Once through the defences, Farragut detached faster vessels to remove the Confederate gunboats and isolate Tennessee. CSS Gaines beached and was burned, CSS Morgan withdrew under Fort Morgan's guns and later escaped, and USS Metacomet pursued and captured CSS Selma. Buchanan then brought Tennessee out rather than keeping her protected by the fort, apparently hoping to repeat his earlier ramming tactics. Tennessee's five-knot speed, unreliable powder, and three surviving Union monitors left her unable to force an impact or resist attacks from several directions. Monitor gunfire and repeated ramming attacks eventually compelled the Confederate flagship's surrender at about 10 a.m.
Chapter · 30:23-34:35
How CSS Tennessee lost the fight inside the bay
Tennessee could neither ram the faster Union ships nor withstand the monitors that closed in from several directions.