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Held by the Confederates with 6000 troops and protected by eight ironclads under Commander Hollins. This place was captured by the Union flag officer, Davis, who assailed it with a fleet of gunboats, and captured it June 4, 1862. The Confederate flotilla was utterly destroyed in less than an hour. Some ships had their boilers shot through and some were butted and sunk. The fire was then directed against the fort itself, which was speedily reduced, and evacuated by the garrison. The Union troops did not hold it long, however, abandoning it in consequence of operations on the Tennessee River. In 1864, the fort was held by 550 Federals under Major Booth, 260 of these soldiers being negroes. The fort was assaulted April 13 and captured by the Confederate cavalryman, Forrest, leading 4000 soldiers. The first assault was unsuccessful, but Booth was killed and Bradford, leader of the colored troops, took command. The Federals were assisted by their gunboat " New Era," but this aid availed little, because of the high banks of the river. Forrest sent in a flag of truce demanding a surrender, which was refused. Another assault was ordered and this time an entrance was gained. Nearly the whole garrison were killed.