The attempt was made on the night of March 14, 1863, with the _Hartford_ in the lead, and followed by the _Richmond_, _Monongahela_ and _Mississippi_, with the smaller boats.

The first three boats had as consorts the _Albatross_, _Kineo_ and _Genessee_.

Captain Mahan, in "The Gulf and Inland Waters," gives the following vivid description of this historical incident: "As they drew near the batteries, the lowest of which the _Hartford_ had already passed, the enemy threw up rockets and opened their fire.
Prudence, and the fact of the best water being on the starboard hand, led the ships to hug the east shore of the river, passing so close under the Confederate guns that the speech of the gunners and troops could be distinguished.

Along the shore, at the foot of the bluffs, powerful reflecting lamps, like those used on locomotives, had been placed to show the ships to the enemy as they passed, and for the same purpose large fires, already stacked on the opposite point, were lit.

The fire of the fleet and from the shore soon raised a smoke which made these precautions useless, while it involved the ships in a danger greater than any from the enemy's guns.