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National Park Service National Mall and Memorial Parks U.S. Department of the Interior Newspaper • FREE National Mall August 2010 • Volume 3, Issue 8 and Memorial Parks DAILY INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS Damn the Torpedoes, full speed ahead! By Ranger Brad Berger Tennessee, the most formidable obstacle in sight after Fort Morgan. The stifling heat of a late- It was at this time that astonished summer morning along the Gulf onlookers from both sides of the Coast settled on the shores of affair saw the Tecumseh suddenly Mobile Bay. The humidity weighed shudder, lurch to its port (left) heavily on the frames of the troops and sink beneath the waters of guarding this extremely important Mobile Bay. Captain Craven took stretch of Alabama coastline. a calculated risk in moving away Join National Park Service rangers Shortly before 7 a.m., on Friday, from the breach in the torpedo to learn more about the meaning, August 5, 1864, the Confederate chain, ultimately resulting in tragic symbolism, and significance of the artillerymen manning the guns consequences. park’s many memorials. No prior sign-up is required, and all programs of Fort Morgan noticed a large This turn of events froze are free. Program length varies. For body of ships moving toward the blood in the veins of the crew more information contact a ranger at their position through the early aboard the USS Brooklyn, the each memorial. morning haze. The air’s heavy lead wooden ship which stalled Programs are offered at the following stillness was broken by a shot at this horrific sight. Signal flags memorials… from the USS Tecumseh, a single- reported to the ships that followed • World War II Memorial turreted monitor of Admiral in its wake, that Tecumseh had • Lincoln Memorial David Glasgow Farragut’s 18-ship struck a torpedo (or mine in • Thomas Jefferson Memorial flotilla, in an attempt to find the modern military terminology.) • Vietnam Veterans Memorial cannon’s range. Shortly thereafter, Admiral David Farragut The lethargy of the Brooklyn • Korean War Veterans Memorial the lead elements of the flotilla placed the remaining ships of • Franklin Delano Roosevelt navy, the Confederate government Memorial began to engage the batteries of Farragut’s command in peril. If Fort Morgan. Admiral Farragut in Richmond would have a vital the Federal flotilla did not move Scheduled Programs are presented on employed the use of four virtually supply depot cut off. forward past the potential danger the hour from: impregnable ironclad monitors At half past seven, the of the torpedoes, the guns of Fort to serve as starboard (right-hand) Federal fleet was fully engaged Morgan would surely finish them 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. screens for his wooden fleet of 14 with the guns of Fort Morgan off. At this juncture, it is said as they lumbered past the **Additional programs on request. vessels, lashed together in pairs that Admiral Farragut asserted to ensure that any damaged vessel Confederate citadel. The lead his intentions plainly to his fleet monitor, the Tecumseh, trundled CONTENTS would be carried past the fortress by issuing the immortal words: by the momentum of its sister ship. toward the small Confederate “Damn the Torpedoes, full speed fleet which defended the waters Page 2, 3, 4...Calendar of Events Admiral Farragut’s goal in ahead!” Unlike Captain Craven’s Page 4........... How to Visit the forcing this attempt of his fleet past Fort Morgan. Captain Tunis bold maneuver, Farragut’s decision Washington Monument past Fort Morgan was the ultimate Craven moved his ship away from proved successful. As the wooden Cell Phone Tours a narrow passage through the Page 5...........Ranger Article from page 1 sealing of the port of Mobile, fleet made its way into the lower Eastern National Alabama to blockade runners. chain that marked the torpedo bay in the wake of the monitors, Bookstores, Park These were vessels laden with field which defended the bay. This their crews could hear the thud Concessionaires action moved Tecumseh toward Page 6...........Ranger Article cargo from foreign ports which of torpedoes striking the hulls of Page 7...........Kids’ Column served to clothe and equip the more uncertain waters with a their ships. Miraculously, none of Page 8...........Superintendent’s Confederate armies. If Mobile Bay view to approach and engage the the torpedoes exploded. Message, Old Post Office massive Confederate ironclad CSS Tower, Potomac Nature fell into the hands of the Federal With the Federal fleet now Packs, NPS Organic Act, NEW Lincoln Memorial Berger Continued on page 5 Webpage National MALL HIGHLIGHTS INSIDE and MEMORIAL Parks 900 Ohio Drive, SW Washington, DC 20024 This newspaper is also Happy Park Headquarters: 202-485-9880 available online. The Burning of Visitor Information: 202-233-3520 Visit www.nps.gov/nama Washington Birthday NPS Park Websites: www.nps.gov/nama www.nps.gov/mall and click on NEWS. PAGE 6 PAGE 7 6 7 National Mall Plan Website: Editor In Chief: Jason Martz www.nps.gov/nationalmallplan Editors: Mike Leard, Stephanie Ortiz Radio: 1670 AM August 2010, Volume 3 Issue 8 National Mall Times 1 Don’t Forget... Daily ranger programs presented at the memorials, every hour from AUGUST 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 10 a.m. 6 p.m. 10 a.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 6 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 1 p.m. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 10 a.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 8 p.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 1 p.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 8 a.m. 8 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 8 a.m. 10 a.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 11 a.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 1 p.m. 8 p.m. To learn more about the Burning of Washington, 29 30 31 the Chesapeake Cam- 11 a.m. paign and the War of 1812 please visit the Star 1 p.m. Spangled Banner National 6 p.m. Historical Trail website at www.nps.gov/stsp. Friday, August 6, 13 and how it helped turn the tide rial. Contact Jan Buerger at 202- PROGRAMS World War II in eastern Europe. Meet at the 497-1397. Operations & Vehicles World War II Memorial. Contact 7 p.m - 8 p.m. Paul O’Brian at 202-438-7066. Thursday August 19 Monday, August 2, 9 The Foreign Policy The Navajo Code Talkers The operations and vehicles of Saturday, August 14 of Thomas Jefferson of World War II World War II proved critical for Masterpieces of 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. the United States’ rendezvous with World War II Photography 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. destiny. We will view bronze time- 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. & 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. In World War II the commanders line panels and era photographs to Thomas Jefferson is a fascinating in the Pacific theater were aware learn about the Pacific and Atlan- Some of the great masterpieces of character in American History. that their encoded messages were tic battle zones. Meet at the World photography are images related This citizen of the world explored easily deciphered by the enemy. War II Memorial. Contact Victor to the victories of World War II. that world before serving as Presi- The Marine Corps needed an un- Pillow at 202-841-1774. They recall the conflict, the stakes, dent, but just how effective was breakable code and found one in and the heroes who left proof of his administration at relating to it? the language of the Navajo Indi- Saturday, August 7 their honor and valor for posterity. Meet at the Thomas Jefferson Me- ans. The Navajo Code Talker’s The Battle of Guadalcanal Meet at the World War II Memo morial. Contact David Hoffman at devotion to their craft made them 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. 202-233-3520. invaluable. Meet at the World War II Memorial. Contact Tyler Smith The Battle of Guadalcanal was a at 202-233-3520. major turning point in the War of the Pacific in 1942. It developed Thursday, August 5 & 12 into a six-month campaign where Roosevelt, Churchill, hard lessons were learned by both and Spy Games the American and Japanese forc- 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m. – es. Find out what the Americans 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. learned from this campaign. Meet at the World War II Memorial. The espionage programs of world Contact Paul O’Brian at 202-438- powers grew a great deal during 7066. the lives of Franklin Delano Roos- evelt and Winston Churchill. Was Thursday, August 12 it portentous for future decades or Stalingrad: Struggle on the Volga a necessary measure? Meet at the 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. World War II Memorial. Contact David Hoffman at 202-233-3520. The Battle of Stalingrad was a ti- tantic clash between the German and Soviet forces. Find out the significance of this engagement 2 National Mall Times Saturday, August 21 Friday, August 6 Douglas MacArthur: Urban Campfire Programs “We shall return” 8:30 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.