Farragut's name traced back to daring victory

Most readers know of Farragut Park, which was, during World War II, a Navy training base. But do you know where it got its name?

August 5, 1864, saw the last major naval battle of the Civil War when Admiral David Farragut led a fleet of Union ships against Mobile, Ala., one of the most heavily defended ports in the South. The entrance to the bay was protected by Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, as well as four Confederate ships and dozens of mines. In those days, mines were called torpedoes. The Confederates had arranged the mines to be just under the surface of the water.

As he began the attack, Farragut climbed the rigging of his ship to get a better view. Then he watched in dismay as one of his ships, the Tecumseh, hit a torpedo, stopped dead in the water and then sank, taking more than 90 men to their deaths.

Then the rest of his fleet faltered as the Confederate gunners raked the Union ships with deadly gunfire. Farragut knew that to hesitate would mean disaster, so he shouted his famous order, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead." Then he steamed forward straight through the minefield. He hit a couple of torpedoes, but they didn't explode. The other ships followed, and soon Mobile Bay was in Union control.

Farragut's exclamation then became a rallying point for Americans in times that called for meeting danger head-on. Thus came the origin of Farragut Naval Base, near Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Roger Gregory served as a captain in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. He is a Priest River businessman.