attack on New Orleans had been a
land assault supported by the navy,
Farragut largely ignored the army’s
role, preferring to do the job on his
own. He was meticulous and unhurried
in his preparations, but then carried
out the attack on the Mississippi River
defenses with resolution and aggression.
When his flagship, USS Hartford,
was set on fire, he responded with
admirable calmness and inspired his
crew to bring the blaze under control.
The bold manner of the capture of
New Orleans earned Farragut fame,
promotion, and the thanks of Congress.
The United States had previously
scorned the term admiral, according
instead the more “democratic” rank
of flag officer to its senior naval
commanders, but Farragut was made
a rear admiral to general acclaim.
River and ocean setbacks
When Farragut led his ships up the
Mississippi to Vicksburg in June 1862,
he found that the Confederate fortress
stood too high above the river for
bombardment by his squadron’s naval
guns to have any real effect.
Returning to the sea, he worked
tirelessly at the blockade of the Gulf
ports, only to suffer a double blow in
January 1863 when USS Hatteras was
sunk by CSS Alabama off Galveston,
Texas, and CSS Florida was allowed
to escape from the port of Mobile,
Alabama. On neither of these occasions
was Farragut in personal command
during the action. At Port Hudson the
following spring, he was very much
in charge. Apart from Vicksburg
farther to the north, Port Hudson was
the last remaining Confederate
stronghold on the Mississippi River. In
mid-March, Farragut planned to run
seven ships past the batteries at Port
Hudson while the Union Army
mounted a diversionary land attack.
But coordination failed and Farragut
carried out his river operation without
support. The Confederate guns
disabled five of Farragut’s ships; only
USS Hartford and a gunboat made it
past the batteries. The losses were a
serious setback, but the surviving
force was still sufficient for Farragut
to help the Army in the subsequent
siege of Port Hudson, by preventing
Confederate supplies coming down
the Red River.Inspiring courage
After a period of well-earned rest in
New York, Farragut was given the task
in 1864 of attacking Mobile, Alabama.
Lack of troops for a land-sea operationto take the city of Mobile meant that
Farragut settled for the capture of
Mobile Bay and the ships there. This
was in itself an ambitious goal, for
Confederate defenses were well
prepared. Farragut’s squadron would
have to pass under the guns of Fort
Morgan along a channel sown with
mines (then called torpedoes) and
fight Confederate ships that included
the large ironclad CSS Tennessee.
This was the kind of operation for
which Farragut seemed to have been
born, demanding what Gideon Welles
called his “innate fearless moral
courage.” When one of Farragut’s lead
ships was sunk by a mine the whole
venture almost foundered, but he led
the squadron through the minefield,
famously calling out, “Damn the
torpedoes, full speed ahead!” He was
also in the forefront of the subsequent
naval battle in which CSS Tennessee
was, with difficulty, overcome.
The hard-fought success at Mobile
Bay carried Farragut’s reputation
to unparalleled heights. He played
no further significant part in the Civil
War, exhaustion and poor health
taking their toll, but he was much
celebrated afterward. He
acted as a pallbearer at
Lincoln’s funeral, was
promoted to full admiral,
and was sent with a
squadron across the
Atlantic to be feted in
European capitals.
Farragut was buried in
Woodlawn Cemetery in
the Bronx district of
New York in 1870, after
being accorded a funeral
of memorable grandeur.DAVID FARRAGUT■ July 5, 1801 Born James Glasgow Farragut near
Knoxville on the Tennessee River, where his
Spanish-born father, Jorgé Farragut, was a
ferryboat operator.
■ 1808 After the death of his mother, Farragut is
adopted by naval officer David Porter, in whose
honor he later changes his first name
from James to David.
■ December 1810 Appointed a naval
midshipman, sailing under Porter aboard the
frigate USS Essex.
■ March 28, 1814 During the War of 1812,
Farragut is taken prisoner by the British after the
capture of the Essex off Valparaíso harbor, Chile.
■ 1821 After seeing service in the Mediterranean,
Farragut is promoted lieutenant; he is made
first lieutenant in 1825, and commander
in 1841.
■ September 1823 Marries
Susan C. Marchant of
Norfolk, Virginia; takes
up residence in
Norfolk, where he
works at the Navy
Yard.
■ December 1843
Three years after the
death of his first wife,
Farragut marries Virginia
Loyall; they have one son.
■ 1854–58 Establishes the
Navy Yard at Mare Island,
California, as a facility for
ship repair on the West Coast; promoted to
captain (September 1855).
■ April 18, 1861 The day after Virginia’s
secession, Farragut, choosing to stay loyal to
the Union, leaves Norfolk for New York.
■ January 9, 1862 Given command of the West
Gulf Blockading Squadron with orders to capture
New Orleans.
■ April 24–25, 1862 Farragut’s squadron defies
the guns of the Mississippi forts and fights
through to New Orleans; this feat wins him
promotion to rear admiral, a rank not previously
accorded in the U.S. Navy.
■ June–July 1862 Farragut’s squadron takes
part in an unsuccessful attempt to reduce
the Confederate fortress at Vicksburg by
naval action.
■ March 14, 1863 Fails to coordinate
effectively with land forces at Port Hudson
on the Mississippi.
■ August 5, 1864 In his most famous action,
Farragut leads a naval force into Mobile Bay off
the Alabama coast and destroys a squadron of
Confederate warships.
■ December 21, 1864 Becomes the first man
appointed to the rank of vice admiral in the
U.S. Navy.
■ July 26, 1866 Made a full admiral—the United
States’ first—a post created specifically for him
by Congress.
■ August 14, 1870 Dies of a stroke in New
Hampshire; on September 30 he is given a
magnificent state funeral.TIMELINEFARRAGUT IN
ABOUT 1840The Battle of Mobile Bay
Farragut stands in the rigging of
USS Hartford as the battle rages in
Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. He
mounted the ship’s rigging at the
height of the combat to see above
the smoke of the guns.Sword of honor
This jeweled sword was presented to Farragut by
admiring New Yorkers on April 23, 1864. The blade is
inscribed: “... as a token of their appreciation of his
gallant services rendered in defense of his country.”
“You fellows will catch the devil
before you get through with
this business.”
FARRAGUT ADDRESSING CONFEDERATESElaborately decorated
blade