s strongly guarded by Confederate forts. These were reduced, after a
sharp engagement with the fleet. The Federals entered, and were soon in
complete possession of the sea islands of South Carolina.

At the beginning of 1862 the navy was composed of seven squadrons, each
having a distinct field of operation, chiefly in the blockading service.
In that service many stirring events occurred. At the very beginning the
Confederate cruiser _Petrel_ went out of Charleston Harbor and attacked
the _St. Lawrence_, supposing her to be a merchant ship. Presently the
latter opened her guns, sending a fiery shell that exploded in the
_Petrel_, and a heavy solid shot that struck her amidships below
water-mark. In an instant she was reduced to a wreck, leaving nothing on
the surface of the foaming waters but floating fragments of her hull,
and the struggling survivors of her crew. The latter scarcely knew what
had happened. A flash of fire, a thunder-peal, and ingulfment had been
the events of a moment.

Early in 1862 a land and naval force, the latter commanded by
Flag-officer Goldsborough, captured Roanoke Island, which the
Confederates had fortified. This was speedily followed by the capture of
places on the mainland of North Carolina. A little earlier than this,
great excitement was produced by the seizure on board an English
mail-steamer, by Captain Wilkes, of our navy, of two Confederate
Ambassadors to European courts (Mason and Slidell), and lodging them in
Fort Warren, in Boston Harbor. The British government threatened war;
but common-sense prevailed, and after a little bluster peace was
assured.

After the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, Commodore Foote's
attention was directed to Island Number Ten, in the Mississippi, which
the Confederates occupied, and had strongly fortified. It was regarded
as the key to the Lower Mississippi. Foote beleaguered it with gun-boats
and mortar-boats, and with some assistance of a land force he captured
the stronghold. Then the flotilla went down the Mississippi, and
captured Fort Pillow and Memphis, terribly crippling the Confederate
squadron at the latter place.

The government resolved to repossess New Orleans and Mobile. A land
force under General Butler, and a naval force under Commodore Farragut
and Commodore D. D. Porter, with a mortar fleet, gathered at Ship
Island, off the coast of Mississippi, early in 1862. The ships entered
the Mississippi in April. Two forts opposite each