...en before, and the gunboats with a small portion of the land forces were left to fight their way down the river alone. For two weeks the fleet bombarded Fort Pillow at long range. On May 9th, Flag-Officer Foote , whose wound received at Fort Donelson had not healed, asked to be relieved, and Captain Charles H. Davis, a man of well-known skill and bravery, was appointed in his place. The day after the retir...