. The history of the Civil War in America : comprising a full and impartial account of the origin and progress of the rebellion, of the various naval and military engagements, of the heroic deeds performed by armies and individuals, and of touching scenes in the field, the camp, the hospital, and the cabin . fleet .little steamer, the Yixen, soon sounded out and buoyed the dark all the steamers, which did not draw more than eighteen feetof water, were securely anchored in the roadstead of Port Royal. A fewrebel steamers, under Commodore Tatnall, appearing in sight, the gun-boats
. The history of the Civil War in America : comprising a full and impartial account of the origin and progress of the rebellion, of the various naval and military engagements, of the heroic deeds performed by armies and individuals, and of touching scenes in the field, the camp, the hospital, and the cabin . fleet .little steamer, the Yixen, soon sounded out and buoyed the dark all the steamers, which did not draw more than eighteen feetof water, were securely anchored in the roadstead of Port Royal. A fewrebel steamers, under Commodore Tatnall, appearing in sight, the gun-boats opened upon them, and chased them under the guns of some batte-ries which guarded the entrance of the harbor. The mouth of the harbor,called Broad River, was about two and a half miles wride. Upon thesouth shore, which was named Hilton Head, there was a formidable bat-tery of twenty-three guns. On the north shore, which wTas called BayPoint, there were two batteries, one mounting fifteen, and the other fourguns. The outside bar was two miles wide, and in crossing it at high tide thekeel of the majestic Wabash would come within a foot or two of the bot-tom. The passage of this noble frigate over the bar was watched withintense anxiety, and when the feat was successfully accomplished, cheers g -p a ^^. BALLS BLUFF AND HILTON HEAD. 227 ourst from the lips of the whole crowded fleet. The other large ships im-mediately followed, and at once prepared for action. But a rising gale,and other unavoidable causes of detention, rendered it necessary to delaythe assault upon the forts until the next day. It was, however, judgedbest to send out a reconnoissance of a few gun-boats, to draw the lire ofthe batteries, that their situation and strength might be ascertained. Early Tuesday morning, the gun-boat Mercury ran along the sandbeach skirting Hilton Head. One or two other armed vessels were alsocautiously creeping along the suspicious shores. It was a beautiful morn-ing, and the serene sky
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookidhistoryofciv, bookyear1864
