This is John Batchel, speaking to Admiral James Stavridis, his book, To Risk at All.

He tells the story of David Farragut, a man who was made the first Admiral of the United States Navy,

born at the beginning of the 19th century, died in 1870.

The Battle of Mobile Bay is what he's known for, and as the Admiral says,

the midshipman of the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis,

have memorized these words ever since the events of the Civil War.

But what Farragut risked charging into Mind Mobile Bay

was a combination of risk and information. And here the Admiral

explains how commanders make decisions in the field. They need luck, but they also need to prepare.

David Farragut was prepared when he charged and took his gunboats into Mobile Bay against the Confederate guns.

More of this later tonight.

David Farragut, of course, is most famous for this seemingly reckless phrase,

Damn the Torpedoes Full Speed Ahead. He utters those immortal words, memorized, seemingly reckless phrase, damn the torpedoes full speed ahead.

He utters those immortal words memorized by generations of young midshipment at the Naval Academy.

He utters those words in this battle as his flagship has blown up in front of him.

But he takes the risk to move forward.

And it gets back to a comment we made earlier.

First, he has gathered the intelligence.

He knows that these torpedoes,

that's what they called mines in the water in those days.

He knows these torpedoes have been in the water a long time.

He makes a calculation that he can probably continue on without losing many more of his ships.

...