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ble as they were brave； who； from the best of motives； went with their States when they seceded； or even advocated secession。 But the highest and loftiest patriots； those who deserved best of the whole country； we re the men from the South who possessed such heroic courage； and such lofty fealty to the high ideal of the Union； that they stood by the flag when their fellows deserted it； and unswervingly followed a career devoted to the cause of the whole nation and of the whole people。 Among all those who fought in this； the greatest struggle for righteousness which the present century has seen； these men stand preeminent； and among them Farragut stands first。 It was his good fortune that by his life he offered an example； not only of patriotism； but of supreme skill and daring in his profession。 He belongs to that class of commanders who possess in the highest degree the qualities of courage and daring； of readiness to assume responsibility； and of willingness to run great risks； the qualities without which no commander； however cautious and able； can ever become really great。 He possessed also the unwearied capacity for taking thought in advance； which enabled him to prepare for victory before the day of battle came； and he added to this。 an inexhaustible fertility of resource and presence of mind under no matter what strain。
His whole career should be taught every American schoolboy； for when that schoolboy becomes a voter he should have learned the lesson that the United States； while it ought not to become an overgrown military power； should always have a first…class navy； formidable from the number of its ships； and formidable still more from the excellence of the individual ships and the high character of the officers and men。 Farragut saw the war of 1812； in which； though our few frigates and sloops fought some glorious actions； our coasts were blockaded and insulted； and the Capitol at Washington burned； because our statesmen and our people had been too short…sighted to build a big fighting navy； and Farragut was able to perform his great feats on the Gulf coast because； when the Civil War broke out； we had a navy which； though too small in point of numbers； was composed of ships as good as any afloat。
Another lesson to be learned by a study of his career is that no man in a profession so highly technical as that of the navy can win a great success unless he has been brought up in and specially trained for that profession； and has devoted his life to the work。 This fact was made plainly evident in the desperate hurly…burly of the night battle with the Confederate flotilla below New Orleansthe incidents of this hurly…burly being； perhaps； best described by the officer who； in his report of his own share in it； remarked that 〃all sorts of things happened。〃 Of the Confederate rams there were two； commanded by trained officers formerly in the United States navy； Lieutenants Kennon and Warley。 Both of these men handled their little vessels with remarkable courage； skill； and success； fighting them to the last； and inflicting serious and heavy damage upon the Union fleet。 The other vessels of the flotilla were commanded by men who had not been in the regular navy； who were merely Mississippi River captains； and the like。 These men were； doubtless； naturally as brave as any of the regular officers； but； with one or two exceptions； they failed ignobly。 in the time of trial； and showed a fairly startling contrast with the regular naval officers beside or against whom they fought。 This is a fact which may well be pondered by the ignorant or unpatriotic people who believe that the United States does not need a navy； or that it can improvise one； and improvise officers to handle it； whenever the moment of need arises。
When a boy； Farragut had sailed as a midshipman on the Essex in her famous cruise to the South Pacific； and lived through the murderous fight in which； after losing three fifths of her crew； she was captured by two British vessels。 Step by step he rose in his profession； but never had an opportunity of distinguishing himself until； when he was sixty years old； the Civil War broke out。 He was then made flag officer of the Gulf squadron； and the first success which the Union forces met with in the southwest was scored by him； when one night he burst the iron chains which the Confederates had stretched across the Mississippi； and； stemming the swollen flood with his splendidly…handled steam…frigates； swept past the forts； sank the rams and gunboats that sought to bar his path； and captured the city of New Orleans。 After further exciting service on the Mississippi； service in which he turned a new chapter in the history of naval warfare by showing the possibilities of heavy seagoing vessels when used on great rivers； he again went back to the Gulf； and； in the last year of the war； was allotted the task of attempting the capture of Mobile； the only important port still left open to the Confederates。
In August； 1864； Farragut was lying with his fleet off Mobile Bay。 For months he had been eating out his heart while undergoing the wearing strain of the blockade； sympathizing； too； with every detail of the doubtful struggle on land。 〃I get right sick； every now and then； at the bad news；〃 he once wrote home； and then again； 〃The victory of the Kearsarge over the Alabama raised me up； I would sooner have fought that fight than any ever fought on the ocean。〃 As for himself； all he wished was a chance to fight； for he had the fighting temperament； and he knew that； in the long run； an enemy can only be beaten by being out…fought； as well as out…manoeuvered。 He possessed a splendid self…confidence； and scornfully threw aside any idea that he would be defeated； while he utterly refused to be daunted by the rumors of the formidable nature of the defenses against which he was to act。 〃I mean to be whipped or to whip my enemy； and not to be scared to death；〃 he remarked in speaking of these rumors。
The Confederates who held Mobile used all their skill in preparing for defense； and all their courage in making that defense good。 The mouth of the bay was protected by two fine forts； heavily armed； Morgan and Gaines。 The winding channels were filled with torpedoes； and； in addition； there was a flotilla consisting of three gunboats； and； above all； a big ironclad ram； the Tennessee； one of the most formidable vessels then afloat。 She was not fast； but she carried six high…power rifled guns； and her armor was very powerful； while； being of light draft； she could take a position where Farragut's deep…sea ships could not get at her。 Farragut made his attack with four monitors；two of them； the Tecumseh and Manhattan； of large size； carrying 15inch guns； and the other two； the Winnebago and Chickasaw； smaller and lighter； with 11…inch guns；and the wooden vessels； fourteen in number。 Seven of these were big sloops…of…war； of the general type of Farragut's own flagship； the Hartford。 She was a screw steamer； but was a full…rigged ship likewise； with twenty…two 9…inch shell guns； arranged in broadside； and carrying a crew of three hundred men。 The other seven were light gunboats。 When Farragut prepared for the assault； he arranged t