eleven o'clock
`` These vessels formed the first division , and were to keep near the right bank of the river , fighting Fort Jackson , while Captain Theodorus Bailey was to keep close to the western bank with his -LRB- the second -RRB- division , to fight Fort St. Philip . His vessels were the _ Mississippi _ , _ Pensacola _ , _ Varuna _ , _ Oneida _ , _ Katahdin _ , _ Kineo _ , _ Wissahickon _ , _ Portsmouth _ . `` Captain Bell still commanded the same vessels which I just mentioned as his , and his appointed duty was to attack the Confederate fleet above the forts , to keep the channel of the river , and push right on , paying no attention to the forts themselves . `` In obedience to these orders , the _ Itasca _ ran up to the boom , and at eleven o'clock showed a night signal that the channel was clear of obstruction excepting the hulks , which , with care , might be passed safely . `` A heavy fog , and the settling of the smoke from the steamers upon the waters , made the night a very dark one . No sound came from the forts , yet active preparations were going on in them for the approaching struggle , and their fleet was stationed near them in readiness to assist in the effort to prevent the Union vessels from ascending the river . `` At one o'clock every one on the Union ships was called to action , but the fleet remained stationary until two , and at half past three Farragut 's and Bailey 's divisions were moving up the river , each on its appointed side , and at the rate of four miles an hour .