In the meantime, the Confederates had made their fortifications stronger. The only channel through which the vessels could pass was near Fort Morgan. The Confederates strengthened this fort with every defense possible. A double line of torpedoes, or submarine mines, was stretched across the channel. Above this, lay the Confederate fleet. One of these vessels, the _Tennessee_, was a huge iron ram like the _Merrimac_. The squadron of Admiral Farragut was a strong one. There were twenty-four wooden war vessels and four ironclads like the _Monitor_. On the night of August 4th, every preparation was made for the attack. The seamen, with determined faces, gave their messages and keep-sakes to their messmates, for they hardly expected to come out of this fray alive. Admiral Farragut, himself, made all his arrangements for the worst, though hoping for the best. He wrote to his wife, "I am going into Mobile in the morning, if God is my leader, as I hope He is, and in Him I place my trust. If He thinks it is the place for me to die, I am ready to submit to His will. God bless and preserve you, if anything should happen to me." At sunrise the fleet moved steadily toward Fort Morgan, the stars and stripes flying from every masthead. The four ironclads were sent ahead, close to the forts. The wooden war vessels followed, lashed together in pairs. This was done so that if one vessel became disabled it could be towed by the other. Farragut wished to lead the fleet in his flagship, the _Hartford_, but his officers dissuaded him, and the _Brooklyn_ went first, the _Hartford_ following. The admiral climbed up in the rigging, where he could command a view of the entire fleet. As the shells from the forts began to fall about the vessels, he climbed higher and higher, in order to see above the smoke. Fearing that a shot would cut the ropes, one of his officers climbed up to him and wound a rope around his body. The end of this was secured to the mast. The ironclad _Tecumseh_ was now leading the fleet. Suddenly there was a muffled explosion. The stern of the _Tecumseh_ rose out of the water and she plunged bow foremost to the bottom of the channel. At this, the _Brooklyn_ stopped, and with reversed engines began to back water. Admiral Farragut signaled, and asked, "What's the trouble?" "Torpedoes," was the reply. This was the critical moment of the battle. The backing of the _Brooklyn_ caused confusion among the vessels following so closely upon each other. There was tremendous cheering and firing from the Confederates. They were sure that the victory was theirs. A signal was made to the _Brooklyn_ to go ahead, but she remained motionless. What should be done? To remain there, under the guns of the fort, with the other vessels coming up behind, was out of the question. Ahead lay the dreaded line of torpedoes. Everything depended upon prompt decision.