Wallace was assigned to the command of a division composed of the brigade of Colonel Thayer and other reinforcements that arrived the same day.

This new division was assigned to the centre, giving the two flanking divisions an opportunity to close up and form a stronger line.
The plan was for the troops to hold the enemy within his lines, while the gunboats should attack the water batteries at close quarters and silence his guns if possible.

Some of the gunboats were to run the batteries, get above the fort and above the village of Dover.

I had ordered a reconnoissance made with the view of getting troops to the river above Dover in case they should be needed there.

That position attained by the gunboats it would have been but a question of time--and a very short time, too--when the garrison would have been compelled to surrender.
By three in the afternoon of the 14th Flag-officer Foote was ready, and advanced upon the water batteries with his entire fleet.