Page 7: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 2005)

September 2005 7

Farragut Christened

The 49th of 62 planned Arleigh Burke

Class Guided-Missile Destroyers honor- ing Admiral David Glasgow Farragut was christened July 23, 2005 at the Bath

Iron Work, Bath Maine. The Honorable

Susan M. Collins, Maine senator and ship's sponsor, broke a bottle of cham- pagne across the bow to christen

Farragut in a time-honored navy tradi- tion. In attendance was Commander

Deidre L. McLay, USN the Prospective

Commanding Officer who will become the first commanding officer of Farragut (DDG 99).

Farragut, designated DDG 99, is the fifth ship to carry the name Farragut.

The four previous ships include: a torpe- do boat (TB-11) in 1899; a destroyer (DD 300) in 1920; a second destroyer (DD 348) in 1934 that earned 14 battle stars in World War ll; and a guided-mis- sile destroyer (DDG 37) in 1960 which took part in contingency operations in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and earned a Navy unit Commendation.

James Glasgow Farragut was born on

July 5,1801 near Knoxville, Tenn., the son of a Spanish immigrant. Farragut's naval career began at the age of seven when a family friend, Captain David

Porter, adopted him, providing him the education and opportunities of a naval career. Farragut enjoyed the mutual trust and affection of his guardian and changed his name to David in honor of

Porter.

In 1810, Farragut received a midship- man's warrant and joined the ESSEX under Captain Porter's command. At the age of 12, he was given charge of a recaptured American ship by Captain

Porter. Farragut took charge and sailed the prize to Valparaiso. He distinguished himself not only by the transit but also by the manner in which he subdued the original ship's captain who challenged his authority.

During his naval service in the Civil

War, Farragut engaged in battles at New

Orleans, Port Hudson and Mobile Bay.

Perhaps the most famous of Farragut's engagement was at the battle of Mobile

Bay.

On August 5, 1864 Farragut's fleet was led by Tecumseh, a Union ironclad, against the Confederacy's Port of

Mobile. In the heat of battle, the gun smoke from cannon fire created a heavy smoke screen which confused Farragut's fleet trying to find their way in the chan- nel. Farragut in his flag ship, Hartford, was caught in a cross fire between the

Confederate ships and the fort. Farragut lashed himself on the Hartford's top- mast, over took for the lead ship which was disabled and sinking by an explo- sion from a chain of mechanically oper- ated torpedoes (mines). Farragut ordered from the topmast, "Damn the torpedoes! Four-bells! Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed". It has been often remembered as " Damn the torpe- does - full speed ahead."

The Hartford advanced over the mine field, scrapping the mines against the

Hartford's hull but the mine did not explode. Farragut lead his fleet to victo- ry for the Union.

In 1864, Congress commissioned

Farragut a vice-admiral. In July 1866,

Farragut became the Navy's first Four- star admiral. Admiral Farragut died in

Portsmouth, New Hampshire at the age of 69. (Image Courtesy Peter Hsu, Anteon)

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