[CIVIL WAR]. FARRAGUT, David G. (1801-1870). CDV inscribed, dated, and signed on verso (“D.G. Farragut”) as Vice Admiral, 22 October 1865. New York: J. Gurney & Son, ca 1865.

2 1/8 x 3 1/2 in. CDV on cardstock mount (good tonality, very minor toning to left). Photographer's imprint to mount recto and verso.

Inscribed boldly by Farragut: "Presented by / D.G. Farragut / Vice Admiral / Oct. 22nd 1865."

David Glasgow Farragut (1801-1870) was already the senior officer in the United States Navy when he was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral on 21 December 1864 by a grateful President Lincoln in recognition of his signal victory at Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864. After braving the guns of Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, Farragut had charged into the Bay "damning the torpedoes" that had struck the monitor USS Tecumseh. He engaged a small Confederate squadron centered around the ironclad ram CSS Tennessee under Admiral Franklin Buchanan and captured the fearsome vessel making a prize of her. Farragut became the first Vice Admiral in the Navy, famous for framing his "damn the torpedoes" exhortation and adding it to his navy's growing chest of stirring rallying cries! Farragut was promoted to full Admiral on 26 July 1866 and further accorded the honor of remaining on active duty for life. He died at age 69 on 14 August 1870, having served the Navy for nearly 60 years.

The Richard B. Cohen Civil War Collection