 That afternoon, as the mortars began a slow bombardment of the lower riverside breastworks, "Sachem" steamed up close to Southern batteries tempting them to reveal the positions of their cannon; but the Confederate guns spurned the bait and remained hidden.As darkness fell, Farragut moved his assault forces, three steam sloops-of-war—each lashed to a gunboat—and side-wheeler, , up to predetermined positions just out of range of Port Hudson's artillery.Shortly after ten, the warships, led by flagship, , and her consort, , got under way and stealthily steamed upstream.