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The John Batchelor Show

S8 Ep885: Admiral James Stavridis examines resource evaluation using David Farragut's victory at Mobile Bay as a model of combined arms and technological adaptation. Farragut successfully managed the transition from wooden sailing ships to ironclad steam vessels. I

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

Books, Society & Culture, News, Arts

4.52.8K Ratings

🗓️ 18 May 2026

⏱️ 10 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Admiral James Stavridis examines resource evaluation using David Farragut's victory at Mobile Bay as a model of combined arms and technological adaptation. Farragut successfully managed the transition from wooden sailing ships to ironclad steam vessels. In contrast, Captain Lloyd Bucher of the USS Pueblo faced a tragic lack of resources when captured by North Koreans in 1968. Without support, Bucher made the controversial but rational decision to surrender to save his crew. Finally, Captain Brett Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt is highlighted for prioritizing his people during the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrating that moral leadership sometimes carries harsh career consequences. (2/4)
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Transcript

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0:00.0

This is CBSI in the world. I'm John Batch with Admiral Jim Stavridis.

0:09.9

United States Navy retired, a 37-year career, and lessons learn for leadership to risk at all nine conflicts in the crucible of decision.

0:20.4

We turn to lesson three, evaluate your resources.

0:24.7

The example here is David Farragut, which is old Navy, but it's a transition.

0:29.6

It's a Navy in the Civil War.

0:32.6

And David Farragut is remembered now as part of the 1864 re-election campaign of Abraham Lincoln because

0:40.1

his victory at Mobile Bay was a major part of the campaign platform of Lincoln facing the

0:46.9

exhausting civil war. But I learned from Jim that David Farragut was a very careful man. He had

0:53.5

resources that he learned from, from the Battle of New Orleans to conquer the Confederate

1:01.1

forces at New Orleans to what he's remembered for as Mobile Bay.

1:05.2

How did David Farragut, who has a history that very much illustrates early America. How did he evaluate his resources,

1:15.4

military on the land and at sea, Jim? David Farragut, of course, is most famous for this seemingly

1:25.8

reckless phrase, damn the torpedoes full speed ahead.

1:30.7

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

1:36.6

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.

1:49.0

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 call mines in the water in those days. He knows these torpedoes have been in the water a

2:01.7

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

2:09.8

And then secondly to the resource question, he is conducting a combined arms operation using both the

2:17.2

Army ashore and his naval forces afloat and doing so

2:22.0

very effectively. He's merged and managed those resources and he's done it right at the cusp of battle.

2:28.4

It's a wonderful example of both intelligence and resources together.

2:33.9

He was lashed to his mast.

...

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