Chafing under idleness, he petitioned the Government to give him active employment afloat.

His wish was granted and he was placed in command of the _Varuna_, a passenger steamer, purchased by the Government and changed into a gunboat.

Admiral Farragut was making his preparations to attack New Orleans, and the _Varuna_ was added to his fleet.

She was a very swift but frail craft, a fact which led Farragut to grant Boggs' request to be allowed to run ahead of the position that had been assigned him.
In order to get up all the steam possible, the pork among the ship's store was flung into the blazing furnace under the boilers.

The craft went through the water at a tremendous speed, and upon coming opposite the forts, Boggs fired his starboard battery and then ordered grape and canister to be used as rapidly as possible.