Thursday, August 14, 2014

Battle of Mobile Bay

Costly as the Union victory was and as stubbornly as the Confederates defended it, the victory effectively closed the last Confederate port on the Gulf of Mexico (even though Mobile did not fall anytime soon).

It was now inevitable that the other Confederate fortifications would be compelled to surrender.

The afternoon of August 5th, the monitor USS Chickasaw stood down and engaged Fort Powell at a distance of less than 400 yards.  The Confederates evacuated the fort during the night and blew it up.

Forts Morgan and Gaines would also soon fall.

After this, Union naval efforts would be concentrated on the east coast, though "mopping up" operations would continue along the Gulf and western rivers.

--Old B-Runner

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