Bruce Tucker, a history lecturer and naval historian at the Rutgers University School of Continuing Education, will portray Admiral David Farragut during a discussion at 2 p.m. May 16 at Hageman Farm, 209 S. Middlebush Road, Somerset.
Farragut joined the Navy as a midshipman at the age of 9 in 1810 before fighting in the War of 1812. In April 1862, Flag Officer Farragut commanded the West Gulf Blockading Squadron with his flagship the USS Hartford. After a heavy bombardment, Farragut ran past the Fort Jackson, Fort St. Philip and the Chalmette batteries to take the city and port of New Orleans on April 29, a decisive event in the war. Congress honored him by creating the rank of rear admiral.
On Aug. 5, 1864, Farragut won another great victory in the Battle of Mobile Bay. Mobile was then the Confederacy’s last major port open on the Gulf of Mexico.
Tickets are $15 each and may be reserved by emailing [email protected]. Refreshments will be served.