and fell back. The Federals landed rapidly, and drove
the confused Confederates from the battery. Then began the work of
spiking the guns. Every fifth man carried a number of rat-tail files,
which were to be driven into the vents of the cannon, and then broken
off. While the raiders were engaged in this work, the Confederates
rallied, and soon drove back the blue-jackets to their boats, with a
slight loss in killed and captured. How many guns they had disabled,
it is hard to say. In the excitement and glory of successful
adventure, the reports were much exaggerated. Histories of that date
depict the men as calmly spiking _every_ gun, and then retiring
deliberately. One writer claims that only one gun was spiked. However,
testimony from Confederates on duty in the batteries goes to show that
four guns were totally disabled. But the true value of the adventure
to the Union forces was the dash and valor it disclosed, and the
encouragement the people received from its success.

The next day after this successful exploit, a gunboat, the
"Carondelet," was made ready to try the dash past the batteries of
Island No. 10. Again the weather was favorable to the plans of the
Federals, for the night was as dark and wild as the one before. The
day had been clear, and the night opened with so bright a moon that
for a time it was thought that the project would have to be abandoned;
but toward ten o'clock a heavy thunder-storm came up, and soon the
black sky, the wildly waving tree-tops, and the sheets of rain
scudding across the river, gave promise of a suitable night.

All day the sailors on the "Carondelet" had been working busily,
getting their vessel in trim for the trip. Heavy planks were laid
along the deck, to ward off plunging shot. Chain cables were coiled
about all weak points, cord-wood was piled around the boilers, and the
pilot-house was wrapped round and about with heavy hawsers. On the
side toward the battery was tied a large barge, piled high with
cotton-bales. When the time for starting drew nigh, all lights were
extinguished. The guns were run in, and the ports closed. The sailors,
heavily armed, were sent to their stations. Muskets, revolvers, and
sabres were in the racks. Down in the boiler-room the stokers were
throwing coal upon the roaring fires; and in the engine-room the
engineer stood with his hand on the throttle, waiting for the signal
to get under way.

Towards eleven o'clock the time seemed propitious