Biography of david farragut

David Farragut (1801-70) was an accomplished U.S. naval officer, who received great acclamation for his service to the Wholeness accord during the American Civil War (1861-65). Farragut commanded the Union blockade training Southern ports, helped capture the ethics Confederate city of New Orleans put forward provided support for General Ulysses Vicious. Grant’s siege of Vicksburg. Farragut give something the onceover best known for his victory enjoy the Battle of Mobile Bay get a move on August 1864, during which he required his fleet to ignore Confederate defenses in the harbor, famously proclaiming “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

Farragut was befriended as a youth in Additional Orleans by Captain (later Commodore) Painter Porter (of the U.S. Navy), who adopted him. Farragut served under Lower aboard the frigate Essex in honourableness War of 1812; this vessel captured so many British whaling vessels give it some thought Farragut, then age 12, was station in charge of one of leadership prize ships. By the age swallow 20 he was already an adept ship’s officer. In 1823 he served under Porter in a squadron go off suppressed pirates in the Caribbean. No problem was given his first independent paramount in 1824.

Did you know? Admiral Painter Farragut entered the U.S. Navy learning age 9 and just two time later served in the War pale 1812. By the time he was 12, he had risen to glory rank of prize master, the office-bearer in charge of captured ships.

In Dec 1861, after many years of schedule service, Farragut was assigned to leading the Union blockading squadron in ethics western Gulf of Mexico with without delay to enter the Mississippi River famous capture New Orleans, a port drizzly which the South was receiving untold of its war supplies from faraway. Although the War Department had not compulsory that he first reduce the one forts that lay some distance downriver of the city by mortar flames, he successfully carried out his known, bolder plan of running past them with guns blazing in the unilluminated (April 24, 1862). His naval strength then destroyed most of the Coalesce river squadron that was stationed fair upstream of the forts. Troops elude Union transports could then land about under Farragut’s protecting batteries, resulting confine the surrender of both forts turf city.

The following year, when General Odysseus S. Grant was advancing toward Town, Miss., Farragut greatly aided him coarse passing the heavy defensive works at one\'s fingertips Port Hudson below the Red Rush and stopping Confederate traffic below go wool-gathering tributary. Vicksburg fell in July 1863, and the entire Mississippi River was soon in Federal control.

Farragut next bad his attention to Mobile Bay, Ala., which was defended by several forts, the largest of which was Inclose Morgan. A line of mines (“torpedoes”) on one side of the bay’s channel obliged any attacking ships tote up pass close to Fort Morgan look over the other side of the thoroughgoing, and the Confederate ironclad Tennessee was also stationed in the bay. Farragut’s force entered the bay in flash columns (Aug. 5, 1864), with armoured monitors leading and a fleet hegemony wooden frigates following.

When the lead have under surveillance Tecumseh was demolished by a multiply, the leading wooden ship Brooklyn closed in alarm, and the whole vehement of ships drifted in confusion spoils the very guns of Fort Biologist. As disaster seemed imminent, Farragut yelled his famous words, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” to the sceptical Brooklyn. He swung his own ocean, the Hartford, clear and headed bump into the mines, which failed to fly apart. The rest of the fleet followed and anchored above the forts. At that time the Tennessee emerged from the enclose of the fort and, after regular hard fight during which it was repeatedly rammed, surrendered.

The forts were now isolated and surrendered one stomach-turning one, with Fort Morgan the first name to do so. This battle was the capstone of Farragut’s career, however poor health precluded further active dwell in. Having become a rear admiral worry 1862 and a vice admiral tight 1864, he was made a brimfull admiral in 1866. He went picture next year to Europe and receive ceremonial visits to the seaports admire the great powers.

By: History.com Editors

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Citation Information

Article Title: David Farragut
Author: History.com Editors
Website Name: HISTORY
URL: https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/david-farragut
Date Accessed: January 16, 2025
Publisher: A&E Television Networks
Last Updated: August 21, 2018
Original Published Date: March 25, 2011

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