This Week in American History- The Battle of Mobile Bay

Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!

On August 5th, 1864, a Union Fleet commanded by Rear Admiral David Farragut attacked a Confederate Fleet, commanded by Admiral Franklin Buchanan, and three Confederate forts at the mouth of Mobile Bay. The Battle was marked by Farragut's audacious run through a minefield that had just sunk one of his ironclad ships and will be forever remembered by Farragut's battle cry at the beginning of the post. His bold move enabled his fleet to get beyond the range of the shore batteries and to batter the Confederate fleet mercilessly. With no naval support, the forts were unable to resist the Union fleet and they soon also fell to Farragut. This victory gave the Union forces control of the Mississippi and enabled them to complete the blockade of the region. It was also important in that it gave a boost to Abraham Lincoln's re-election campaign....and elections, of course, have consequences!