The _Whitehall’s_ shotted guns were going off here and there through the thick crowds or clustering houses, and one shell struck the hospital, making the inmates believe that the _Merrimac_ had returned. It transpired that a red-hot shot had been thrown from the _Merrimac_ during the day and had lodged between the _Whitehall’s_ timbers, where the fire smouldered until late at night. The general conclusion from this momentous fight between the first ironclads was that “England’s naval supremacy is gone for ever.” But men are more potent than masses of metal. America and England have navies now in comparison with which the _Merrimac_ and _Monitor_ are but tin kettles. Yet we must remember that Russia, too, a few months ago possessed a strong navy as far as metal goes. But once again the Japanese proved to the world that it is in the hearts of brave men, the science of clever men, and the enduring patience of patriotic men, that the issues of victory or defeat are mainly determined. CHAPTER XV CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS (1862) New Orleans and its forts--Farragut despises craven counsel--The mortar-fleet in disguise--Fire-rafts rush down--A week of hot gun-fire--A dash through the defences--The _Varuna’s_ last shot--Oscar, aged thirteen--Ranged before the city--Anger of mob--Summary justice--Soldiers insulted in the streets--General Butler in command--Porter nearly blown up in council--Fort Jackson in ruins--“The fuse is out.” New Orleans, on the Mississippi River, was the great market of the South, a rich and powerful city of 200,000 inhabitants. Everything possible had been done to defend it from the Northern arms. Sixty miles below New Orleans the river makes a sharp bend, and here, fronting each other on either side, stood the forts of Jackson and St. Philip. These strong forts the Confederates had seized, and the Federal fleet had to pass them on its way to New Orleans. They were heavily armoured with 180 pieces of ordinance, but besides the forts the warships would have to cut through an iron cable stretched across the river and supported by seven hulks and rafts. Above these were eighteen gunboats and floating batteries, with fire-rafts and rams; so that the city felt itself tolerably secure behind these obstructions, and laughed to scorn any thought of being besieged. Besides, had not English and French officers examined the forts and pronounced the attempt to pass them madness? But Commodore Farragut, who was in command of the National fleet, answered them in these words: “You may be right, gentlemen, but I was sent here to make the attempt. I came here to reduce or pass the forts and to take New Orleans, and I shall try it on.”