the gunboats,--and soon everything best out of reach of shot was landed,
leaving clear decks, and no top hamper to be cut away by the enemy's
projectiles, and come tumbling down about the heads of guns' crews.

About this time the English and French men-of-war that had lain before
New Orleans, giving aid and comfort to the enemy and making merry in
singing rebel songs on board, especially on board the English vessels,
left the river, their officers declaring it an impossibility for the
fleet to pass the forts and obstructions.

In this connection, it may be mentioned that the cruisers of John Bull
prowled along the coast during the entire war, with sometimes permission
to enter the blockaded ports, conveying information and lending
encouragement to the enemy, and rejoicing at every disaster that befell
the Union arms, which, together with the tacit connivance of the British
government in letting out the Alabama, and other hostile acts, ought to
be treasured against Great Britain so long as the Republic endures.

On the sixteenth of April, Farragut moved up to a point just below the
forts, and on the eighteenth, having established the vessels of the
mortar fleet at distances ranging from twenty-nine hundred and fifty
yards to four thousand yards, from Jackson, and partially hidden by
trees on one side the river, and disguised with bushes on the other,
opened the bombardment, which was kept up with little interruption for
six days and nights; the corvettes and gunboats taking part by turns in
running up, delivering their fire, and dropping down with the current
out of range again. The forts replied vigorously, and every night the
enemy sent down fire-rafts, but to little purpose.

Meanwhile, under cover of the night and the fire of the fleet,