On 29 April 1863, as Acting Rear Admiral David D. Porter's flotilla was bombarding the Confederate Batteries at Grand Gulf, his flagship, USS "Benton", became unmanageable and was caught under heavy fire in a position where she could neither steer nor reply to the enemy guns. On seeing Porter's predicament, Hoel slipped the "Pittsburg" in between "Benton" and the flaming Rebel batteries to protect her by taking the fire himself. In the next 10 minutes his heroism cost the "Pittsburg" 6 men killed and 8 wounded, but the sacrifice allowed "Benton" to extricate herself from the deadly trap.