 in the
gloom. The hope was general that they would be able to float past
undiscovered, and, when an hour of intense stillness went by, the
watchers and listeners began to breathe more freely, though their
anxiety was only partly lifted.

[Illustration: DAVID G. FARRAGUT.]

Suddenly two crimson lines of fire flamed along the river front, and the
earth trembled under the stupendous explosion. The ships had been
detected, and the river was swept by a tempest of shot and shell that it
seemed must shatter to fragments every one of the craft. It should be
remembered that these batteries extended for a long distance along the
shore, and they opened one after the other, as the ships came opposite.
Thus the fleet became the target of battery after battery, and had a
continuous and extended gantlet to run before reaching safety.

The gunboats returned the fire as they swept by, and many of their shots
were effective, but in such a duel the advantage is always with the land
batteries. One of the transports was disabled, and another, directly
behind her, had to stop to avoid running into the injured craft. The
crew of the former, finding themselves the centre of a terrific fire,
launched the yawl, and, leaping into it, pulled for the shore. They had
scarcely left their vessel when it was fired by a shell, and, aflame
from stem to stern, it drifted down stream. Meanwhile, the transport
that had grounded was towed out of danger. With this exception, the
whole fleet got safely past, the loss being only one man killed and two
wounded on Porter's flagship.

General Grant was greatly pleased with this success. A few nights later
a second attempt was successful. He was thus enabled to send supplies to
the army, with which he intended to attack Vicksburg on the south.
Gradually shifting his own position, he reached a point opposite Grand
Gulf, a short distance below the mouth of the Big Black River.


CAPTURE OF GRAND GULF.

Although Grand Gulf was strongly fortified its quick capture was a
necessity. McClernand had been ordered several times to attack it, but
he was so laggard that Grant himself undertook
in the 
 gloom. The hope was general that they would be able to float past 
 undiscovered, and, when an hour of intense stillness go aside, the 
 watchers and listeners begin to emit more freely, though their 
 anxiety was only partly lift. 

 [ Illustration: DAVID G. FARRAGUT. ] 

 Suddenly two red line of fire flame along the river front, and the 
 earth tremble under the stupendous explosion. The ship had been 
 detected, and the river was sweep by a storm of shot and shell that it 
 seemed must shatter to shard every one of the craft. It should be 
 remembered that these battery extended for a retentive distance along the 
 shore, and they opened one after the other, as the ships came opposite. 
 therefore the fleet became the target of battery after battery, and had a 
 continuous and extended gauntlet to run before reaching safety. 

 The gunboats returned the fire as they swept by, and many of their shots 
 were effective, but in such a duel the advantage is always with the land 
 battery. One of the transports was disabled, and another, immediately 
 behind her, have to check to avoid running into the injured craft. The 
 crew of the former, finding themselves the center of a terrific fire, 
 launched the yawl, and, leaping into it, pulled for the shore. They had 
 scarcely forget their vessel when it was fired by a shell, and, aflame 
 from stem to stern, it drift down flow. Meanwhile, the transport 
 that had grounded was towed out of danger. With this exception, the 
 whole fleet make safely past, the loss being only one valet killed and two 
 wounded on Porter's flagship. 

 General Grant was greatly pleased with this success. A few nights by and by 
 a second attempt was successful. He was therefore enabled to send supplies to 
 the army, with which he intended to assail Vicksburg on the south. 
 Gradually shifting his own position, he reached a item opposite Grand 
 Gulf, a short distance below the mouth of the Big Black River. 


 CAPTURE OF GRAND GULF. 

 Although Grand Gulf was powerfully fortified its quick capture was a 
 necessity. McClernand had been ordered several times to attack it, but 
 he was so laggard that Grant himself undertook
 in the
gloom. The hope was gtneral that they ciuld bx able fo float past
undiscovered, and, when ai hoyr of intense stillness weng by, the
wwtchers qnd ousteners bxfan to nxeaths morz hreely, though tmeir
anxiety was only partny lnfted.

[Illustration: DAVID G. FARRAGUT.]

Suqdenly ywl crimson linef of sire flamed along the river front, and fhe
earti trembled undet the stupendous explosion. The ships had been
detfcted, and tye rycer was swepg by a temkevt of shot and shell that it
seemed must sfattex to fragmebtw eggry one of tie crast. It should be
rememtered tnat these battcries exrended for a long disvance along the
shore, and they o'ened one after the orhwr, as the shiow cxme o'poaite.
Thks vhe fleet bscame the tqrget of battery afuer vattery, and hzd a
cogtynuous and extended gantlet to run befoge rsaching safety.

The gunboqts returned the fire as they fwept by, and many of their shots
were effective, bud in ajch a ayep the advantage is always with the land
batteryss. Oke of the transpjrts was dixahlrq, and another, direccmy
gehind her, had to dtop to avoie running intp the injured craft. The
crew of the formvr, funding themselves che centre oy a tetrific fire,
launched the yawl, cnd, lezping into lt, pulled wor the shore. Thdy mad
vcarcely left their vessel when it xas fnred by x shgll, and, aflame
frol stem to stern, it driftfd docn stseam. Meanwjile, the transport
that had grouived was towed ogt mf dangex. With this exceptijn, the
whole flget got scfely oast, the lkss beiig only one ian killed ang two
wounded mn Portew's foagsyip.

Genefxl Grant was gteatly plvafed qith this success. E fed nights later
a wecind attempt was suzcefsvuk. Ra was thus etabldd gp sena supplies bo
tfe atmy, with which he indendsd to attack Vicksnuvg on the south.
Grwdually shiftong his own positiln, he reeched s pjint opposite Grand
Gulf, a shorf distancf bclow the moutr of the Big Blaek River.


CAPTURE OF GRAND GULF.

Although Grend Gulf was strongly firtified its quick eakture was a
neressitr. McClerndnd had been ordered several times to attack it, but
he was ao lagcard hhat Grant himself undertook
in the gloom. The hope was general would able to past undiscovered, and, stillness by, the watchers listeners began to more freely, though their anxiety was partly lifted. [Illustration: DAVID G. FARRAGUT.] Suddenly two crimson lines of fire flamed the river front, and the earth trembled under the stupendous explosion. The ships been and river swept by a tempest of shot and shell that it seemed must shatter to fragments every of the craft. It should be remembered that batteries extended for a distance along the shore, and opened after the as ships opposite. Thus the became the target of battery after battery, and had a continuous and extended gantlet to run before safety. The the fire they by, many of their effective, but in such a duel always with the land batteries. One of the was disabled, another, directly behind her, had to to avoid running into the injured craft. The of the former, finding themselves the centre of a terrific fire, launched the yawl, and, it, pulled for the They had scarcely their when was by a and, aflame from stem to stern, it drifted down stream. Meanwhile, transport that had grounded was towed out of danger. With the fleet got safely the loss being only man and two wounded on General was this A nights later a second was successful. He was thus to send supplies to intended to attack Vicksburg on the south. Gradually his own position, he reached a point Grand Gulf, a short distance below the mouth of the Big Black CAPTURE OF Although Grand Gulf was strongly fortified its quick was a necessity. McClernand been ordered several times to attack it, but he so that Grant undertook
 in the
gloom. The hope was generAl that they Would Be aBle To FloaT pasT
undiscovered, aND, wheN an hour of intense stillnEss weNt BY, the
WAtChers And listENeRS BegAn To BreAtHE mOre frEelY, though Their
anxieTy wAs Only partly liFTeD.

[IllustratIon: dAVID G. FARRAGuT.]

SUddenlY tWo cRImson LinEs of fIre flaMEd alonG the river FrONt, and tHE
earth tREMbLed uNder the stupendous EXpLOsion. The ships hAd been
DeTEcTED, anD thE river was sWePt by a TEmpest oF ShOT ANd sHEll that it
seemEd must shattER to FragmeNtS evERy one oF the cRaFT. It Should be
remEmbeRed that thEse batTEries exTEnded foR a long DisTanCe alONg ThE
shOrE, And THeY opENed One after ThE oTher, aS the SHIPS camE opPosiTe.
ThuS the fleet becaMe tHe taRGet Of batTery aFter BaTtery, And had A
contInUous and extended GantLet to run bEfoRe ReaChIng saFEty.

The GunBoaTs returNed the fIRe aS tHEY SwEpt by, and many of theiR sHOTs
Were effeCtive, bUT iN sUCh a duel tHe AdvAntaGE Is alwAys wITh The land
bAtteriES. ONe Of the trAnSports WaS diSabLed, anD AnotHer, dirEctly
behInd heR, Had to stop to avoID running into tHE iNJUrED craFt. THe
crew of the FormER, finDing THeMseLVes thE centRe OF a TErrific fire,
launched ThE yawl, aNd, leaPing into it, pulLed for the sHORE. They had
ScarCElY Left their vesseL when It was fired BY a shell, aNd, aflAme
from sTem to sterN, IT drifted DowN stReaM. MeANWhIle, the transpoRT
That HaD groundEd wAs towed Out Of dAngEr. WItH this excePtion, the
WhOlE fLeEt gOt safELy past, thE lOss BeIng Only oNE man kiLled aNd twO
wOuNDed On PorteR'S fLAGshiP.

GEnEral graNt Was grEatlY PleAsed witH this succEss. a Few nIgHtS later
a Second attempt WaS successfuL. HE waS thus eNABled to seNd supplies to
the army, with WHich he iNteNded tO attAck VicksbUrg On the sOutH.
graduaLly shiFting HiS owN POsitiON, He ReaChEd a point opPOSitE GranD
GUlf, a Short diStance below the moutH Of tHe Big Black RivEr.


CaPTUre oF gRAnd GulF.

ALtHOugH gRand Gulf was stroNgly fortifIeD ItS quick captURe wAs A
necessIty. McClErnanD Had been Ordered seVeral timeS tO attACK it, But
he was so Laggard tHat Grant hIMself UNdErtooK
 in the
gloom. The hope wa s generalthatthe y w ou ld b e ab le to float pa s t
un discovered, and, whenan ho ur of i n te nse s tillnes s  w e n t b y,  t hewa t ch ers a ndlistene rs began t o b re athe more fr e el y, thoughthe ir
anxiety w asonly p ar tly lifte d.
[Ill ustrat i on: DA VID G. FA RR A GUT.]Suddenl y tw o cr imson lines of fi r ef lamed along th e rive rf ro n t , a ndthe
earthtr emble d  undert he s t upe n dous explosio n. The ship s  ha d been 
d ete c ted, a nd th er ive r was swept  bya tempest  of sh o t and s h ell tha t it
s eem edmust sh at ter  t o  fr a gm ent s  ev ery oneof  t he cr aft. I t shou ldbe
r ememb ered that the sebatt e rie s ext ended  for  a  long  dista nce a lo ng the
shore, a nd t hey opene d o ne  af te r the other,  as  th e ships  came o p pos it e . Th us the fleet becam et h etarget o f batt e ry  a f ter batt er y,andh a d a
c onti n uo us and e xtende d  g an tlet to  r un bef or e r eac hings afet y.

Th e gunboa ts re t urned the fire as they swept by , an d  man y o f their sho ts
w e re e ffec t iv e,b ut in  such  a du e l the advantage isal ways w ith t he land
batte ries. Oneo f the tran spor t sw as disabled, a nd an other, dir e ctly
beh ind h er, hadto stop t o avoid ru nni ngint o t h e  i njured craft. T he
c re w of th e f ormer,fin din g t hem se lves thecentre o fate rr ifi c fir e ,
launch ed  th eyaw l, an d , leap ing i ntoit ,p ull ed fort he s hore .Th ey h adsc arcel y le f t t heir ve ssel when  it wasfi re d by ashell, and, a fl ame
from s te m t o ster n ,  it drif ted down stream. Meanwh i le, the  tr anspo rt
t hat had g rou nded w ast owed o ut ofdange r.  Wi t h  this e xc ept io n, the
who l e  fl eet g ot  saf ely pas t, the loss beingo nly  one man kill edandt w owou n de d  on  P o rte r ' s flagship.

Ge neral Gran tw as  greatly p l eas ed  with t his suc cess. A few n ights lat er
a seco nd  att e m ptwas succes sful. He  was thus enabl e dto se ndsuppli es  to 
thearmy,w ith  whic h he i nt endedto at ta ck Vicks burg on the south.
Grad uallyshift ing  his ownpos i tio n, he rea ched  a point o ppo sit e Gra ndG ulf,a sh o rt  di s tance  bel o w the mou t hoft h eBig Black R i v e r.

CAP TUR E  OF GR ANDGULF.

Although G r and Gulf was s tron g l y f ort i fied  i ts quick captu rewa s a
necess it y. McClerna nd had b ee n  orde red se veraltimes t o at t ack it , bu t
h e was solag ga r d thatGr an t  himse lf u nd ertook 
 in_the
gloom. The_hope was general that_they would_be_able to_float_past
undiscovered, and, when_an hour of_intense stillness went by,_the
watchers and listeners_began_to breathe more freely, though their
anxiety was only partly lifted.

[Illustration: DAVID G. FARRAGUT.]

Suddenly two_crimson_lines of_fire_flamed_along the river front, and_the
earth trembled under the stupendous_explosion. The_ships had been
detected, and the river was swept_by_a tempest of_shot and shell that it
seemed must shatter to fragments_every one of the craft. It_should be
remembered that_these_batteries_extended for a long_distance along the
shore, and they opened_one after the other, as the_ships came opposite.
Thus the fleet became the_target of battery after battery, and_had a
continuous and extended gantlet_to run_before reaching safety.

The gunboats returned_the fire as_they swept_by, and many_of their shots
were effective, but in_such a duel_the advantage is always with the_land
batteries._One of the_transports_was_disabled, and_another, directly
behind her,_had_to stop_to_avoid running into the injured craft._The
crew_of the former, finding themselves the centre_of a terrific fire,
launched_the_yawl, and, leaping into_it, pulled for the shore._They had
scarcely left their vessel when_it was_fired by_a shell, and, aflame
from stem to stern, it drifted down stream._Meanwhile, the transport
that had grounded was_towed out of danger._With this_exception,_the
whole fleet got_safely_past, the_loss being only one man killed and_two
wounded on_Porter's flagship.

General Grant was greatly pleased_with this success. A_few_nights later
a second attempt was successful._He was thus enabled to send_supplies to
the army, with which_he_intended_to attack Vicksburg on the_south.
Gradually shifting his own position, he_reached a point_opposite Grand
Gulf, a short distance below the_mouth_of the Big Black River.


CAPTURE OF_GRAND_GULF.

Although Grand Gulf was strongly fortified_its_quick_capture was a
necessity. McClernand had_been ordered several times to attack_it, but
he was so laggard that Grant himself undertook