▁of ▁October ▁ 1 8 6 2 . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁American ▁Civil ▁War ▁ ▁The ▁squad ron ▁was ▁created ▁on ▁May ▁ 1 6 , ▁ 1 8 6 1 , ▁and ▁was ▁controlled ▁by ▁the ▁Union ▁Army ▁until ▁September ▁ 3 0 , ▁ 1 8 6 2 . ▁ ▁John ▁Rod gers ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁squad ron ▁and ▁was ▁responsible ▁for ▁the ▁construction ▁and ▁organization ▁of ▁the ▁fleet . ▁Flag ▁Officer ▁Andrew ▁H . ▁Fo ote ▁rel ieved ▁Rod gers ▁and ▁encourag ed ▁the ▁army ▁commander ▁in ▁the ▁west , ▁Major ▁General ▁Henry ▁W . ▁Halle ck , ▁to ▁author ize ▁an ▁expedition ▁down ▁the ▁Tennessee ▁River ▁against ▁Fort ▁Henry . ▁ ▁Oper ating ▁in ▁conj unction ▁with ▁U ly ss es ▁S . ▁Grant ' s ▁Army ▁of ▁the ▁District ▁of ▁C airo , ▁Fo ote ▁sub du ed ▁Fort ▁Henry ▁before ▁Grant ' s ▁troops ▁could ▁take ▁their ▁positions . ▁ ▁Fo ote ▁led ▁the ▁squad ron ▁in ▁the ▁attack ▁on ▁Fort ▁Don el son ▁and ▁then ▁joined ▁with ▁Maj . ▁Gen . ▁John ▁Pope ' s ▁Army ▁of ▁the ▁Mississippi ▁for ▁a ▁joint ▁attack ▁on ▁Island ▁No . ▁ 1 0 ▁on ▁the ▁Mississippi ▁River . ▁Charles ▁H . ▁Davis ▁rel ieved ▁Fo ote ▁and ▁proceeded ▁to ▁take ▁Fort ▁P ill ow ▁on ▁the ▁Mississippi . ▁The ▁U . ▁S . ▁Ram ▁Fle et , ▁commanded ▁by ▁Colonel ▁Charles ▁El let , ▁Jr ., ▁accompanied ▁the ▁squad ron ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁M emph