"Until we reached the city, the Concord escaped unhurt, and I began to think that our danger was not so great as I had at first supposed, when, just as we arrived opposite the upper batteries, a shot came crashing through the sides of the vessel. The deck was lighted up for an instant with a flash, and the groans and shrieks that followed told that it had been too well directed. Confined as the men were, in total darkness, where it was impossible for a person to distinguish those who stood next to him, such an occurrence was well calculated to throw them into confusion. I believe that every one on deck was frightened, but the order, 'Stand to your guns, lads!' delivered in a firm voice by the executive officer, at once put an end to the confusion.
"'On deck, there!' came thundering through the trumpet. 'Open the ports, and return their fire!'
"How my heart bounded when I heard that order! And the men, too, anxious to be on more equal terms with the enemy, sprang at the word, the port-shutters flew open with a crash, and the city of Vicksburg burst upon our astonished view.
"The rebels had profited by their experience, and instead of finding the city shrouded in total darkness, as I had expected, a glare equal to the noonday sun lighted up both the river and the city, the latter seeming one blaze of fire. The vessels in advance of us were rapidly answering the fire of the batteries, and the waters of the river, usually so quiet and smooth, were plowed in every direction by the shrieking, hissing shells. It was a magnificent sight, one upon which I could have gazed with rapture, had I been a disinterested person; but, as it was, I had no time to dwell upon it.
"'Out with those guns--lively!' shouted the captain. 'Give the rascals as good as they send.'
"For half an hour the fight continued, the rebels sending their shells thick and fast about our devoted vessel, and we directing our fire against the water-batteries, which lined the shore as far as the eye could reach, when suddenly the pilot rung the bell to stop, which was followed by a command shouted down through the trumpet to 'Back her--quick!' I scarcely noticed the circumstance, until one of my men exclaimed, in a frightened voice, 'We are drifting into the bank, sir, right under the batteries!'