The following article is extracted from The New York Times, dated 15 August 1864:

 

 

          Our New-Orleans files received yesterday by the steamship Creole contain ample and most interesting particulars of the victory of the gallant FARRAGUT and his fleet in Mobile Bay.

          The accounts of eye-witnesses, as they appear in the New-Orleans Times, Era and Picayune, are given with admirable clearness. Farragut's Victories at Mobile.

 

NEW-ORLEANS, Sunday, Aug. 7.

 

          Intelligence was received at headquarters yesterday, announcing that the fleet under Admiral FARRAGUT passed the forts at the entrance of Mobile Bay at 8 A.M., on the 5th inst. The monitor Tecumseh was blown up by a rebel torpedo. No other vessels were lost. The rebel ram Tennessee surrendered after an Obstinate resistance. The rebel Admiral BUCHANAN lost a leg in the action, and is now a prisoner.

The land force under Maj.-Gen. GORDON GRANGER invested Fort Gaines, and with light batteries opened simultaneously with the passage of the forts by the fleet, taking the water batteries in reverse, and silencing them. Our losses are not reported. LATER. Later advices from Admiral FARRAGUT's fleet may be summed up as follow: Fort Gaines has surrendered. Fort Powell was blown up by the rebels. [This was at Grant's Pass, at the opposite end of Dauphin Island from where the fight occurred.]

          Four monitors went in first, followed by the steam war-vessels Brooklyn, Hartford, Metacomet, and others. The principal fighting was with the ram Tennessee, inside the bay. The Metacomet, in attempting to ram the Tennessee, struck the Hartford, and stove in her side timbers. The Hartford will go north for repairs. The rebel gunboat Selma was sunk by the Metacomet. The gunboats Chickasaw and Winnebago chased two rebel gunboats -- the Gaines and Morgan -- into Navy Cove, and they are blockaded there, without a chance of escape. Only ten persons are known to have survived the destruction of the monitor Tecumseh by the torpedo.

The dispatch-boat Philippi was burned at sea while the fight was in progress. Admiral FARRAGUT will push right on for Mobile City. All the Texas coast, Brownsville included, has been evacuated, with the exception of Brazos Island. A small force is left there under Col. DAY, of the Ninety-third New-York. Major-Gen. FRANE E. HERRON arrived from there yesterday, and is now at the St. Charles Hotel. His forces are here, and are going into camp above the city. The rebels here are greatly excited over the Mobile news. Politics is becoming lively and interesting. The Free State men are organizing for active duty, and the clubs of the last campaign are being revived. There is no doubt about the ratification of the new Constitution by the people. The city is full of people, notwithstanding the large numbers who have left for Northern watering-places.

          The Mobile News of the 15th ult. boasts of the hanging of two colored soldiers and a cotton speculator, near Vicksburgh, by WHITTAKER's guerrillas. A number more of Union prisoners, recently exchanged, have arrived.

 

WEST GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON, OFF FORT MORGAN,

Aug. 3, 1864

 

          The fleet for the reduction of Mobile, commanded by Admiral FARRAGUT, and composed of the Winnebago, Chickasaw, Manhattan and Tecumseh of the monitor fleet, and the Hartford, (flagship,) Brooklyn, Oneida, Itasca, Tennessee, and Metacomet, of the wooden fleet, will commence to-morrow morning to pour their iron hail into the rebel Fort Morgan. The hall was opened this afternoon by the monitor Winnebago, which steamed defiantly up to the fort and threw in a shell or two to give the rebs a taste of our quality. She is a splendid specimen of monitor naval architecture, and is as buoyant as a cork. On her your correspondent is located, and we expect to be first into the fight to-morrow. Her officers are every one of them gentlemen, and have afforded and will afford me every opportunity to witness the fight. Capt. THOS. STENENS is well Known as an officer" chock full of fight;" and he is ably seconded by Vol. Lieut. W.F. Shankland, Paymaster Girard, Chief Engineer Simon Shultes, 1st Assistant Engineer John Purdy, Ensigns Morrisey, Murphy and Whitworth, Acting-Master Megathlin, and Robert Sherman, gunner. To the latter gentleman I am indebted for favors to be remembered hereafter. Of the fighting qualities of this noble vessel I shall speak more fully at some future time. The guns in her forward turret are worked by steam, and that they are terrible in execution the Rebels will bear me witness.

 

ON BOARD STEAMSHIP WINNEBAGO,

August 4,1864.

 

          This morning opened beautifully. Contrary to expectations, the land forces under Gen. GRANGER failing to co-operate, we did not attempt the reduction of the forts to-day. But Capt. STEVENS, determined not to be baulked of his share of the light, steamed up in front of Fort Gaines, and at 11:30 o'clock this morning threw his first shell at the transport Natchez, which was unloading troops and ammunition at the landing in front of the fort. You should have seen her leave! In less than a minute after the shell burst in her neighborhood, the smoke of burning bacon and resin was plainly visible. We gave and received about a dozen shots, but nobody was hurt on our side. That you may fully understand the position of affairs, let me explain: As we lay, head up the bay, Fort Morgan stands on our right, by and around the light-house, well known to many of your readers Immediately opposite, and about five miles off, on the northeast end of Dauphin Island, is Fort Gaines. Running across from Morgan to Gaines is driven a tier of piles, fastened together by a net-work of chains. Opposite each fort a channel is left open, of about fifteen hundred yards in width, for the use of blockade-runners. In the channel, in front of Morgan, were placed a lot of buoys, on which the guns of her water battery are trained. I say were, for our boys destroyed about half of them last night. Outside of the piles are placed the torpedoes. Just inside of the obstructions is lying the rebels' pride and hope -- the ram Tennessee -- and three gunboats. Neither of these have dared to show themselves outside while we were firing into their transports, but contented themselves with throwing a shot at us at long range -- say about five miles -- when they could have no hope of hitting us. LATER. -- Orders have just come aboard for us to go into the fight to-morrow, and from the quantity of fight in the Captain and officers of the Winnebago, and of the fleet generally, I can assure you we shall see fun. Everything now betekons success on our part, and before this reaches you, Mobile, I am convinced, will have fallen.

 

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5.

 

          The glory is ours! The victory is with us! I have only time to say that we have passed Fort Morgan, and anchored in the bay. The rebel ram Tennessee is ours, and also one of the gunboats. BUCHANAN, the rebel Commodore, is wounded, and I hear is dying. The monitor Tecumseh was run on a torpedo opposite the obstructions and sunk immediately. All but eighteen of her officers and crew went down with her. Capt. CRAVENS, I believe, was her commander. The Chickasaw is shelling Fort Powell. In the action to-day we have lost about 150 killed and wounded. Yours signally. The bearer of the letter informs us that Fort Powell was blown up, and Fort Gaines taken. We learn from another source that the fleet which passed the forts consisted of fourteen gunboats and four monitors. The following account is furnished by A.C. STERRETT, who was on board the gunboat Port Royal at the time of the fight:

 

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 1864

 

          The fleet, consisting of the Hartford, Brooklyn, Richmond, Lackawanna, Ossipee, Monongahela, Oncida, Galena, Port Royal, Metacomet, Octorora, Seminole, Itasca, and the Monitors Tecumseh, Manhattan, Chickasaw and Winnebago, and the Admiral's steam barge Loyal, got under way at the anchorage off the entrance to Mobile Bay, at sunrise, the monitors in advance and the wooden vessels going together in pairs, the flag-ship taking the lead. When within point blank range of Fort Morgan, the vessels ahead were slowed down to enable the line to close up, and at this time the fort and rebel vessels opened fire on the fleet, which was returned from the 100-pounder Parrotts placed on the bows of our vessels in the advance.

          The Admiral waited until directly abreast of Fort Morgan, when he delivered a succession of broadsides from the nine-inch guns of the Hartford with such precision and galling effect that the rebels were driven away from their guns, and the water battery and fort were silenced. At this time the monitors engaged the iron-clad ram Tennessee, which was discovered, laying in position to advance on our noble Admiral. At this moment the monitor Tecumseh struck a torpedo and was seen to rise and disappear beneath the water almost instantly. The firing now became terriffic, and the fleet, although steaming ahead at a full rate of speed, was completely enveloped in flame and smoke. The rebel ram made several attempts to run our passing vessels down, but failed to do so, and in the midst of all this a boat was lowered from the Metacomet to pick up the survivors of our ill-fated monitor. It was a beautiful and appaling sight to witness this boat rowing around on its sacred mission to rescue our drowning men, with its beautiful flag flowing to the breeze, and the missiles of death and destruction striking and ricocheting all around it. But the gallant officer (an ensign whose name I forget) heedlessly kept on his way, and succeeded in rescuing the pilot, one of the officers and three men, belonging to the Tecumseh.

          With the exception of the monitor, our fleet had by this time succeeded in passing Fort Morgan, only to be subject to a galling, raking fire from the three rebel gunboats -- Selma, Morgan and Gaines. Our vessels, which were secured together in pairs, were now cast off, and the engagement became general, which in a short time resulted in driving the ram and two gunboats under the guns of Fort Morgan, whilst the Selma steamed up the bay with the evident intention of escaping to Mobile. After a chase of about forty minutes the Selma hauled down her flag to Capt. DRUETT, of the Metacomet. On boarding her the cause of her surrender was soon apparent -- their decks were covered with the dead and dying, and her scuppers were running with their blood. Among others I recognized the body of Lieut. COMSTOCK, with his bowels torn out and laying across the breach of a gun which he was engaged in sighting at the time of his death. He once belonged to our navy. Language is not adequate to describe the soul-stirring cheers which went up from the throats of our brave tars, and was reechoed from one vessel to another all through this terrible ordeal, and our brave, noble Admiral has exemplified in this fight that his theory of "iron hearts and wooden ships" is a correct one.

          At this time, while our fleet, with a few exceptions, had collected together on the west side of the bay, in the direction of Fort Powell, and out of the range of Morgan's guns, the ram Tennessee was discovered steaming in the direction. The monitors closed with her when in range, and one of the most interesting naval engagements of the war succeeded, and we, in the smaller wooden vessels, were the spectators.

A fight of some minutes ensued, when Admiral FARRAGUT, anxious to close the engagement in a summary manner, started toward the Tennessee at full speed; at the same time Capt. STRONG, in the Monongahela, struck the Tennessee amidships, and withdrew in time to give room to our Admiral to grapple his antagonist, BUCHANAN. When the smoke cleared away from the two vessels, a white flag was seen to wave from the Tennessee's pilot-house, in token of submission, and Capt . JE[???]D, who went in as a volunteer on the Ossippee as a representative of Admiral FARRAGUT, received the sword of Admiral BUCHANAN, and that terrible engine of destruction was ours, although gained at a great loss of life. Our loss in this fight is about 240 killed and wounded, including the brave Capt. CRAVAN of the monitor, and 100 of his crew who went down with him. Admiral BUCHANAN of the Tennessee was shot through the leg below the knee, and the leg will have to be amputated. Fort Powell, in Grant's Pass, was blown up last night after dark, and Fort Gaines will soon follow. The rebel gunboats, which sought protection under the guns of Morgan, will be destroyed or captured by our monitors to-day, and the investment and capture of Morgan must follow.

          We have, by this great victory, effectually closed the port of Mobile, and its capture is only a question of time; and Admiral FARRAGUT, and the gallant officers and men under his command, have established another claim to the admiration and respect of their countrymen and those who love liberty. We are indebted to the courtesy of an officer of the navy, who witnessed the naval engagement in Mobile Bay, on Friday last, for the following interesting particulars: Between 7 and 8 o'clock on that morning, the fleet moved in the following order: Four monitors and fourteen wooden vessels, the Tecumseh leading the former and the Hartford (flagship of Admiral FARRAGUT) the latter, advanced. The monitors were the Tecumseh, Manhattan, Winnebago and Chickasaw. The wooden vessels followed in pairs. The rebel ram, the Tennessee, and gunboats Selma, Morgan and Gaines, were lying in wait under the guns of Fort Morgan, ready to attack the Federal fleet as it approached. It opened upon them with grape and canister -- the Hartford and other vessels -- with such severity that nothing could withstand the force of the terrific attack. The gunners of Fort Morgan, in the meantime, were driven from their guns, so fierce was the fire from the Federal fleet. The Tecumseh, in passing the forts, was blown up by the explosion of a torpedo. The captain and all on board, with the exception of ten, sank with her.

The Confederate ram Tennessee, after first attacking the fleet, as it advanced, seemed to return for shelter under the guns of Fort Morgan; but, after the fleet had proceeded some distance up the bay, stood toward them, as if to give battle; whereupon the Hartford, the monitors, and the wooden vessels of the fleet, stood for her, and a most terrible engagement commenced. The Tennessee was rammed by the Hartford, the Lackawanna and the Monongahela -- the Lackawanna striking her under full headway, and all the vessels delivering a heavy fire at the same instant. The Manhattan, meantime, put one solid 15-inch shot at her, which penetrated her armor through and through and lodged on the opposite side. Admiral FARRAGUT, during the engagement, was stationed in the maintop, where he had lashed himself in case be should receive a wound, communicating his orders below through speaking-tubes. After a most determined and gallant engagement, the Tennessee showed a white flag as a token of surrender. An officer of the Federal fleet then boarded the Tennessee and demanded the sword of Admiral BUCHANAN, which that officer surrendered, and it was taken on board the flagship. The Confederate Admiral was wounded severely, and will probably have to suffer the amputation of a leg.

The Confederate gunboat Selma, in the meanwhile, retreated up the bay, and was followed by the Metacomet, Lieut.-Commander JEWETT, and Port Royal, Lieut.-Commander GHIRARDI. The Selma surrendered to Lieut. JEWETT. The two other rebel gunboats, Morgan and Gaines, took refuge under the guns of Fort Morgan, and (says our informant) would probably be captured in the course of yesterday. The U.S. monitor Chickasaw, Lieut.-Commander PERKINS, steered gallantly up to Fort Powell, and took in tow a steam barge from immediately' under the guns of the fort. After taking the barge out of range, she returned and pelted the fort vigorously for half an hour with 11-inch shell. Fort Powell was finally evacuated, and at 11 o'clock at night was blown up by the rebels. Of course, as the rebel vessels concentrated their fire principally upon her, she suffered the greatest loss. The total Federal loss, including that of the Tecumseh, (which was blown up by the torpedo and sunk,) in killed, wounded and missing, was about 240.

          On the Tennessee there were twenty officers and about 120 men -- Admiral BUCHANAN, commanding. Among the officers beside were Capt. JOHNSTON and Lieuts. BRADFORD and WHARTON. From the New-Orleans True Delta. Since the above was in type, Admiral PALMER has kindly read to us such portions of an official dispatch and private letter from Admiral FARRAGUT as he deems proper to make public. At an early hour on Friday, our fleet, lashed two and two, sailed into the Pass close up under the guns of Fort Morgan, pouring in broadside after broadside of grape and canister -- thus driving the gunners of the fort from their pieces and leaving our vessels exposed only to the fire of Forts Gaines and Powell, which were, of course, less effective on account of distance. At the same time Gen. GRANGER's land batteries enfiladed Gaines and caused the evacuation and blowing up of Powell. In passing the forts the Oneida received a shot which temporarily disabled her machinery, but she was safely towed through the fire by her consort.

          Our monitor Tecumseh was one of the foremost. A torpedo, exploding beneath her bottom, she sunk almost instantaneously, carrying down all her officers, only ten of her crew escaping. She was commanded by Capt. LEWIS CRAVEN. Our loss on this vessel was about one hundred. The gunboats having passed the forts, and being out of their reach, were pursued by the formidable ram Tennessee, and three iron-clad gunboats -- the Selma, Gaines and Morgan. Our vessels immediately attacked the ram, and battered him so effectually that he surrendered in a few minutes by hanging out the white flag. Admiral BUCHANAN, the Commander, lost a leg, and with all his crew, are prisoners in our hands. There were only 3 killed on the Tennessee. She was but slightly damaged, and it is probable that FARRAGUT has her fit for action by this time. We also captured the Selma, of which Capt. MURPHY was the commander. Lieut. PRENTISS, of the Monongahela, lost both legs. He is a gallant officer, and has a young wife in this city. Capt. MALANEY, of the Oneida, lost an arm. All the wounded will be sent to Pensacola. Our loss is two hundred and forty killed and wounded. The two remaining rebel gunboats fled under the guns of Fort Morgan for protection; one of them is aground, and the Admiral is confident that he can destroy them to-day. He has not the slightest doubt of his ability to reduce the forts. But their capture will not give us command of the city, which is extensively fortified at Dog River and elsewhere. The Hartford, FARRAGUT's flagship, was heavily engaged, losing one officer, HIGGENBOTTOM, Secretary to the Fleet Captain, killed, together with 20 of her crew, and 26 wounded. All our vessels were wooden except three. From the New-Orleans Times. Ever since the capture and occupation of this city by FARRAGUT and BUTLER the possession of Mobile by the Federal Government has been one of the principal objects of the desires of Union men, both here and at the North. Apart from its importance commercially to the Southern States, an importance which has not been lessened during the war, owing to the frequency with which rebel smugglers have evaded the cruisers of the blockading squadron off its harbor. Mobile, from its population and past importance, in a financial point of view, has been considered one of the chief jewels in the possession of the Confederacy.

It has always been the opinion of rebels and loyal people that the fall of Mobile would be one of the most disastrous blows possible to the fortunes of the great insurrection which has deluged this country in blood, entailed upon it untold misery and an immense load of debt, diminished its national importance in the eyes of the world, and endangered the progress, the perpetuity even, of liberal principles in politics on the Western hemisphere.

          The Times of yesterday evening announced the passage of the forts in Mobile harbor by Admiral FARRAGUT and his fleet, the capture of the rebel officer in charge of the Mobile naval defences, the investment of Fort Gaines by Gen. GRANGER, and the surrender of the much famed rebel ram, the Tennessee, on the 5th inst. We congratulate our Union population of, the Crescent City on this great, glorious and most welcome intelligence.

          The whole country, outside the limits of rebeldom, and many a man within those hateful bounds, will unite in rejoicing over this magnificent exploit of the thrice-gallant FARRAGUT and the heroic GRANGER. Many a Union man, whose bosom swelled, and pulse beat hard, and eyes filled with tears of joy in New-Orleans on the day when scared rebels whispered the news from ear to ear of the passing of St. Philip and Jackson in April, 1862, felt a jubilaut emotion like that which then raised his soul from the depth of despondency to the most delightful hopes and anticipations as he perused yesterday evening's Times. They said "God bless him!" of that daring, lion-hearted FARRAGUT, in the hour of their own greatest peril; and they now sympathize, with hearts full of devout thankfulness, with the Union men of Mobile, who have heard similar tidings, and are ready again with their invocations of blessings from on high to rest upon the head of the greatest naval commander of the age.

          Perhaps, while we write, Mobile has fallen; but whether this is so or not, Mobile is sure to fall. The wise foresight of CANBY and FARRAGUT, the character of the men to whom the task has been devolved, the ample preparations that have been made, render the fall of the city an absolute certainty. There will be no backward step, no unnecessary delay; nothing but earnest action, guided by consummate skill, hard, telling blows, severely and effectively dealt, until the Stars and Stripes float in triumph over what is left of the metropolis of Alabama. Union men of New-Orleans! remember the feelings which swayed you when the fleet of the United States was forcing its way up the Mississippi, while you were surrounded by foes who would have hung you. Extend your heartiest sympathies to those men of Mobile who may be to-day rejoicing, and stifling their rejoicings, at the progress of the delivering arm of the nation.

          With Atlanta partially within our grasp, if not entirely so; with the railroad connection between Atlanta and Mobile effectually severed; with Northern Alabama friendly to the Union cause; with GRANT at Petersburgh, holding before him the main force of the Confederates, tying them hand and foot before Richmond, totally unable to fly to the relief of any other section of the Confederacy; with the attention of the forces held to defend Charleston fully occupied by the gallant little band assailing that city day and night at every vulnerable point, what will prevent the success of the combined naval and land force at Mobile? Truly, "it is thundering all around," and is thundering to excellent purpose. The brittle Confederacy is assailed at all points by forces that cannot help being successful. The officers in charge of the Union armies have been tried again and again without the discovery of a flaw; they have been winnowed until nothing but the true grain of gold remains. The armies of the United States are composed mainly of men to whom the noise of battle has grown a thing accustomed, and who have for months back carried the inspiring prestige of victory. The navy is cooperating wherever the brave sea-dogs can be of use; and the navy has never known aught but success.

          Truly, the end seems at hand, and is full of splendid promise. ROUSSEAU's raid, and the grand success of FARRAGUT and CANBY, are but the forerunners of the speedy return of Alabama to her place in the Union. A large part of her population did not approve secession. They did not vote for the secession ordinance, nor for the Confederate Constitution. The whole State voted against the immediate secession plan of YANCY. We have few fears for the future of Alabama.

 

WASHINGTON, Sunday, Aug. 14.

The Richmond Examiner, of the 12th, has the following: MOBILE, Tuesday, Aug. 9.

Hon. S.E. Mellory, Secretary of the Navy:

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          The enemy steamed in through the main entrance with four monitors and about sixteen heavy vessels of war. The Tecumseh, Commander T.A.M. CRAVEN, was sunk with nearly all her crew, and, also, another gunboat, the Phillippi, which I subsequently burned. The Richmond, Hartford and Brooklyn, in line of battle, followed by the remainder of the fleet, pushed by Fort Morgan, under full headway, when they were encountered by the Tennessee, the Morgan, the Gaines and the Selina. The Tennessee and other vessels steamed in close range of the advancing force, and poured a heavy fire into the leading ships. After a desperate struggle between the fleets, the Gaines retired to Fort Morgan in a sinking condition. The Selma, cut off, surrendered, and the Morgan escaped to Port Morgan. The Tennessee, so far uninjured, steamed toward the whole fleet, and after an obstinate fight surrendered, her rudder disabled, her smoke stack carried away, and, as we suppose, her crew in an exhausted and smothering condition. On the Tennessee Admiral BUCHANAN was severely wounded by a splinter in the leg. Two were killed and several wounded among her crew. On the Gaines two were killed and two wounded. On the Morgan, one was wounded. On the Selma eight were killed, including her Executive officer, Lieut. J.H. COMSTOCK, and seven were wounded. The enemy suffered severely and requested permission to bury his dead.

 

Respectfully, &c., G.W. HARRISON, Confederate States Navy.

 

          The Examiner also gives a list of the 28 Federal vessels engaged, having 212 guns, with the four Confederates, having 32 guns. "It was a most unequal contest, in which our gallant little navy was engaged, and we lost the battle, but one ensign went down in a blaze of glory." Up to Thursday night nothing of interest had occurred before Atlanta. Maj.-Gen. BATES received a flesh wound in the leg. The enemy is massing on our right and endeavoring to extend his lines in the direction of the Western Railroad. A few shots were fired at the city yesterday, (9th.) Brisk shelling commenced at 11 o'clock last night, and continued four hours. No personal casualties are reported. BOSTON, Saturday, Aug. 13. Since the 28th of June, inclusive, the following decree of distributions has been made in prize eases by the United States District Court in this city: Steamer Mary Ann, captured by the steamer Grand Gulf, $112,356 32; steamer Scotia, captured by the steamer Connecticut, $73,459 50, schooner Alliance, captured by the steamer South Carolina, and schooner T.A. Ward, $23,281 74; steamer Greyhound, captured by the steamer Connecticut, $484,692 61; steamer Young Republic, captured by the steamer Grand Gulf, $411,519 79. Total, $1,105,559 36. This is the greatest distribution ever ordered in this country. TROY, N.Y., Saturday. Aug. 13. The extensive car and coach factory of GILBERT, BUSH & Co., of this city, was destroyed by fire this morning. Loss $200,000; insurance about $100,000.

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