It was Hard Work Getting the Squadron into the Mississippi-- Preparing the Ships to Run by the Forts Guarding the River--Mortar Schooners Hidden by Tree Branches--The Forts were Well Planned, but Poorly Armed--A Barrier Chain that was no Barrier at the Last--The Heterogeneous Confederate Squadron--The Fire-rafts--Work of the Coast Survey--Bravery of Caldwell--Foreigners who Interfered-- Work of the Mortar Fleet--When the Squadron Drove past the Forts-- Scattering the Confederate Squadron--Nevertheless, at least Three Good Captains were Found among them--Sinking the _Varuna_--Fate of the Ram _Manassas_--Surrender of the Forts--End of the Ironclad _Louisiana_--The Work of the Mississippi Squadron. CHAPTER XIII. FARRAGUT AT MOBILE 377 The Forts and the Confederate Squadron the Union Forces were Compelled to Face--The Confederate Ironclad just Missed being a most Formidable Ship--Tedious Wait for Monitors--When the Southwest Wind Favored--There was a Fierce Blast from the Forts at First, but the Torpedo was Worse than Many Guns--Fate of the _Tecumseh_ and Captain Craven--The Last Words of the Man for whom “there was no Afterward”--Torpedoes that Failed beneath the Flagship--Captain Stevens on the Deck of his Monitor--When Neilds Unfurled the Old Flag in the midst of the Storm--How Farragut was Lashed to the Mast--Jouett would not be Intimidated by a Leadsman--Mobbing the _Tennessee_. CHAPTER XIV. TALES OF THE CONFEDERATE CRUISERS 407 The most Instructive Chapter in the History of the United States-- Work Accomplished by an Energetic Seaman in a Ship his Brother Officers Condemned--Brilliant Work of the _Florida_ under John Newland Maffitt--Bad Marksmanship and a Worse Lookout off Mobile--A Case of Violated Neutrality--Semmes and the _Alabama_--The Battle with the _Kearsarge_--What Kind of a Man is it that Fights his Ship till she Sinks under him?--American Commerce Destroyed--The British without a Rival on the Sea, at Last, and at Very Small Cost. CHAPTER XV. THE _ALBEMARLE_ AND CUSHING 452 A Formidable Warship was Built under Remarkable Conditions to Enable the Confederates to Regain Control of the Inland Waters of North Carolina--Very Successful at First, but she was Laid up to Await the Building of another One, and then came Cushing with his Little Torpedo Boat, and the Confederate Hopes were Destroyed with their Ship. CHAPTER XVI. THE NAVY AT CHARLESTON 465