Undeterred by the Mexicans' heavier cannon, both Texas warships sailed into the interval between the enemy steamships and their sailing ships. The steamers were on the Texans' port side and were given five broadsides by the Austin and the Wharton without appreciable damage to the Mexican steamers. Then the Texans turned their attention to the more vulnerable enemy sailing ships firing at them from their starboard "They (the steamers) don't intend to let us get any closer to them," Commodore Moore observed caustically. "They are paddling off stern foremost, faster than we can come up to them. Keep her away a little so our broadside can bear." Then Moore ordered, in true Farragut style, "Damn them! Give it to them!"