At 4 a.m. the squadron, steaming up the river in double line ahead (large ships inside with the smaller ones abreast the intervals), came under the fire of the enemy at a distance of 600 yards. The rate of steaming was about three miles per hour. Three ships (Brooklyn, Kennebec, and Katahdin) failed to pass. The Brooklyn, getting fouled with the mortar flotilla, was detained, and under a misapprehension of orders stopped to silence the battery, and dropped down after daylight. The Kennebec held her position astern of the Brooklyn. The Katahdin, having no orders at all, followed the motions of the Brooklyn. Casualties in the part of the squadron which passed: killed, 15; wounded, 30. Duration, two hours; distance gone while under fire, three miles. _Passage of Forts, Mississippi River, March 14, 1863._ FEDERAL. WOODEN SQUADRON. Guns. Hartford 28 Richmond 25 Monongahela 14 Mississippi 19 Albatross 7 Genesee 8 Kineo 6 CONFEDERATE. _Earthworks at Port Hudson._—A line of earthworks extending at intervals a distance of about three miles, and mounting 70 guns, most all of heavy calibre. At 9 p.m. of the 24th, signal was made to weigh anchor and pass the forts up-stream. The vessels except the Mississippi were lashed in pairs (Hartford and Albatross, Richmond and Genesee, Monongahela and Kineo). The mortar fleet below the forts opened a heavy fire on the works, and two light gun-boats took up an enfilading position and shelled the water-batteries. The Hartford passed up without trouble. The Richmond (slowest vessel in the squadron) reached a bend of the river where she was directly within the cross-fire of the batteries, but could not stem the current even with the help of her tow, so she was obliged to turn and go back. The Monongahela reached the bend and the current forced her ashore for about half an hour; getting off finally she started ahead, but was obliged to stop her engine on account of the heating of the journals; drifted down again out of range. The Mississippi ran aground at the bend, but could not be gotten off. After working for half an hour, her guns were spiked, the ship was fired and deserted, and she blew up. Casualties: killed, 12; wounded, 35; missing, 63. One steam frigate lost. _Passage of Fort Morgan, August 5, 1864._ FEDERAL. MONITORS. Guns. Tecumseh 2 Manhattan 2 Winnebago 4 Chickasaw 4 CORVETTES. Brooklyn 26 Hartford 28 Richmond 25 Lackawanna 14 Monongahela 14 Ossipee 12 Oneida 10 GUN-BOATS. Octarora 10 Metacomet 10 Port Royal 6 Seminole 6 Kennebec 4 Itasca 4 Galena 6 CONFEDERATE.