David Farragut, the second of two sons, was born on July 5, 1801 as James Glasgow Farragut. As a young child he moved to New Orleans with his mother and other siblings. Seven years after his birth, on June 22, 1808, David Farragut’s mother died of yellow fever; though he didn’t hear of the news until later because his family had been separated due to economic issues within the household. And though he did not know it at the time, the separation of his family would ultimately influence the path of service that he chose. The family that David Farragut was sent to live with was the widely renowned Porter Family, whom naval heroes David Porter and later his son, David Porter Jr., were members of. It was David Porter who inspired the young Farragut
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It was officially Farragut’s first fight at sea, though he did not witness any casualties on his ship during the capture of the Alert, the first ship captured by the US during the War. Arguably, Farragut’s first real fight came on February 13, 1814 in Valparaiso. David Porter was in the process of commanding his ship on a cruise around Cape Horn and made a stop in Valparaiso, before a planned sail to the Galapagos Islands. While there, the crew of the Essex captured twelve British whalers, one of which was put under the command of Farragut, who was a mere twelve years old at the time. However, while in Valparaiso, Porter’s Essex came in contact with two Royal Navy sloops, the Cherub and Phoebe, which both pounded the Essex. Fighting bravely under Porter’s command, Farragut “witnessed the evisceration of a boatswain’s mate by one shot, the amputation of a quartermaster’s leg by another, and the killing of four men by a third shot that splattered him with the last man’s brains.” Farragut experienced all this even before becoming a …show more content…
During his time at home after serving on the Brooklyn Farragut spent an abundant amount of time following along with the events of the War; eager to receive orders. Accordingly, his wish was granted when he received news that he would be given “possession of the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico” as the Flag Officer of a fleet to be a part of the “Anaconda Plan.” Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy at the time, claims he gave the job to Farragut “because of ‘the way he had cleared out from Norfolk after Virginia seceded,’” showing his true dedication to American principles as he was born in the South. Farragut was officially given command of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron on January 1862 and was told his flagship would be the Hartford. In addition, he received orders “to take possession of New Orleans, push up the Mississippi River, reduce the forts defending Mobile Bay, and blockade the coast within his area of responsibility.” As a result, Farragut spent the next few months planning and readying his fleet for movement towards New Orleans, and began sailing northward on April
It was officially Farragut’s first fight at sea, though he did not witness any casualties on his ship during the capture of the Alert, the first ship captured by the US during the War. Arguably, Farragut’s first real fight came on February 13, 1814 in Valparaiso. David Porter was in the process of commanding his ship on a cruise around Cape Horn and made a stop in Valparaiso, before a planned sail to the Galapagos Islands. While there, the crew of the Essex captured twelve British whalers, one of which was put under the command of Farragut, who was a mere twelve years old at the time. However, while in Valparaiso, Porter’s Essex came in contact with two Royal Navy sloops, the Cherub and Phoebe, which both pounded the Essex. Fighting bravely under Porter’s command, Farragut “witnessed the evisceration of a boatswain’s mate by one shot, the amputation of a quartermaster’s leg by another, and the killing of four men by a third shot that splattered him with the last man’s brains.” Farragut experienced all this even before becoming a …show more content…
During his time at home after serving on the Brooklyn Farragut spent an abundant amount of time following along with the events of the War; eager to receive orders. Accordingly, his wish was granted when he received news that he would be given “possession of the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico” as the Flag Officer of a fleet to be a part of the “Anaconda Plan.” Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy at the time, claims he gave the job to Farragut “because of ‘the way he had cleared out from Norfolk after Virginia seceded,’” showing his true dedication to American principles as he was born in the South. Farragut was officially given command of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron on January 1862 and was told his flagship would be the Hartford. In addition, he received orders “to take possession of New Orleans, push up the Mississippi River, reduce the forts defending Mobile Bay, and blockade the coast within his area of responsibility.” As a result, Farragut spent the next few months planning and readying his fleet for movement towards New Orleans, and began sailing northward on April