The gulf and inland waters . , which was then, and,until Pensacola was evacuated by the Confederates, continuedto be the principal naval station in the West Gulf. Here hemet Flag-Officer McKean, the necessaiy transfers were made,and on the 21st Farragut formally assumed the command ofthe station which he was to illustrate by many daring deeds,and in which he was to make his brilliant reputation. With the exception of the vessels already employed on theblockade, the flag-ship was the first to arrive of the forcedestined to make the move up the river. One by one theycame in, and were rapidly ass
The gulf and inland waters . , which was then, and,until Pensacola was evacuated by the Confederates, continuedto be the principal naval station in the West Gulf. Here hemet Flag-Officer McKean, the necessaiy transfers were made,and on the 21st Farragut formally assumed the command ofthe station which he was to illustrate by many daring deeds,and in which he was to make his brilliant reputation. With the exception of the vessels already employed on theblockade, the flag-ship was the first to arrive of the forcedestined to make the move up the river. One by one theycame in, and were rapidly assembled at the SouthwestPass, those whose draught permitted entering at once ; butthe scanty depth of water, at that time found on the bar,made it necessary to lighten the heavier vessels. The Pen-sacola, while at Ship Island, chartered a schooner, into whichshe discharged her guns and stores ; then taking her in towwent down to the Pass. She arrived there on the 24th ofMarch and made five different attempts to enter when the. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY—VICKSBURG -TO THE GULF. PROM THE GULF TO VICKSBURG. 53 water seemed favorable. In the first four she grounded,though everything was out of her, and was got off with diffi-culty, on one occasion parting a hawser which killed two menand injured five others ; but on the 7th of April, the power-ful steamers of the mortar flotilla succeeded in dragging herand the Mississippi through a foot of mud fairly into theriver. These two were the heaviest vessels that had everentered. The Navy Department at Washington had hopesthat the 40-gun frigate Colorado, Captain Theodoras Bailey,then lying; off the Pass, might be lightened sufficiently tojoin in the attack. This was to the flag-officer and her com-mander plainly impracticable, but the attempt had to bemade in order to demonstrate its impossibility. After theloss of a fortnight working she remained outside, draftsbeing made from her crew to supply vacancies in the othervessels ; while her gallan
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectuniteds, bookyear1883
