heavy guns. They were powerful
as tugboats and easily managed; whereas the Miami, also a
double-ender, but built for the Government, was like most of her kind,
hard to steer or manoeuvre, especially in a narrow stream and tideway.
The sixth was the Harriet Lane, a side-wheel steamer of 600 tons,
which had been transferred from the Revenue Service.

The tonnage and batteries of these steamers were:[3]

------------------------+-----+-----+----------------------------------
NAME. |Tons.|Guns.| Commanding Officer.
------------------------+-----+-----+----------------------------------
_Screw Gunboat._ | | |
| | |
Owasco | 507 | 2 |Lieutenant John Guest.
| | |
_Paddle-Wheel | | |
Steamers._ | | |
| | |
Westfield } | 891 | 6 |Commander William B. Renshaw.
Miami } Double- | 730 | 5 |Lieutenant A. Davis Harrell.
Clifton } enders. | 892 | 7 |Lieutenant Charles H. Baldwin.
Jackson } | 777 | 7 |Lieutenant Selim E. Woodworth.
Harriet Lane | 619 | 3 |Lieutenant Jonathan M. Wainwright.
------------------------+-----+-----+----------------------------------

When the ships were inside, the flag-officer issued special
instructions for their preparation for the river service. They were
stripped to the topmasts, and landed all spars and rigging, except
those necessary for the topsails, jib, and spanker. Everything forward
was brought close in to the bowsprit, so as not to interfere with the
forward range of the battery. Where it could be done, guns were
especially mounted on the poop and forecastle, and howitzers placed in
the tops, with iron bulwarks to protect their crews from musketry. The
vessels were ordered to be trimmed by the head, so that if they took
the bottom at all it would be forward. In a rapid current, like that
of the Mississippi, a vessel which grounded aft would have her bow
swept round at once and fall broadside to the stream, if she did not
go ashore. To get her pointed right again would be troublesome; and
the same consideration led to the order that, in case of accident to
the engines involving loss of power to go ahead, no attempt should be
made to turn the ship's head down stream. If the wind served she
should be handled under sail; but if not, an anchor should