ship after ship came up into range, she opened
with shot and shell upon the works. On the dark river-banks great
alarm fires were kindled, lighting up the water with a lurid glare,
and making the ships clearly visible to the Confederate gunners. But
soon the smoke of battle settled down over all; and gunners, whether
on shore or on the ships, fired at random. The "Hartford" led the way,
and picked out the course; and the other vessels followed carefully in
her wake. In the mizzen-top of the flagship was stationed a cool old
river pilot, who had guided many a huge river steamer, freighted with
precious lives, through the mazy channels of the Mississippi. There,
high above the battle-smoke, heedless of the grape-shot and bits of
flying shell whistling around him, he stood at his post, calmly giving
his orders through a speaking-tube that led to the wheel-room. Now and
then the admiral on the deck below would call up, asking about the
pilot's safety, and was always answered with a cheery hail. But though
the "Hartford" went by the batteries, heedless of the storm and lead
poured upon her, she found herself alone, when, after firing a last
gun, she swept into the clear air and tranquil water out of range of
the enemy's guns. She waited some time for the other ships to come up,
while all on board watched eagerly, save those who lay moaning on the
surgeon's tables in the cock-pit below. The night wore on, and all on
board were consumed with anxiety for the fate of the vessels that had
dropped behind. The lookout in the tops reported that he could see far
down the river a bright red light that could only be caused by a
burning vessel. It proved to be the steamer "Mississippi," that had
grounded under the guns of the batteries, and had been fired and
abandoned by her crew. But of this the admiral knew nothing; and when,
after an hour or two he heard the dull, heavy boom of an explosion, he
went sadly to his cabin, fearing that the lives of many valiant
sailors had been sacrificed. There was no way to communicate with the
fleet below, and it was not until days afterward that the admiral
learned how his fleet had been beaten back by the heavy guns of the
Confederates and the swift current of the river. The "Richmond"
grounded at a point within easy range of the batteries, and her crew
fought desperately while shell after shell went crashing through her
hull. They saw the other vessels of the fleet go drifting by helpless
in the mi