force for the purpose of opening the river. One
bright day in September, the "Lexington" and "Conestoga" were ordered
to proceed down the river eight or ten miles, and dislodge a
Confederate battery that had taken a position on Lucas Point. The two
vessels steamed cautiously down the stream, without encountering any
resistance until within easy range of the battery, when the
Confederates opened with sixteen cannon. The shot and shells fell all
about the vessels; but neither was hit, showing that the Confederate
gunners were not yet used to firing at a moving mark. But the fire of
the gunboats was admirably directed; the shells falling among the
Confederates, dismounting the guns, and driving the gunners from their
pieces. It was too hot a spot for any man to hold; and a cavalry corps
quickly attached their horses to the guns, and drew them down the
river to the shelter of the Confederate works at Columbus. Then the
defeated party sent up the gunboat "Yankee" to attack the two victors,
but this vessel was quickly disposed of. She opened fire at long
range, but without success. The first shot from the "Conestoga" struck
the water a few feet from the "Yankee," and, ricochetting, plunged
into her hull. The discomfited vessel immediately put about, and
started down stream, followed by a heavy fire from the two Northern
ships. Just as she was passing out of range, an eight-inch shell from
the "Lexington" struck her starboard wheel-house, and shattered the
paddle-wheel, totally disabling the vessel, so that she drifted
sidelong to her anchorage like a wounded duck.

On the return of the Northern vessels up the river, they first
encountered the form of warfare that proved the most perilous for the
sailors of the river navy. Confederate sharp-shooters lined the banks,
perched in the trees, or hidden in the long, marshy grass; and any
unwary tar who showed his head above the bulwarks was made a target
for several long rifles in the hands of practised shots.

The next active service performed by the gunboats was at the battle of
Belmont, directly opposite the Confederate batteries at Columbus. The
Union troops, landing in force, had driven the Confederates from their
camp, and were engaged in securing the spoils, when the gunners at
Columbus, seeing that the camp was in the hands of the enemy, turned
their heavy guns on it, and soon drove out the Yankees. The
Confederates had rallied in the woods, and now came pouring out, in
th