se and standing rigging
strapped to the masts; the spars, forebooms, and gaffs unshipped, and
secured to the outside of the vessels to avert the danger from
splinters, which, in naval actions, is often greater than from the
shots themselves. From the main-deck every thing was removed that
could obstruct the easy handling of the tremendous mortars; and the
men were drilled to skill and alertness in firing the huge engines of
death. The work was hastened on the mortar-schooners, because the plan
was to rush them into position, and let them harass the Confederates
with a steady bombardment, while the ships-of-war were preparing for
their part in the coming fight.

The mortar-fleet was under command of Admiral Porter, an able and
energetic officer. He soon had his ships ready, and began moving them
into position along the banks of the river, out of sight of the forts.
To further conceal them from the gunners in the forts, he had the
masts and rigging wrapped with green foliage; so that, lying against
the dense thickets of willows that skirt that part of the river, they
were invisible. Other boats that were in more exposed positions had
their hulls covered with grass and reeds, so that they seemed a part
of the swamp that bordered the river. After the line of fire had been
obtained by a careful mathematical survey, Porter got all his
mortar-boats into position, and began his bombardment. The gunners on
the mortar-boats could not see the forts; but the range had been
calculated for them, and they merely fired mechanically. A lookout,
perched on the masthead, could see over the low willow-forest, and
watch the course of the shells as they rushed high into the air, and
then, falling with a graceful curve, plunged into the forts. The
firing was begun on the 16th of April, and was kept up with a will.
The twenty huge mortars keeping up a constant fire, made a deafening
roar that shook the earth, and could be heard far up the river at New
Orleans, where the people poured out into the streets, and gayly
predicted defeat for any enemy who should attack "the boys in the
forts." The forts were not slow in returning the fire; but as the
mortar-vessels were hidden, and did not offer very large marks, their
fire was rather ineffective. Parties of Confederates, old
swamp-hunters, and skilled riflemen, stole down through the dense
thickets, to pick off the crews of the mortar-schooners. They managed
to kill a few gunners in this way, but