120 The Mississippi Valley in the Civil War

whole force in the city consisted of 3000 rawtroops without arms enough to go around, so thor-oughly had every corner been ransacked for forceswith which to strike the heavy but unavailingblow at Pittsburg Landing.

In spite of these disadvantages the Confeder­ ates felt sure of victory, and indeed the task setfor Farragut was so difficult that only the highestskill and daring could have performed it. Hiswooden vessels, carrying 177 guns, had to contendwith 128 guns in strong fortresses and 39 gunscarried by vessels partly armoured. Accordingto Admiral Porter, who thus concisely states thecase, “ it is generally conceded by military menthat one gun in a fort is about equal to five onboard of a wooden ship, especially when . . . theforces afloat are obliged to contend against a three-and-a-half-knot current in a channel obstructedby chains and fire-rafts.” 1 After making all dueallowances, therefore, the Confederates mighteasily feel that the odds were in their favour.They worked night and day in strengthening theirdefences, and another fortnight might have madethem impregnable. But Farragut pushed on hispreparations with desperate energy. There wasgreat difficulty at first in getting his larger vesselsover the bar, but by the 16th of April these obsta-1 Battles and Leaders , ii. 33.