"In obedience to orders from the admiral," began the ensign, "the Concord, with the iron-clads, commenced making preparations to run the batteries, by greasing the casemates to glance shot, and by protecting the machinery with heavy timbers and bales of hay. When every thing was ready, the long-looked-for signal was made. The vessels took their stations in accordance with a general order that had been issued a few days previous--the Concord, with a coal-barge in tow, being the fourth in advance.
"As soon as the anchors were weighed, all hands were called to quarters, the ports closed, and every light on board the ship, except those in the magazine and shell-rooms, was extinguished. I took my station beside my men, who stood at their guns as motionless as so many statues, and in that darkness awaited the issue of events, with feelings that can not be described. The moment I had so long been dreading was fast approaching. Would I survive the experiment?
"As soon as the vessels were fairly under way, the engines were stopped, and we drifted along with the current. Not a sound was heard, except the creaking of the wheel as the pilot guided the vessel down stream. I became more and more excited each moment, until finally my suspense seemed greater than I could bear. That awful silence was worse than the fight itself. I became impatient, and strode up and down the deck, anxiously waiting for the first roar of a gun that should announce that our approach had been discovered. How I longed to look out and see what progress we were making! But the ports had been closed, with imperative orders that they must not be opened without the captain's command, and I was obliged to remain in ignorance of what was going on outside.
"At length, after remaining at our quarters for nearly an hour--to me it seemed an age--the loud roar of a gun burst upon our ears. The pilot at once rang the bell to 'go ahead strong,' and the puffing of the engines told us that we were rapidly nearing the city. Soon, from another direction, came a second report, accompanied by a shell from 'Whistling Dick,' which went directly over our heads, and exploded far behind us. This was followed, not by the report of a single cannon, but by a crash, as if all the artillery of heaven had been let loose at once, and shells and solid shot, with a noise that was almost deafening. It did not seem possible that we could succeed in running by the batteries; besides, I was very much averse to being shut up in that manner, without the privilege of returning shot for shot. The idea of allowing my vessel to be made a target of, when so many brave hearts were waiting impatiently to give as good as they received, did not at all suit me.