L. P. Brockett, The camp, the battlefield, and the hospital: or, lights and shadows of the great rebellion

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[225] four miles, constructed upon the most scientific principles of modern military art, and armed with the most approved and heaviest ordnance which England, seeking the ruin of the republic, could furnish the rebels. The river, just at the bend, suddenly narrows, and the current, striking upon the west bank, is thrown across, running with great velocity, and carrying the channel almost directly under the base of the precipitous cliffs. Any vessel attempting the passage would be compelled to run the gauntlet of a plunging fire from batteries which commanded the range for several miles above and below.

It was proposed, in order that the fleet might be able to co-operate with General Grant in the siege of Vicksburg, to attack Port Hudson, and, under the fire of the bombardment, to attempt to force a passage by several of our gunboats up the river.

To Rear-Admiral Farragut, already renowned for his naval victory at Forts St. Philip and Jackson, was assigned the work of attacking and passing this formidable river fortress. The fleet consisted of the flag-ship “Hartford,” a fine sloop-of-war, carrying twenty-six guns; the “Richmond,” a vessel of the same class and armament; the side-wheel steamship “Mississippi,” with twenty-two eight and nine inch guns; the “Monongahela,” a smaller steam sloop-of-war, with sixteen heavy guns; and the gunboats “Kineo,” “Albatross,” “Sachem,” and “Genesee,” each carrying three columbiads, and two rifled thirty-two pounders, together with six mortar boats, intended to assist in the bombardment, but not to attempt the passage of the batteries.

On the morning of the 14th of April, the squadron