Hidden by intervening woods, the Union mortar flotilla under Commander David D. Porter began a six-day bombardment of the Confederate forts on 18 April 1862. The Confederates began sending fire rafts downstream, and "Richmond" reported dodging one in the early morning of 21 April which "passed between us and the "Hartford", the great flames shooting as high as the masts." On 24 April Farragut's fleet ran past the forts, engaged and defeated the Confederate flotilla, and continued upriver for about . Though "Richmond" was hit 17 times above the waterline, her chain armor kept out many rounds and limited her casualties to two killed and three wounded. "Richmond" landed her Marine detachment at New Orleans to help keep order until General Benjamin Franklin Butler's Army troops arrived.