Thursday, May 22, 2014

Red River Campaign Draws to Close and Farragut Watching Mobile Torpedoes

MAY 26TH, 1864:  The unsuccessful Red River Campaign was drawing to a close.  On May 20th, general Banks' Army  crossed the Atchafalaya River near Simmesport, Louisiana, protected by Porter's ships.  Admiral Porter's health was beginning to fail.

This date, Rear Admiral Farragut wrote about torpedo preparations in Mobile Bay:  "I can see his boats (Admiral Buchanan's)  very industriously laying down torpedoes, so I judge that he is quite as much afraid of our going in as we are his coming out, but I have come to the conclusion to fight the devil with fire, and therefore shall attach a torpedo to the bow of each ship, and see how it will work on the rebels--if they can stand blowing up any better than we can."

--Old B-R'er




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