_Fort Morgan._—A masonry fort containing 30 guns. Iron-clad ram Tennessee (six 7-inch rifles). Gun-boats Selma, Morgan, and Gaines. A line of torpedoes and pile obstructions across the channel. [Illustration: Before the Action.] [Illustration: After the Action.] [Illustration: Section through Pilot-House. CONFEDERATE RAM TENNESSEE.] At 5.30 a.m. the fleet got under way and steamed in in two lines ahead, the four monitors in the starboard line slightly leading and nearest the fort. The port line of wooden ships showed the corvettes towards the fort, with each one having a gun-boat lasted along the port side. The fort opened fire at 7.30, the leading ship (Tecumseh) being within 1400 yards. Just abreast the fort the Tecumseh fouled a torpedo and was sunk. The Brooklyn (leading the second line) stopped her engines and threw the line into disorder, but the Hartford pushing on ahead restored the line and led the way in, all the ships passing the fort. On clearing the narrow channel, the gun-boats were cast off and gave chase to the Confederate gun-boats, the Metacomet capturing the Selma, the other two vessels escaping under the fort. At 8.45 the fleet was all in the bay beyond the fort. The Tennessee then made a rush at the Hartford, and Admiral Farragut made the signal to attack with guns and rams. The Monongahela struck the ram first, a square blow, making no impression, but breaking off its own ram. The Lackawanna then struck a fair blow with no impression, but staving its own bow. The Hartford then rammed, striking a glancing blow and swinging alongside, giving a full broadside without effect. The Lackawanna and Hartford then bore down together but collided, the Hartford’s side being cut down almost to the water’s edge by the Lackawanna. The Lackawanna, Monongahela, and Ossipee then bore down at full speed, but sheered off at seeing a white flag hoisted. During the ramming, the monitors got under the stern of the ram and bombarded her casemate with effect. Casualties: killed, 52; wounded, 170. Monitor Tecumseh sunk with all hands except 11. Corvette Oneida disabled abreast the fort by a shot through the boiler, but dragged through the action by her consort. The injuries to the bows of the ramming ships and to the Hartford’s side were not so severe as to at all disable them. Captured, armored ram Tennessee, wooden gun-boat Selma, 280 prisoners. The steering-gear and smoke-stack of the ram were shot away, the port-shutters were jammed so as to disable the guns, and the ship’s frame was racked so as to make her leak, but not badly. The ramming vessels left no marks. _Passage of the Vicksburg Batteries, April 16, 1863._ FEDERAL. IRON-CLAD GUN-BOATS. Guns. Benton 16 Lafayette 6 Louisville 13 Mound City 13 Pittsburg 13 Carondelet 13 Tuscumbia 5 General Price 2 Three army transports.