We fight the Johnnie Rebs for the land, but we have the water already.

Look at those gunboats, will you?
Aren't they the sauciest little things you ever saw ?" Once more the navy was showing, as it has always shown throughout its career, its daring and brilliant qualities.

Foote, the commodore, although he had had no time to repair his four small fighting boats after the encounter with Fort Henry, steamed straight up the river and engaged the concentric fire from the great guns of the Southern batteries, which opened upon him with a tremendous crash.

The boys watched the duel with amazement.

They did not believe that small vessels could live under such fire, but live they did.