The bombardment was continued for three weeks, without inflicting serious damage, and there was little prospect of capturing the place from the river, when General Pope arrived with a large land force; but to reach the fort it was necessary for him to get his troops across the river, and he had not a single transport to use for that purpose.
Pope's arrival below made it necessary to send a gunboat down to him, for until that was done he could make no movement against the rebel force there.

The all-important question was whether any one of the gunboats could run the terrific gauntlet of the batteries that lined the shore.

It looked as if the attempt must result in the inevitable destruction of any craft before half the distance could be accomplished.
At a council of the officers it was agreed that it was too hazardous to try to run one of the gunboats past the batteries.

Such was the opinion of every man except Henry Walke, commander of the _Carondelet_, who volunteered to try the seemingly impossible task.

Captain Foote reluctantly gave his consent.
It was understood that Walke was to make the attempt on the first rainy or foggy night.