“And could they outrage (out range)the gunnery of the shore batteries?”
No they would have to move in closer to use their guns. That was a risk to be taken.
That's what I thought, and it coincides with Admiral David Porter's claim that they would have all been sunk in a short time.
Anderson sent Washington his information on Confederate gun types and locations before the Confederates cut off his mail.
Anyone could look at that map he sent and know the idea of sending in ships to "force" anything was folly.