Though often disappointed by Union generals, Farragut fulfilled their requests whenever possible. New York: D. Appleton, 1879. But Farragut’s fortunes finally changed in December when the Union high command decided to attempt the capture of New Orleans — the South’s largest city and most important port — by sea rather than land. Before first light on April 24, Farragut advanced with 17 vessels. In early 1864, however, he returned to the Gulf of Mexico for an assault upon Mobile, where he would make his most lasting mark on history, with his illustrious “Damn the torpedoes!” declaration that brought about closure of the Confederacy’s top Gulf port for blockade runners. Injured, Porter was confined to bed, and Farragut, for the first and only time in his life, witnessed sailors paralyzed with fear while battling Cape Horn’s raging seas. Congress created the grade of full admiral especially for Farragut, his appointment effective July 26, 1866. Rather than risk a recurrence of morning fog, he would make the attempt at night. It involved a conflagration between Essex and another of Porter’s ships and two British vessels in the neutral harbor of Valparaiso. On July 30, Lincoln commissioned Farragut the U.S. Navy’s first rear admiral, to date from July 16. Until his command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, however, there had been little indication he’d have a chance to secure his name in history. His Spanish father, Jordi Farragut Mesquida, took the American name George and was a sea captain before joining the colonists in their revolt against Great Britain. Hearn, Chester G. Admiral David Glasgow Farragut: The Civil War Years. There was no further trouble. Terry turned over immediate command of the remaining two guns opposite the Confederate center to Shepard on July 2, but continued to supervise both detachments. Lincoln also directly benefited from Farragut’s success — Mobile was the first of a series of victories that helped him win reelection.
The Mississippi River Squadron, now under Flag Officer Charles H. Davis, began arriving July 1. The Life of David Glasgow Farragut | This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. The Life of David Glasgow Farragut: First Admiral of the United States Navy, Embodying His Journal and Letters [Loyall Farragut] on Amazon.com. Lewis, Charles Lee. This quote also appeared in other publications verbatim. He would receive his captaincy on September 14, 1855, and served in California until 1860 before returning to Norfolk. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus V. Fox, in particular, paid tribute to Farragut for deciding to leave Norfolk back in April, declaring it was an act that showed “great superiority of character, clear perception of duty, and firm resolution in the performance of it.” Farragut quickly proved that the gamble on him was well worth taking. Usually ships within 1 to 2 months.
U.S. Navy Secretary Gideon Welles plucked him from his desk job and in January 1862 gave him command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. The Life of David Glasgow Farragut: First Admiral of the United States Navy, Embodying His Journal and Letters Loyall Farragut Farragut proceeded to Vicksburg, with orders to run his fleet past the Rebel bastion’s daunting batteries. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. When Banks was unsuccessful in assaulting the fort by land, Farragut remained confident he would starve the garrison out of Port Hudson if he could blockade the Red River, thus eliminating one of the bastion’s critical supply lines to the north.
Before dawn on June 28, the ships set off, guns blazing. Only 340 yards separated these two guns from Confederate sharpshooters, who quickly taught the seadogs the perils of fighting ashore. Porter’s ships were woefully outgunned, and when he decided to run past the enemy duo — fearing the arrival of other British ships — a squall nearly capsized Essex near the mouth of the harbor. Before it could launch a joint attack against Vicksburg, however, the Confederate iron-clad Arkansas descended from the Yazoo River on the 15th and successfully reached Vicksburg, passing through the combined Union fleets north of the city. Despite a cold, pouring rain, more than 10,000 people — including President Grant — marched on Sept. 30, 1870, in Farragut’s funeral procession in New York.
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*FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Promoted to first lieutenant in January 1825, Farragut saw limited duty but did at least have a few interesting moments: transporting Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette to France in 1825; showing the flag at Charleston, South Carolina, during the Nullification Crisis of 1833; and witnessing the naval reduction by the French of Castle San Juan de Ullua at Vera Cruz, Mexico, in 1838.
Farragut headed for New Orleans on July 24, and then returned to the Gulf to secure every port except Mobile by the end of the year. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Farragut remained on the Mississippi to assist Banks in capturing the bastion, which finally fell after a 48-day siege — the longest in American history. When the Mexican-American War was underway, Farragut received command of a ship in the Gulf in 1847, but was too late to the war to direct the bombardment of the city of Veracruz. By the end of June, Porter had captured nine enemy prize vessels, and Farragut was placed in command of one of those — Alexander Barclay — five days before his 12th birthday, When the British vessel’s prisoner-captain threatened to regain control, Farragut promised that if the captain set foot on the deck brandishing pistols, he would be thrown overboard.