David G. Farragut Ironically, David G. Farragut was born in the southern state of Tennessee, but was a Union Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy. Farragut’s fleet consisted of 14 wooden ships and four iron monitors (Trudeau 1; Lusted 1). Before leading a fleet, Farragut carried out his U.S. Navy service work at a desk, but his foster brother, David D. Porter, gave him a chance at commanding the 1862 New Orleans expedition (Trudeau 1). It was during this time that Farragut showed great leadership abilities. Because of his bravery, commitment, and leadership skills, David G. Farragut was a great U.S. Navy military leader. During the Civil War, ships had to worry about many things other than enemy ships. There was also a threat of torpedoes, which in that time were called floating mines. Some torpedoes blew up as soon as the ship hit them. The torpedoes were usually covered with tin or wooden cases (Trudeau 1). In the Battle of Mobile Bay, there were tones and tones of torpedoes in the water, so Farragut had to watch for these to protect his crew. At one …show more content…
Phillip, “Farragut led his wooden vessels past the guns, hastening the capitulation of New Orleans (April 28) and closing the lower Mississippi” (Trudeau 1). As in every war, someone always surrenders and the Confederate ships did just that. After the Gaines was defeated, the Selma surrendered. Later, the Tennessee had to surrender do to steering problems caused by being hit with gunfire (Lusted 2). “When they shot the smokestack away, the ship filled with smoke, and its commander finally surrendered the ironclad” (Bergeron 2). As a result, the Union had complete control of the bay (Lusted 2). War calls for a lot of supplies and when access is cut off, it is not good. Having lost control of the Bay, and later losing control of Fort Morgan, the Confederacy lost their last waterway route and their ability of being supplied from Gulf of Mexico (lusted