Tecumseh's rapid sinking stopped the column and left Brooklyn's commander facing uncertain orders and a dangerous obstacle. Why Tecumseh entered the minefield remains unknown because her captain died and the surviving crew could offer only fragmented viewpoints from inside the crowded monitor. Farragut answered the paralysis by taking Hartford forward without Brooklyn's protective cowcatcher, gambling that many remaining torpedoes had become ineffective after long submersion. The successful passage carried the Union fleet into the bay.
Notable Point · 27:30-30:17
Tecumseh's loss and Farragut's decisive advance
After USS Tecumseh sank in the minefield, Farragut brought Hartford forward and carried the remaining force through.