Get the Ricochet app

Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Become a member.

Tired of the toxicity of social media? Why not join Ricochet for just $5/month? Think of it as an online bar. Come in, have a drink, hang out, say whatever you want. But don’t badger, bully, or berate the other drinkers. That's our only rule.

Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead!

Susan Quinn
@SusanQuinn
Join to bookmark28likesJoin to like15comments

This morning, I was inspired by a piece written by Catherine Salgado that a friend sent to me. I hope you’ll find it inspiring, too. In part, here’s what she wrote:

On this day in 1864, Union Adm. David Farragut was lashed to the rigging of the USS Hartford, surveying the progress of the Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay. His fleet of ironclads and wooden ships aimed to take one of the last open Confederate ports, that of Mobile Bay, Alabama. Unfortunately, the Confederates had set up a maritime mine field in the waters of the bay to prevent any ships from getting through. Not to mention the forts within firing range of the Union fleet. The ironclad USS Tecumseh ran into a torpedo and sank. Union captains of the other ships, though within range of Fort Morgan, began to issue orders to halt their ships, not wanting to be the next vessel to sink thanks to a torpedo. Farragut, however, was determined to have victory no matter the risks. 'Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!' he roared. The USS Hartford charged through the minefield and Farragut won a critical victory.

These are times when I find it is easy to become cynical about the future of our country. There seem to be so many evil and negative forces that want to take us down, that want to discourage us from fighting those forces, that want us to give up the battle. But Farragut reminds us that this is not the time to falter. We must continue the fight, cry out against the enemies of the state, and even inspire others to take up the battle alongside us. We can find a way to use our passion, whether we attend school board meetings, city council meetings, political activities, write an essay or even speak to those who share our views, and maybe even those who don’t. At those times when we may feel discouraged, we can remind ourselves that we are honoring the Founders' hopes and dreams, and continuing the legacy of freedom and the Republic. That’s why I love Farragut’s statement:

Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!

This post was promoted to the Main Feed at the recommendation of Ricochet's members.

Discussion (15)

  • Old Bathos@OldBathos

    I have worked in downtown DC in several locations, all near Farragut Square. The statute in the square was made in 1881 from the bronze propellers of the USS Hartford that he commanded at Mobile Bay. And of course, like all commemorative Union statutes, his is facing south, facing the enemy.

    The statue dedication must have been something--a big military parade, big crowd, President Garfield, lots of bunting, all federal employees getting a half day and even John Phillip Sousa conducting the Marine band. No office buildings then but private homes around the square decked out in red white and blue.

    His victories were significant but I would have hated to be a sailor in his command. That old man (age 63 at the time of the Battle of Mobile Bay) was crazy aggressive and seemed not too concerned with causalities or personal safety--he climbed the rigging himself during the battle to get a better view though all the smoke from the cannons.

    I recall reading once that the "torpedo" technology was not terribly reliable and that many turned out to be duds, particularly if they got water-logged after a long time. Farragut's decision does not appear to be based on a careful risk evaluation of the limits of that defensive technology so much as a willingness to accept losses to get at the enemy. Good that it worked out and hastened the end of the war.

  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn
    ReplyingtoOld Bathos

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    I have worked in downtown DC in several locations, all near Farragut Square. The statute in the square was made in 1881 from the bronze propellers of the USS Hartford that he commanded at Mobile Bay. And of course, like all commemorative Union statutes, his is facing south, facing the enemy.

    The statue dedication must have been something–a big military parade, big crowd, President Garfield, lots of bunting, all federal employees getting a half day and even John Phillip Sousa conducting the Marine band. No office buildings then but private homes around the square decked out in red white and blue.

    His victories were significant but I would have hated to be a sailor in his command. That old man (age 63 at the time of the Battle of Mobile Bay) was crazy aggressive and seemed not too concerned with causalities or personal safety–he climbed the rigging himself during the battle to get a better view though all the smoke from the cannons.

    I recall reading once that the “torpedo” technology was not terribly reliable and that many turned out to be duds, particularly if they got water-logged after a long time. Farragut’s decision does not appear to be based on a careful risk evaluation of the limits of that defensive technology so much as a willingness to accept losses to get at the enemy. Good that it worked out and hastened the end of the war.

    Thanks so much for this background, OB! Your description of the dedication is also inspiring.

  • Old Bathos@OldBathos
    ReplyingtoSusan Quinn

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    I have worked in downtown DC in several locations, all near Farragut Square. The statute in the square was made in 1881 from the bronze propellers of the USS Hartford that he commanded at Mobile Bay. And of course, like all commemorative Union statutes, his is facing south, facing the enemy.

    The statue dedication must have been something–a big military parade, big crowd, President Garfield, lots of bunting, all federal employees getting a half day and even John Phillip Sousa conducting the Marine band. No office buildings then but private homes around the square decked out in red white and blue.

    His victories were significant but I would have hated to be a sailor in his command. That old man (age 63 at the time of the Battle of Mobile Bay) was crazy aggressive and seemed not too concerned with causalities or personal safety–he climbed the rigging himself during the battle to get a better view though all the smoke from the cannons.

    I recall reading once that the “torpedo” technology was not terribly reliable and that many turned out to be duds, particularly if they got water-logged after a long time. Farragut’s decision does not appear to be based on a careful risk evaluation of the limits of that defensive technology so much as a willingness to accept losses to get at the enemy. Good that it worked out and hastened the end of the war.

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Thanks so much for this background, OB! Your description of the dedication is also inspiring.

    Yes. it sounds like something that Prof. Harold Hill would claim to recall.

  • Chris O@ChrisO

    David Glasgow Farragut was the first man to attain the ranks of Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, and full Admiral in the US Navy, usually promoted concurrently with David Porter. The two shared a history, Porter's father was Farragut's mentor/guardian (Farragut joined the Navy at age 12) and Farragut's command came about because of his foster brother's influence. Farragut's job was the blockade and Porter mainly commanded gunboats, to famous effect in support of Grant at Vicksburg.

    Farragut took New Orleans (the campaign objective) shortly after Mobile Bay, ignoring his supply situation to attack with all his force. The fighting lasted about a week. Taking New Orleans made Farragut an international hero. He would later serve as an ambassador, and, like Grant, attracted adoring crowds overseas.

    One last interesting honor: he's one of seven men to serve active duty for life in the US Navy. Porter was another, and you might recognize the names Nimitz and Halsey.

Scroll for later comments
+10 more comments
Join the conversation

You're seeing five of 15 comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.