that he had to run by at night。 She therefore survived his attack； and went downstream to join the Confederates against Baton Rouge。 But her engines gave way before she got there； and she had to be blown up。
Farragut was back at New Orleans before the end of July。 On the fifth of August the Confederates made their attack on Baton Rouge； but were beaten back by the Union garrison aided by three of Farragut's gunboats and two larger vessels from Davis's command。 The losses were not very severe on either side； but the Union lost a leader of really magnificent promise in its commanding general； Thomas Williams； a great…hearted； cool…headed man and most accomplished officer。 The garrison of Baton Rouge； being too small and sickly and exposed； was withdrawn to New Orleans a few days later。
Then Farragut at last returned to the Gulf blockade。 Davis went back up the river； where he was succeeded by D。D。 Porter in October。 And the Confederates； warned of what was coming； made Port Hudson and Vicksburg as strong as they could。 Vicksburg was now the only point they held on the Mississippi where there were rails on both sides； and the Red River； flowing in from the West between Vicksburg and Port Hudson； was the only good line of communication connecting them with Texas； whence so much of their meat was obtained。
For three months Farragut directed the Gulf blockade from Pensacola； where； on the day of his arrival； the twentieth of August； he was the first American to hoist an admiral's flag。 The rank of rear…admiral in the United States Navy had been created on the previous sixteenth of July； and Farragut was the senior of the first three officers upon whom it was conferred。
Farragut became the ranking admiral just when the United States Navy was having its hardest struggle to do its fivefold duty well。 There was commerce protection on the high seas； blockade along the coast； cooperation with the army on salt water and on fresh； and of course the destruction of the nascent Confederate forces afloat。 But perhaps a knottier problem than any part of its combatant duty was how to manage； in the very midst of war； that rapid expansion of its own strength for which no government had let it prepare in time of peace。 During this year the number of vessels in commission grew from 264 to 427。 Yet such a form of expansion was much simpler than that of the enlisted men； and the expansion of even the most highly trained enlisted personnel was very much simpler than the corresponding expansion of the officers。 Happily for the United States Navy it started with a long lead over its enemy。 More happily still it could expand with the help of greatly superior resources。 Most happily of all； the sevenfold expansion that was effected before the war was over could be made under leaders like Farragut： leaders； that is； who； though in mere numbers they were no more； in proportion to their whole service； than the flag as mere material is to a man…of…war； were yet； as is the flag； the living symbol of a people's soul。
Commerce protection on the high seas was an exceedingly harassing affair。 A few swift raiders； having the initiative； enjoyed great advantages over a far larger number of defending vessels。 Every daring raid was trumpeted round the world； bringing down unmeasured； and often unmerited； blame on the defense。 The most successful vigilance would； on the other hand； pass by unheeded。 The Union navy lacked the means of patrolling the sea lanes of commerce over millions and millions of desolate square miles。 Consequently the war…risk insurance rose to a prohibitive height on vessels flying the Stars and Stripes； and； as a further result； enormous transfers were made to other flags。 The incessant calls for recruits； afloat and ashore； and to some extent the lure of the western lands； also robbed the merchant service of its men。 Thus； one way and another； the glory of the old merchant marine departed with the Civil War。
Blockade was more to the point than any attempt to patrol the sea lanes。 Yet it was even more harassing； for it involved three distinct though closely correlated kinds of operation： not only the seizure； in conjunction with the army； of enemy ports； and the patrolling of an enemy coastline three thousand miles long； but also the patrolling of those oversea ports from which most contraband came。 This oversea patrol was the most effective； because it went straight to the source of trouble。 But it required extraordinary vigilance； because it had to be conducted from beyond the three…mile limit； and with the greatest care for all the rights of neutrals。
By mid…November Farragut was back at New Orleans。 A month later General Banks arrived with reinforcements。 He superseded General Butler and was under orders to cooperate with McClernand； Grant's second…in…command； who was to come down the Mississippi from Cairo。 But the proposed meeting of the two armies never took place。 Banks remained south of Port Hudson； McClernand far north of Vicksburg； for； as we shall see in the next chapter； Sherman's attempt to take Vicksburg from the North failed on the twenty…ninth of December。
The naval and river campaigns of '62 thus ended in disappointment for the Union。 And； on New Year's Day； Galveston； which Farragut had occupied in October without a fight and which was lightly garrisoned by three hundred soldiers； fell into Confederate hands under most exasperating circumstances。 After the captain and first lieutenant of the U。S。S。 Harriet Lane had been shot by the riflemen aboard two cotton…clad steamers the next officer tamely surrendered。 Commander Renshaw； who was in charge of the blockade； amply redeemed the honor of the Navy by refusing to surrender the Westfield； in spite of the odds against him； and by blowing her up instead。 But when he died at the post of duty the remaining Union vessels escaped； and the blockade was raised for a week。
After that Commodore H。H。 Bell； one of Farragut's best men； closed in with a grip which never let go。 Yet even Bell suffered a reverse when he sent the U。S。S。 Hatteras to overhaul a strange vessel that lured her off some fifteen miles and sank her in a thirteen…minute fight。 This stranger was the Alabama； then just beginning her famous or notorious career。 Nor were these the only Union troubles in the Gulf during the first three weeks of the new year。 Commander J。N。 Matt ran the Florida out of Mobile； right through the squadron that had been specially strengthened to deal with her； and the shore defenses of the Sabine Pass； like those of Galveston； fell into Confederate hands again； to remain there till the war was over。
In spite of all failures； however； Farragut still had the upper hand along the Gulf； and up the Mississippi as far as New Orleans； without which admirable base the River War of '69。 could never have prepared the way for Grant's magnificent victory in the River War of '63。
CHAPTER IV。 THE RIVER WAR： 1862
The military front stretched east and west across the border States from the Mississippi Valley to the sea。 This immense and fluctuating front； under its various and often changed commanders； was never a well coordinated whole。 The Alleghany Mountains divided the eastern or Virginian wing from the western or 〃River〃 wing。 Yet there was always more or less connection between these two main parts； and the fortunes of one naturally affected those of the other。 Most eyes； both at home and abroad； were fixed on the Virginian wing； where the Confederate capital stood little more than a hundred miles from Washington； where the greatest rival armies fought； and where decisive victory was bound to have the most momentous consequences。 But the River wing was hardly less important； for there the Union Government actually hoped to reach these three supreme objectives in this one campaign： the absolute possession of the border States； the undisputed right of way along the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf； and the triumphant invasion of the lower South in conjunction with the final conquest of Virginia。
We have seen already how the Union navy； aided by the army； won its way up the Mississippi from the Gulf to Baton Rouge； but failed to secure a single point beyond。 We shall now see how the Union army； aided by the navy； won its way down the Mississippi from Cairo to Memphis； and fairly attained the first objectivethe possession of the border States； but how it also failed from the north； as the others had failed from the south； to gain a footing on the crucial stretch between Vicksburg and Port Hudson。 One more year was required to win the Mississippi； two more to invade the lower South； three to conquer Virginia。
Just after the fall of Fort Sumter the Union Government had the foresight to warn James B。 Eads； the well…known builder of Mississippi jetties； that they would probably draw upon his 〃thorough knowledge of our Western rivers and the use of steam on them。〃 But it was not till August that they gave him the contract for the regular gunboat flotilla； and it was not till the following year that his vessels began their work。 In the meantime the armies were asking for all sorts of transport and protective craft。 So the first flotilla on Mississippi waters started under the War （not the Navy） Department； though manned under the executive orders of Commander John Rodgers； U。 S。 N。； who bought three river steamers at Cincinnati； lowered their engines； strengthened their frames； protected their decks； and changed them into gunboats。
The first phase of the clash in this land of navigable rivers had ended； as we have seen already； with the taking of Boonville on the Missouri by that staunch and daring Union regular； General Nathaniel Lyon； on June 17； 1861。 Boonville was a stunning blow to secession in those parts。 Confederate hopes； however； again rose high when the news of Bull Run came through。 At this time General John C。 Fremont was taking command of all the Union forces in the 〃Western Department；〃 which included Illinois and everything between the Mississippi and the Rockies。 Fremont's command； however； was short and full of trouble。 Round his headquarters at St。 Louis the Confederate colors were flaunted in his face。 His requisitions for arms and money were not met at Washingt