FARRAGUT AT MOBILE BAY.
399
resist the temptation to inform him that they had met before under differentcircumstances, the captain having been on the frigate Cumberland when sheWas sunk in Hampton Roads by Buchanan in the Merrimae. |
Late in the afternoon the Metaeomet was sent to Pensacola with theWounded of both sides, including Admiral Buchanan. In his report heaccuses Captain Harrison of the Morgan of deserting the Selma. CaptainHar rison in his report, on the other hand, charges Captain Murphy of theSelma with running away and with bad seamanship. Those who witnessedthe fight at close quarters will not accept Captain Harrison’s view, and therecord of killed and wounded tells the story. On the Morgan one man wasslightly wounded, on the Selma eight were killed and seven wounded; andthere is no doubt that the Selma was better managed and did more harmto the Union .fleet than the two other rebel gun-boats combined. CaptainMurphy of the Selma , in his official report, written like those of Buchananf «id Johnston from the Pensacola hospital, tells very briefly the story of hisPart in the fight and makes no insinuations or complaints against brotherofficers. The total casualties in the rebel fleet were 12 killed and 20 wounded,as follows: Killed. Wounded.
2
8
2
9
7
3
1
Total
12 20
[To the above should be added those captured on board the surrendered vessels, including,According to Farragut’s report, 190 in the Tennessee and 90 in the Selma. — Editors.]
The Gaines , according to the official report of her captain, was disabled bya shot or shell from the Hartford , “ which broke in the outer plankingWilder the port quarter about the water-line, and which from the marks seemedf° have glanced below in the direction of the stern-post.” This caused a leakthe after-magazine that could not be stopped, and made it necessary to^ach the vessel as already described. The captain succeeded in removingfhe ammunition, supplies, and small-arms to the shore, for the use of PortMorgan, and during the next night made his escape with his crew to Mobile,Pulling up the bay in six cutters, which in the darkness easily evaded thef'uion gun-boats that were on guard. The Morgan also succeeded in makingPei’ way through without difficulty, covering all her lights and running veryslowly until she had passed the Union vessels. The writer of this sketch has
1 Phe casualties of the Union fleet, as reportedw °unde<l, as follows:
Hartford.
Killed.
Wounded.
28
Mrooklun.
43
Jfcktmamm .
. 4
.... 35
°neida,
30
fniongahela . .
. J)0 ..
. 1
6
Metaeomet
2
Uio above should be added the casualties onre( b making the total losses 145 killed, 170 worm
by Admiral Farragut, were 52 killed and 170
Killed.
. 1
Wounded.
7
. 0
o
. 0
1
. 1
10
Kennebec .
. 1 ..
G
board the Teeumseh, viz., 93 drowned and 4 eap-and 4 captured.— Editors.
I First-Lieutenant Roderick Prentiss diet! a day later, as already mentioned.