Fleet-Captain Bell, and Lieutenants-Commanding Crosby and Caldwell of
the gunboats Pinola and Itasca, had succeeded in forcing a channel
through the obstructions, a piece of duty that had required the most
robust and dauntless courage, and in which Caldwell--a son of
Massachusetts--shone pre-eminent by the coolness of his methods and
thoroughness of his work. And now, on the night of the twenty-third,
after a last examination by Caldwell in a twelve-oared boat, all was
pronounced clear, and the fleet was to weigh at two o'clock in the
morning.

The fleet was formed in three divisions, the first comprising the
Hartford, flagship, the Brooklyn, and Richmond; the second composed of
eight vessels with the divisional flag of Captain Bailey on board the
Cayuga; and the third of six vessels, with Fleet-Captain Bell's flag
flying from the Sciota; but was ordered to pass through the obstructions
in one column or single line ahead, the Cayuga leading. Farragut had
intended to lead himself, but at Bailey's urgent request yielded that
honor to him.

The letters of Lieutenant Perkins, ever glowing with ardor for the good
cause, were, at this time, full of patriotic fervor and aspiration, and
when he said: "I hope the Cayuga will go down before she ever gives up,
and 'I guess' she will," he certainly meant it! And the supreme moment
had now come for him to inform this hope by valorous deeds, and all
unfalteringly did he walk in the blazing light of heroism that none but
the brave may dare to tread.

The signal to weigh was promptly made at two o'clock, A.M., but work at
night is always behind, and it was half-past three o'clock before the
little Cayuga, leading the line, pressed gallantly through the