Meanwhile the _Cayuga_ had been attacked by a mob of Mississippi steamers, six of which belonged to the original fourteen blessed with their precious independence by Secretary Benjamin, "backed by the whole Missouri Delegation." So when the rest of the Federal light craft came up, "all sorts of things happened" in a general free fight. There was no lack of Confederate courage; but an utter absence of concerted action and of the simplest kind of naval skill, except on the part of the two vessels commanded by ex-officers of the United States Navy. The Federal light craft cut their way through their unorganized opponents as easily as a battalion of regulars could cut through a mob throwing stones. But the only two Confederate naval officers got clear of the scrimmage and did all that skill could do with their makeshift little craft against the Federal fleet. Kennon singled out the _Varuna_ (the only one of Farragut's vessels that was not a real man-of-war), raked her stern with the two guns of his own much inferior vessel, the _Governor Moore_, and rammed her into a sinking condition. Warley flew at bigger game with his little ram, the _Manassas_, trying three of the large men-of-war, one after another, as they came upstream. The _Pensacola_ eluded him by a knowing turn of her helm that roused his warmest admiration. The _Mississippi_ caught the blow glancingly on her quarter and got off with little damage. The _Brooklyn_ was taken fair and square amidships; but, though her planking was crushed in, she sprang no serious leak and went on with the fight. The wretched little Confederate engines had not been able to drive the ram home.