the course of the river. The ships of war
and transports followed, the latter carrying as many men as they
could.

Five miles below Hard Times, on the opposite shore, is Grand Gulf,
where a battery had fired upon Farragut, both on his passage to
Vicksburg and return from there, after the fight at Port Hudson. The
Confederates had begun to strengthen the works immediately after that
time to prevent him from going by with impunity; but as he considered
his task limited to the blockade of the Red River and the Mississippi
below, to which alone his force was adequate, he had not again come
within their range. Immediately above Grand Gulf is the mouth of the
Big Black River, a considerable stream, by which supplies from the Red
River country were transported to the interior of the Confederacy on
the east of the Mississippi.

Eight hundred yards below the mouth of the Big Black is the Point of
Rocks, rising about seventy-five feet above the river at its then
height. On this was the upper battery, mounting, at the time of
attack, two VII-inch rifles, one VIII-inch smooth-bore, and a 30-pound
rifled gun on wheels. A line of rifle-pits and a covered way led from
there to the lower fort, three-quarters of a mile farther down, in
which were mounted one 100-pound rifle, one VIII-inch smooth-bore, and
two 32-pounders. There were in addition five light rifled guns, 10-and
20-pounders, in different parts of the works. The Point of Rocks
battery was close over the river, but the bluffs below receded so as
to leave a narrow strip of land, three to four hundred yards wide,
along the water and in front of the lower fort. All the fortifications
were earthworks.

[Illustration: Battle at Grand Gulf.]

The intention was to silence the works by the fleet, after which the
army was to cross in transports, under cover of the gunboats, and
carry the place by storm. The orders prescribing the manner of attack
were issued by the admiral on the 27th. On the 29th, at 7 A.M., the
fleet got under way, the Pittsburg leading; her commander, Lieutenant
Hoel, a volunteer officer, being himself a pilot for the Mississippi,
obtained the honor of leading through his local knowledge. The
Louisville, Carondelet, and Mound City followed in the order named,
firing upon the upper fort so long as their guns bore, but passing by
it to attack the lower work, which was allotted to them. The Pittsburg
rounded to as she reached her station, keeping up her fire