The Union steamers were, in fact, no better. Both fleets were wholly unarmored, but the guns on both sides were good for that day, and therein lies the one point worth noting. The Union fleet on one side and the Confederate forts and fleet on the other fought for six hours at one stretch at easy range. One Union ship reports firing 181 shells, and probably those that made no report of the matter (there were nineteen in all) did as well, but only one ship--a Confederate--was sunk, and she was able to run away to a fort before going down. After two days the Confederate forts surrendered, and the Confederate ships fled to Elizabeth City. Commander S. C. Rowan, with a part of the Union fleet, pursued and destroyed or captured them all save one that passed through the canal to Norfolk. The conflict at Elizabeth City is especially notable, because the deed of a heroic gunner led Congress to pass an act creating a Union naval medal. Says Lossing: “An extraordinary example of heroism was exhibited during this engagement by John Davis, a Finlander, who was a gunner’s mate on board the _Valley City_. A shell entered that vessel, and, exploding in the magazine, set fire to some wood-work. Davis was there, and, seeing the imminent danger to the vessel and all on board, because of an open barrel of gunpowder from which he had been serving, he seated himself upon it, and so remained until the flames were extinguished. For this brave act the Secretary of the Navy rewarded him with the appointment of acting-gunner in the navy (March 11, 1862), by which his salary was raised from $300 to $1,000 a year. Admiring citizens of New York raised and presented to him $1,100. The Secretary of the Navy, by authority of an act of Congress, approved December 21, 1861, presented him with a _Medal of Honor_, on which are inscribed the following words: ‘Personal Valor, John Davis, Gunner’s Mate, U.S.S. _Valley City_, Albemarle Sound, February 10, 1862.’ Such medals were afterward presented to a considerable number of gallant men in subordinate stations, for acts of special bravery ‘before the enemy.’ Davis was the first recipient.” [Illustration: Attack on Roanoke Island--Landing of the Troops. _From an engraving of the painting by Chappel._] [Illustration: Landing of Troops on Roanoke Island. _From an engraving by Perine of a drawing by Momberger._] CHAPTER VI ALONG SHORE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO THE SHAMEFUL STORY OF PENSACOLA AND FORT PICKENS--WHEN LIEUTENANT RUSSELL BURNED THE _JUDAH_--A BRITISH CONSUL’S ACTIONS WHEN CONFEDERATE FORTS WERE ATTACKED AT GALVESTON--EXTRAORDINARY PANIC AT THE HEAD OF THE PASSES IN THE MISSISSIPPI WHEN FOUR GREAT WARSHIPS, CARRYING FORTY-FIVE OF THE BEST GUNS AFLOAT, FLED FROM A DISABLED TUGBOAT THAT WAS REALLY UNARMED--ONCE MORE IN GALVESTON--LIEUTENANT JOUETT’S FIERCE FIGHT WHEN HE DESTROYED THE _ROYAL YACHT_.