152 FAMOUS LIVING AMERICANS was the biggest event of the war np to that time. The sissippi was stationed oflf that city for nearly a year after- wards as the guardship. Early in the spring of 1863 plans were made for the taking of Vicksburg and on March 14th the fleet started np the river. There was a sharp bend in the river commanded by Confed- erate gnns. The night was dark, misty, and soon smoke- laden. Of the ships which preceded the Mississippi only that of Farragut got past the Port Hndson forts, while the others were forced to snbmit to a heavy fire. Each of the boats had an experienced river pilot and when the pilot guiding the Mississippi thought she was clear of the shoal point he ordered full speed ahead. The ship was not past the point, so ran aground and was unable to get clear. The enemy's guns were turned full upon her, and finally one of the ** hot-shots*' (red- hot round shot with wads of wet hay or hemp between the shot and the powder to keep the powder from igniting) started a fire in a storeroom filled with inflammable material There was no time to lose, the ship had to be abandoned. The whole crew was sent off, the wounded first and the gunners last Captain Smith and Dewey were the last to leave the Missis- sippi after setting fire to her and cutting her outboard delivery pipes. In his report Captain Smith highly commended Dewey. He wrote, **I should be neglecting a most important duty should I omit to mention the coolness of my executive officer, Mr. George Dewey, and the steady, fearless, and gallant man- ner in which the officers and men of the Mississippi defended her, and the orderly and quiet manner in which she was aban- doned." It should be noted that Dewey had trained this efficient crew during the monotony of guarding New Orleansl Dewey's next duty was that of prize commissioner at New Orleans. This was determining the ownership of cargo cap- tured on the blockade and, if he found it was legitimate prize, selling it for the government. The following summer Dewey became the executive officer on the sloop Monongahelay stationed below Port Hudson. It was on this ship that he had the closest call of his life. The Monongahela was steaming up the river when a field battery
