strength.
In the main channels of the river were sunk heavy, sharp-pointed
_chevaux de frise_, or submarine palisades, with sharp points
extending just above the surface of the water. In addition to this
obstacle, the enemy advancing by water upon the fort would have to
meet the American flotilla, which, though composed of small craft
only, was large enough to prove very annoying to an enemy. In this
flotilla were thirteen galleys, one carrying a thirty-two pounder, and
the rest with varying weight of ordnance; twenty-six half-galleys,
each carrying a four-pounder; two xebecs, each with two
twenty-four-pounders in the bow, two eighteen-pounders in the stern,
and four nine-pounders in the waist; two floating batteries, fourteen
fire-ships, one schooner-galley, one brig-galley, one provincial ship,
and the brig "Andrea Doria." It was no small naval force that the
British had to overcome before attacking the mud ramparts and bastions
of Fort Mifflin.

Against this armament the British brought a number of vessels, with
the "Augusta," sixty-four, in the lead. The battle was begun late in
the afternoon of the 22d of October, 1777. The attack of the Hessians
upon the American fortifications at Red Bank, and the opening of the
action between the British and American fleets, were simultaneous. The
Hessians were beaten back with heavy loss, some of the American
vessels opening fire upon them from the river. The naval battle lasted
but a short time that night, owing to the darkness. When the battle
ended for the night, the "Augusta," and the "Merlin," sloop-of-war,
were left hard and fast aground.

The next morning the British advanced again to the attack. The
skirmish of the night before had shown them that the Yankee flotilla
was no mean adversary; and they now brought up re-inforcements, in the
shape of the "Roebuck" forty-four, "Isis" thirty-two, "Pearl"
thirty-two, and "Liverpool" twenty-eight. No sooner had the British
squadron come within range than a heavy fire was opened upon the fort.
The American flotilla was prompt to answer the challenge, and soon the
action became general. Time and time again the Americans sent huge
fire-ships, their well-tarred spars and rigging blazing fiercely, down
among the enemy. But the skill and activity of the British sailors
warded off this danger. Thereupon the Americans, seeing that they
could not rely upon their fire-ships, changed their plan of action.
Any one of the British vessels