Finding no evidence of Confederates, the Federal troops began to land. Suddenly masked batteries on both sides of the river opened a severe crossfire, immediately disabling transports Aurora and Kenton and causing widespread confusion among the troops.
Key West and Undine, both steamers of about 200 tons, hotly engaged the batteries. Seeing the two disabled transports drifting downstream out of control, the Undine followed them while the Key West stayed at Eastport to cover the City of Pekin as troops re-embarked and to escort her downstream in withdrawal.
--Old B-R'er
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