The naval combat in Mobile Harbour Alabama American Civil War August The Union flagship Hartford engaging the Confederate ironclad ram Tennessee during the Battle of Mobile Bay The Tennessee surrendered to the Union fleet after sustaining severe damage in three hours of fghting The Battle of Mobile Bay saw a Union fleet commanded by Admiral David Farragut defeat a much smaller Confederate fleet off the coast of Alabama The Union vessels had to pass through a minefield and the guns of two Confederate forts to get into Mobile Bay The Union victory had the effect of shutting down the last blockaderunning port east of the Mississippi on the Gulf coast