Their position did not yet enable them to attack on land, but far out on the river they saw the gunboats moving.

Porter, the commander, divided them into two groups.

Four of the gunboats were to attack the lower circle of batteries and three were to pour their fire upon the upper ring.
Dick by day even more than by night recognized the difficulty of the task.

Before them flowed the vast swift current of the Mississippi, gleaming now in the sunshine, and beyond were the frowning bluffs, crested and ringed with cannon.

Grant had with him twenty thousand men and his seven gunboats, and Bowen, eight thousand troops.