The boat, crew and passengers were brought ashore to me.

The chief personage aboard proved to be Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Interior under the administration of President Buchanan.

After a pleasant conversation of half an hour or more I allowed the boat and crew, passengers and all, to return to Vicksburg, without creating a suspicion that there was a doubt in my mind as to the good faith of Mr.Thompson and his flag.
Admiral Porter proceeded with the preparation of the steamers for their hazardous passage of the enemy's batteries.

The great essential was to protect the boilers from the enemy's shot, and to conceal the fires under the boilers from view.

This he accomplished by loading the steamers, between the guards and boilers on the boiler deck up to the deck above, with bales of hay and cotton, and the deck in front of the boilers in the same way, adding sacks of grain.