and his much smaller fleet of ships.

The USS Tecumseh, an ironclad, sank during the battle. The ship still rests upside down northwest of Fort Morgan. I remember exploring the Fort as a child. I had no idea at that time of its strategic significance during the War. 

The Confederate fleet was quickly dismantled except for the CSS Tennessee, which bravely engaged the entire Union fleet alone. She was eventually incapacitated and her captain had no choice but to surrender. With no Navy left, the three forts surrendered within days and complete control of the lower Mobile Bay went to the Union forces.

This Union victory, along with the downfall of Atlanta, gave a huge boost for Abraham Lincoln's re-election.

We hope you will make your plans to attend this extraordinary commemoration event.

No comments:

Post a Comment