The great battle was opened.
The enemy's gunboats and the ram _Tennessee_ moved out from behind the fort and continued firing at the wooden boats, giving principal attention, as was expected, to the flagship, which was struck several times.

She soon began returning the fire, still advancing, and repeatedly drove the gunners from the water batteries, but they immediately returned and kept bravely at work.
Smokeless powder was unknown in those days, and, as the vapor enfolded the ships, Farragut kept stepping up the rigging almost unconsciously until he was so high that he was clinging to the futtock shrouds.

He had his spyglass in one hand and kept raising it to his eyes.

Captain Percival Drayton had been closely watching the Admiral and now became alarmed, lest some damage to the ropes should cause him to fall overboard.

He told Signal Quartermaster Knowles to climb the rigging and secure Farragut to the shrouds.