with spars housed and canvas
furled, and decks spread with sawdust so that they would not grow
slippery with the blood which was soon to flow. As the fleet came within
range of the forts, a terrific cannonade began, in which the Confederate
ships, stationed just inside the harbor, soon joined. One of them was
the great ram, Tennessee, and the commander of the leading monitor, the
Tecumseh, noted her and determined to give her battle. So he swung his
ship toward her and ordered full steam ahead; but an instant later,
there came a sudden dull roar, an uplifting of the water, the boat
quivered from stem to stern, and then plunged, bow first, beneath the
waves.

Farragut, from his lofty station, saw the Tecumseh disappear, and then
saw the Brooklyn, the ship ahead of him in the battle line, stop and
begin to back. It was an awful moment--the crisis of the fight and of
Farragut's career as well. The ships were halted in a narrow channel,
right beneath the forts; a few moments' delay meant that they would be
blown out of the water.

"What's the matter there?" he roared.

"Torpedoes!" came the cry from the Brooklyn's deck, for her captain had
perceived a line of little buoys stretching right across her path.

"Damn the torpedoes!" shouted the admiral. "Go ahead, Captain Drayton,"
he continued, addressing his own captain. "Four bells!" and the
Hartford, swinging aside, cleared the Brooklyn and took the lead.

On went the flagship across the line of torpedoes, which could be heard
knocking against her bottom as she passed, but not one of them exploded,
and a moment later, one of the most daring feats in naval history had
been accomplished. Farragut had seen, instantly, that the risk must be
taken, and so he took it.

The remainder of the fleet followed the flagship, the forts were passed,
and the battle virtually won. The Confederate fleet, and especially the
great ram, was still to be reckoned with, but before proceeding to that
portion of the task, Farragut steamed up the harbor and served breakfast
to his men. Just as this was finished, the Tennessee attacked, and put
up a desperate fight, but finally became unmanageable and was forced to
surrender.

So ended the battle of Mobile Bay. It left Farragut's fame secure as one
of the greatest sea-captains of all time; great in daring, in skill, in
foresight, and with a coolness and presence of mind which no peril
could shake. Congress created for him the grade of admiral,