David D. Porter, rear admiral

You wouldn't have got us had it not been for your damned gunboats.
John Dunnington, colonel, chief of ordnance

Fort Hindman's cannon fired at the nine gunboats
bearing down on them. Confederate gunners had not
practiced firing at such short range. Many shells missed
or bounced off the gunboats' metal armor coated with
greasy tallow. The Union boats held their fire until
within 100 feet of the fort, then aimed right into the
mouths of the fort's cannon. "The roar of the cannon
was awful...it shook the ground for miles." "The [fort's]
big square logs flew as if they were fence rails." Soon the
fort's guns were shattered. Union gunships continued
firing into the enemy line. Three Union gunboats slipped
past the demolished fort, blocking the only escape route.
The surrounded Confederates surrendered. Here, the
Union clearly demonstrated the overwhelming naval
power that helped it control the western rivers.

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Show me all markers in:  Gillett, AR  |  Arkansas County  |  72055  |  Arkansas  |  United States of America

Where is Fort Hindman?
On they come like an irresistible thunder bolt
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Edge of Empires
The Colbert Raid
The European Settlement
The Arkansas Posts
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The French Period
The Post under Spain

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