One killed and two wounded is her report; and one marine fell overboard, his cries for help being heard on board the other ships as they passed by, unable to save him." If the capture of the batteries was impossible, their passage was almost equally so.

The _Richmond_ was so badly injured that she was compelled to turn down stream, having suffered a loss of three killed and fifteen wounded, while the _Monongahela_ had six killed and twenty-one wounded before she was able to wrench herself loose from where she had grounded and drift out of range.
Now came the _Mississippi_, whose tragic fate is graphically told by Admiral Porter in his "Naval History of the Civil War": "The steamship _Mississippi_, Captain Melancthon Smith, followed in the wake of the _Monongahela_, firing whenever her guns could be brought to bear.

At 11:30 o'clock she reached the turn which seemed to give our vessels so much trouble, and Captain Smith was congratulating himself on the prospect of soon catching up with the flag officer, when his ship grounded and heeled over three streaks to port.
"The engines were instantly reversed and the port guns run in in order to bring her on an even keel, while the fire from her starboard battery was reopened on the forts.

The engines were backed with all the steam that could be put upon them, and the backing was continued for thirty minutes, but without avail.
"It was now seen that it would be impossible to get the ship afloat.
"Captain Smith gave orders to spike the port battery and throw the guns overboard, but it was not done, for the enemy's fire was becoming so rapid and severe that the Captain deemed it judicious to abandon the ship at once in order to save the lives of the men.
"While preparations were being made to destroy the ship, the sick and wounded were lowered into boats and conveyed ashore, while the men at the starboard battery continued to fight in splendid style, firing at every flash of the enemy's guns.

The small arms were thrown overboard, and all possible damage was done to the engine and everything else that might prove of use to the enemy.
"The ship was first set on fire in the forward storeroom, but three shots came through below her water-line and put out the flames.