“Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead!” Marker

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Northwest in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

“Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead!”

By Craig Swain, August 4, 2007

1. "Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead!" Marker

Inscription. With these legendary words, naval officer David G. Farragut led the Union fleet past Confederate mines (then called torpedoes) and to victory at the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. From the rigging of his flagship, USS Hartford, Farragut directed the clash with the ironclad CSS Tennessee, as shown in this painting of the battle.

Earlier in the Civil War, Farragut gained national prominence by capturing New Orleans after a fierce battle with Confederate forts and ships. President Lincoln had assigned him command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. Lincoln believed Farragut was one of the best appointments he made during the war.

(Sidebar): Congress created three new naval ranks, including Full Admiral, especially for David G. Farragut. Admiral Farragut was the son of Jorge Farragut, a Spanish-born mariner and hero of the American Revolution.

Erected by Naval Order of the United States and the National Park Service, US Department of the Interior.

Location.

Farragut Square Photo, Click for full size

By Craig Swain, August 4, 2007

2. Farragut Square

38° 54.112′ N, 77° 2.329′ W. Marker is in Northwest, District of Columbia, in Washington. Marker is at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue NW and I Street NW, on the right when traveling south on Connecticut Avenue NW. Click for map. Located in Farragut Square. Marker is in this post office area: Washington DC 20006, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Decatur House (about 700 feet away, in a direct line); St. John’s Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ashburton House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Renaissance Mayflower Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (approx. 0.2 miles away); Francis Preston Blair (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Blair House (approx. 0.2 miles away); In Honor of Leslie Coffelt (approx. 0.2 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Northwest.

More about this marker. The lower left-center is the famous painting of Farragut on the rigging of the Hartford during the Battle of Mobile Bay.

On the upper right is a portrait of Farragut listing the dates of his appointments - "David Glasgow Farragut 1801-1870. United States Navy's First * * Rear Admiral 1862, * * * Vice Admiral 1864, * * * * Full Admiral 1866."

On the lower right is a photo of "Vinnie Ream Hoxie, a young female sculptor, carefully researched the life of Farragut and produced Washington DC's first statue of a Civil War hero. The statue was dedicated on April 25, 1881, the nineteenth anniversary of Farragut's capture of New Orleans. The ten-foot figure and the four mortars were cast from the propeller of the Admiral's flagship, USS Hartford.

Admiral Farragut Statue Photo, Click for full size

By Craig Swain, August 4, 2007

3. Admiral Farragut Statue

Also see . . .
1. Admiral Farragut Biographical Sketch. (Submitted on December 10, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Admiral Farragut Wikipedia Entry. (Submitted on December 10, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Admiral David Farragut (1801–1870) Photo, Click for full size

By Craig Swain, August 4, 2007

4. Admiral David Farragut (1801–1870)

1881 bronze by Vinnie Ream (1847–1914) is approx 10 feet tall on a 16 foot base. “The sculpture, authorized by Congress on April 16, 1872, and four chopped mortars on the base were cast of bronze from the propeller of Admiral Farragut’s ship, the U.S.S. Hartford. ... The base is made of granite from Rockland, Maine. The base contains a box with documents relating to Farragut’s career, the history of the sculpture, a copy of the ‘Army and Navy Register,’ and a miniature bronze model of the propeller.” —from the Smithsonian Institution Research Information Service (SIRIS) database.