Damn the Torpedoes T-Shirt

The phrase "Damn the torpedoes" is a famous order attributed to U.S. Admiral David Farragut during the American Civil War. It encapsulates a moment of bold naval action and has since become a byword for resolute determination in the face of daunting obstacles.   ### Origins of the Phrase   The exact words Farragut used during the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, are not definitively known, but the most commonly cited version is "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" The "torpedoes" he referred to were naval mines at the time, a serious threat to his fleet as it attempted to enter Mobile Bay.   ### Context and Significance   During the battle, Farragut's fleet was tasked with attacking a Confederate stronghold at Mobile Bay, Alabama. The bay was heavily mined (with what were then called torpedoes), and the Confederate forces were well-entrenched with powerful shore batteries and ironclad ships defending the bay.   The battle began when one of Farragut's ironclad monitors, USS Te