Was Farragut right to wait for USS Tecumseh?

Was Farragut justified in waiting for his fourth ironclad before attacking Mobile Bay?

Yes. One day was unlikely to change the campaign materially, while a fourth ironclad added valuable firepower for forcing the defended entrance.

Some accounts criticize Farragut because the battle's outcome makes the missing ship look unnecessary in hindsight. The decision had to be made before anyone knew how quickly the Confederate defence would collapse or that Tecumseh herself would be lost. A one-day delay was proportionate because it increased the armoured strength available for a dangerous passage past mines and Fort Morgan. Command decisions should be judged from the information available at the time, not solely from the eventual result.