On the night of 24 April, Farragut's fleet made its historic run past the Mississippi River forts that defended New Orleans from the south. Because the Rebel leaders had not coordinated the responsibilities of the forts and the associated river fleet, the action was divided into two independent parts. Each ship of the attacking column was past the forts before she had to contend with the defending Confederate vessels, which therefore received the undivided attention of the Yankee gunners when they met. Under the circumstances, only one of the River Defense Fleet managed to close with the enemy: "Stonewall Jackson" was able to ram USS "Varuna" while that unfortunate gunboat was simultaneously being rammed by "Governor Moore" of the Louisiana navy. "Varuna" sank, the only Federal ship lost that night. "Stonewall Jackson" did not escape unscathed. Holed by shots from other Federal ships assisting "Varuna" and unable to reply, she was run ashore by her crew, where they abandoned her and set her afire.