“Mobile and its
Defenses”
Harper’s Weekly, March 26,
1864
We give on page 204 an
illustration showing the position of the Federal fleet
off the harbor of Mobile, together with the defenses of
the harbor. At last accounts (25th ult.) Admiral
Farragut was bombarding Fort Powell, which commands
Grant’s Pass, on the left of the picture. This
fort is bomb-proof, but, under the vigorous fire
directed against it, could not, it was believed at the
date of the latest advices, long hold out. The
reduction of this fort is necessary to enable Farragut
to send his mosquito fleet through the Pass into the
harbor of Mobile, by which he will cut off forts Gaines
and Morgan. The distance from Fort Powell is thirty
miles, nine of which are through a narrow channel, with
its banks fortified the entire distance. Fort Morgan is
a very strong work, protected on the sea front by a
strong water-battery of masonry and turf. The fort and
battery, with their full battery, mount forty-five
guns, mostly Columbiads of heavy caliber. Fort Gaines
is situated on Dauphin’s Island Point, three
miles and one fourth from and nearly opposite Fort
Morgan, and is heavily mounted. Vessels drawing more
than seven and a half feet are compelled to pass
between these forts; and obstructions placed in the
channel will make the passage for Farragut still more
difficult.
Mobile is one of the
largest cities on the Gulf, and is fairly environed by
defenses thrown up during the last two years. The
authorities, however, do not appeal to feel secure
against assault; for on the 25h ult. the Mayor of the
city issued a proclamation requesting all
non-combatants to leave the city, intimating that its
capture was not impossible, and that in any case, if
the city should be besieged, suffering might result
from the want of supplies.
