Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

all, for never were officers and crew more zealous for a capture.

At eight o'clock on the night of the 23d, the signal was faithfully made us from the shore, that the Sumter had shipped to the southward. Instantly we were off in pursuit, soon at full speed, rushing down to the southern part of the bay, but nothing was visible on the dark background.

A small steamer, apparently one plying between St. Pierre and Port Royal, was off the point making signals, doubtless for the benefit of the Sumter. But we could see nothing of her as we proceeded on, so dark was the shadow thrown by the high land. Still we went on, all searching the darkness in vain. So soon as I had opened Port Royal Point, and seen nothing

on the now open horizon, I concluded that we had passed her, or that she had doubled on us and gone to the northward. I then turned, keeping close on the shore, looking into her for mer anchorage, thinking she might possibly

have returned.

No sign of her there. We continued on to the northward, but when we opened the port nothing of her this way.

We were now at fault which way to steer. Something like smoke being reported to seaward, I determined to start out, taking the direction to St. Thomas, to which place I was anxious to return, ere the vessel with our coals and provisions should leave, and thus check at least a small evil, for I now became hopeless of ever discovering the Sumter.

I reached this port this morning, and found that the Dacotah, which had arrived on the 21st from the East Indies, had taken in tow my vessel, with her stores, and gone to meet me.

Doc. 215.

MOVEMENTS NEAR PORT ROYAL, S. C.

DECEMBER 4-6, 1861.

REPORTS OF COMMODORE DUPONT.
FLAGSHIP WABASH,

PORT ROYAL HARBOR, S. C., December 4, 1861. SIR: The apprehension of losing possession of the Bay of St. Helena, so exceedingly valuable for a harbor, for its proximity to Charleston, and for the command it secures of large rivers supplying interior communication with the State of South Carolina, has induced me to despatch a second expedition there, under Commander Drayton, with orders to hold the island until Gen. Sherman is prepared to assume military occupation of it, when he will transfer the fort to his troops.

I have also despatched Commander C. R. P. Rogers to make a reconnoissance of Warsaw Inlet, in order to ascertain the position and force of the enemy's battery there-information which the Commanding-General has expressed to me is his desire to obtain before landing troops on Tybee Island.

The department will have the goodness to observe that, in the necessary occupation of St. Helena Sound and of Tybee Roads, and in the examination of Warsaw Inlet, a large number of the vessels of my squadron is engaged, which will be released and employed on blockading duty as soon as Otter and Tybee Islands are held by the army.

Very respectfully, your most obedient ser-
S. F. DUPONT,
Flag-Officer Commanding.

vant,

UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP WABASH, PORT ROYAL HARBOR, S. C. December 6, 1861. It is, of course, all conjecture, where the SumSIR: I have the honor to inform the departter will next cruise. I learned at St. Pierre ment that the fortifications at Warsaw Island that she had purchased sea-jackets for her crew, have been abandoned by the rebels, after movwhich may look like a cruise on our Northerning the guns, cutting up the platforms, and coast, though I question whether she is calculated for winter service in that quarter. Should she continue in this vicinity, I will soon hear of her from the constant arrivals here.

I shall be glad to understand from the Government whether they wish me to respect international law in the case of the Sumter, which gives her so great immunity, and makes every foreign port her asylum.

I was informed at Martinique, that France would regard it as an act of war if I attacked her within the marine league of the island.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAMES S. PALMER, Commander.

HON. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

breaching one face of the fort. For the circumstances attending this important discovery, and the temporary occupation of the waters of Warsaw Sound, as well as for a knowledge of the inner and ultimate line of defences selected by the enemy, I have the pleasure to refer to the accompanying report of Commander C. R. P. Rogers, upon whose judgment and skill I relied for the execution of this undertaking. Warsaw Inlet and Sound constitute a second entrance into Savannah River; and, as twenty-one feet can be carried over the bar at high water, this passage is but little inferior to Tybee entrance. The highest point reached by Commander Rogers was about eight miles from Warsaw bar, about ten from Savannah, and between four and five from Thunderbolt on one side and Montgomery on the other. These two last places are described in the coast survey memoirs and reports. I attach the highest value to this possession.

I have the honor to be sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, S. F. DUPONT, Flag-Officer Commanding.

REPORT OF COMMANDER C. R. P, ROGERS. UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP WABASH, PORT ROYAL HARBOR, December 6, 1861. } SIR: On yesterday morning I left Tybee Roads before daylight, with the steamers Ottawa, Seneca, and Pembina, and crossed the bar of Warsaw Sound, at half tide, not having less than eighteen feet of water upon it. We approached the fort on Warsaw Island within a mile, and, seeing neither guns nor men, we did not fire, but I sent Lieutenant Barnes to it with a white flag. He found it an enclosed octagonal work, with platforms for eight guns on the water faces. The land faces were protected by abatis. The work was well constructed. The guns had been removed, the platforms cut, and the magazine blown up. From the freshness of the footprints and other signs, it appeared to have been abandoned very recently. Adjoining the fort are huts or sheds for a large garrison. Some lumber and bricks remain. Everything else had been carried away. We immediately push

[blocks in formation]

THE CONFEDERATE FLAG.

THE Richmond Dispatch of the 7th of December held the following language on the subject of the rebel flag:

The adoption of our present flag was a natural, but most pernicious blunder. As the old flag itself was not the author of our wrongs, we tore off a piece of the dear old rag and set it up as a standard. We took it for granted a flag was a divisible thing,' and proceeded to set off our proportion. So we took, at a rough calculation, our share of the stars and our fraction of the stripes, and put them together and called them the Confederate flag. Even as Aaron of old put the gold into the fire and then came out "this calf," so certain stars and stripes went into committee, and then came out "this flag." All this was honest and fair to a fault. We were clearly entitled to from seven to eleven of the stars, and three or four of the stripes.

Indeed, as we were maintaining the principles it was intended to represent, and the North had abandoned them, we were honestly entitled to the whole flag. Had we kept it, and fought for it, and under it, and conquered it from the North, it would have been no robbery, but all right and fair. And we should either have done this, i. e., kept the flag as a whole-or else we should have abandoned it as a whole and adopted another.

ed on to Cabbage Island, where we had been led to look out for another battery; but there was nothing of the kind there. We went to the mouth of the creek, through the Romilly Marsh, and to the mouth of Wilmington River. From the mouth of Wilmington River we observed a battery bearing from us about northwest by west, one-half west, and distant about three miles. It is on the river, and just above a house with a red cupola, which is one of the coast survey points of triangulation, and is about ten miles from Savannah. Between the house and the fort was a large encampment; but we could not count the tents. We counted five guns, apparently of large calibre, on the face of the battery toward us. We could only see one gun upon the other face; but there may have been more. We were near enough to see the men on the ramparts, and the glittering of their bayonets. We saw several small vessels. Some of them in Romilly Marsh were in tow of a small steamtug; but they were beyond our reach. Upon Little Tybee Island we could see no earthworks, but could not get nearer to it than two miles, because of the shoals. In coming out of Warsaw Sound, at high tide, we had not less than twenty-one feet of water on the bar. Re-But if we did not choose to assert our title to turning to Tybee Roads at one o'clock, I landed and made a reconnoissance on foot, with the marines of the Savannah and detachments of small-arm men from that ship and the Ottawa. Upon reaching the mouth of Lazarus Creek, having no boats in which to cross, our progress was stopped. We waited until low tide; but the creek was unfordable. I was able, however, with the assistance of Lieut. Luce, to obtain from the top of a tree the position in which a battery has been supposed to exist, and I am satisfied that there is no battery there. The spar which was mistaken for a derrick is simply a place of lookout, and there was no appearance There is but one feature essential to a flag, of any earthwork or position for guns. A bat- and that is distinctness. Beauty, appropriatetery at such a place would be of no use what-ness, good taste, are all desirable, but the only ever. There may, however, have been a signal thing indispensable is distinctness-wide, plain,

the whole, was it politic or judicious to split the flag and claim one of the fractions? We had an equal right also to "Hail Columbia" and "Yankee Doodle." We might have adopted a part of "Yankee Doodle," (say every third stanza,) or else "Yankee Doodle," with variations, as our national air. In the choice of an air we were not guilty of this absurdity, but we have perpetrated one exactly parallel to it in the choice of a national flag. There is no exaggeration in the illustration. It seems supremely ridiculous, yet it scarcely does our folly justice.

unmistakable distinction from other flags. Un- | add-some other considerations in another article fortunately this indispensable thing is just the on the same subject.

thing which the Confederate flag lacks. And failing in this, it is a lamentable and total failure, absolute and irredeemable. The failure is in a matter of essence. It is as complete as that of writing which cannot be read-of a gun which cannot be shot-of a coat which cannot be worn. It is the play of "Hamlet" with the part of Hamlet left out. A flag which does not distinguish may be a very nice piece of bunting-it may be handsomely executed, tasteful, expressive, and a thousand other things, but it has no title at all to bear the name of flag.

Doc. 217.

AFFAIR NEAR WILLIAMSPORT, MD.

CAPTAIN ROBINSON'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
HEAD-QUARTERS Co. D, FIRST REG. VA. BRIGADE,
U. S. VOLUNTEERS, FOUR LOCKS,
NEAR WILLIAMSPORT, Md., Dec. 9, 1861.

Col. S. H. Leonard, Commanding Williamsport
and Vicinity, Md.:

SIR: I have the honor to report that, on Friday afternoon, the 6th inst., my pickets at Dam We knew the flag we had to fight, yet instead No. 5 and Back Creek were fired on by the of getting as far from it, we were guilty of the enemy, by cavalry at the former place, and inhuge mistake of getting as near to it as possible. fantry at the latter. The sergeants in charge We sought similarity. Adopting a principle of each of those pickets immediately commudiametrically wrong, we made a flag as nearly nicated with me here, and I despatched reinlike theirs as could, under favorable circum-forcements to both places; but after some shots stances, be distinguished from it. Under unfa- had been exchanged all remained quiet during vorable circumstances (such as constantly occur | the remainder of that day and night. The serin practice) the two flags are indistinguishable.geant at dam No. 5 reported three wounded on In the wars of the Roses in Great Britain one the side of the enemy, but none of our men side adopted the white and the other the red were hurt at either place. rose. Suppose that one side had adopted milk white and the other flesh white, or one a deep pink and the other a lighter shade of pink, would there have been any end to the confusion?

When a body of men is approaching in time of war it is rather an important matter to ascertain, if practicable, whether they are friends or foes. Certainly no question could well be more radical in its influence upon our action, plans, and movements. To solve this important question is the object of a flag. When they get near us there may be other means of information; but to distinguish friends from enemies at a distance is the specific purpose of a flag. Human ingenuity is great, and may conceive some other small purposes-presentations, toasts, speeches, &c.-but that this is the great end of a flag, will not be denied; and it is in this that the Confederate flag fails.

On Saturday afternoon, about half-past three o'clock P. M., I was apprised of the advance of the enemy in strong force in the direction of Dam No. 5. I immediately took my second. lieutenant and twenty men of my command toward the Damn, and sent my first lieutenant with ten men to Fankell's Ferry, that point being opposite and in close approximation to the road leading from Little Georgetown to the Dam. The enemy perceived this party, and at once opened fire on them; he returned the fire, and he believes with effect. Before I could arrive with my party at the Dam, rifle-shots had already been fired there, and within a short distance of the Dam myself and party were fired on with shot and shell from rifled cannon. The enemy ceased their fire at the Dam, and kept up an incessant fire at us until dark, bringing all their guns to bear on us, the number There is no case in history in which broad being six; their firing was very regular and acdistinction in the symbols of the combatants curate, and although none of my party were was more necessary than it has been in the hurt, there were many narrow escapes. Under present war. Our enemies are of the same race cover of the darkness I succeeded in reinforcwith ourselves of the same color and even ing the picket, and on my return to head-quarshade of complexion-they speak the same lan- ters also despatched what available men I had guage, wear like clothing, and are of like form left, as a reinforcement, to my first lieutenant at and stature. (The more shame that they should Fankell's Ferry, at which place an incessant make war upon us.) Our general appearance firing on the enemy's side, from rifles, was kept being the same we must rely solely upon sym-up all night, and answered by us with musketry, bols for distinction. The danger of mistake is great after all possible precautions have been taken. Sufficient attention has never been paid to this important matter, involving life or death -victory or defeat. Our badges, uniforms, flags, should be perfectly distinguishable from those of the enemy. Our first and distant information is dependent solely on the flag.

To argue this objection further would be a waste of words. And yet this one objection is vital and insuperable. We shall, nevertheless,

|

which appeared to be unlieeded by them, although my lieutenant reports seeing several fall, until I obtained from the reinforcement sent to the Dam by you a squad of six men armed with the Enfield rifle, the sound of which they seemed to fear. At the Dam, musketry firing recommenced about nine o'clock P. M., on the part of the enemy, the object of which seemed to be to cover a party endeavoring to destroy the wooden cribs of that work, as we could plainly hear the noise made in endeavor

other small buildings which stood in the neighborhood of Stanhope's house. Our men had no artillery, and returned the fire occasionally with small arms. Some of our men were in and about the buildings toward which the enemy's shot was directed, but most of Capt. running parallel with the river, on the brow of the hill on this side of the river. There was also a large hill on the opposite side, and it was on the top and the slope of this hill that the rebel cannons were planted.

The firing ceased at dark last evening, but

ing to effect this. We opened fire on them, and the firing was kept up on both sides until about two o'clock in the morning, shortly after which the reinforcement sent me by you arrived. Nothing further was done until daylight, when the enemy commenced throwing shot and shell across the Dam, and also at Fankell's Ferry-Jackson's company were stationed along a fence their object at the latter place, in particular, appearing to be the destruction of property. At Dam No. 5 they succeeded in setting fire to and destroying a barn. Firing at each of the above places was kept up all day, with little intermission on both sides. I am happy to be able to state that none of my company were wound-was renewed with shell and canister at daylight ed, although one man of the Massachusetts regiment was severely so. I have great pleasure in speaking well of the prompt action and willingness on the part of some of the Union men in this vicinity in rendering me all the assistance they could, not only in showing me the best points for cover for some of my small party, but also in handling the musket with them. I have learnt, from reliable information, that the enemy's known loss in killed and wounded amounted to twelve-seven at the Dam, and five at Fankell's Ferry; but I believe it to have been heavier. Two of their cannon burst, and one was rendered unserviceable by the breaking of the axle of the gun-carriage. Also, that their total force was about fifteen hundred strong. From what shot and shell we have picked up, their guns appear to be of the latest improved pattern. The enemy appear to have left this district, with the exception of some few pickets, as nothing is observable of them in force from Fankell's Ferry or the Dam, at which place they left behind them a considerable quantity of intrenching tools. I have the honor, &c.,

GILBERT ROBINSON,
Captain Commanding Post.

An "eye-witness" gives the following account of the attack:

WILLIAMSPORT, Md., Sunday, December 8, 1861.

I have just returned from Dam No. 5, about seven miles above this on the Potomac, wlrere a sharp skirmish has been going on all day. When the firing was first commenced, about four o'clock last evening, by the rebels on the other side of the river, Capt. Robinson's Com pany, of Col. Lehman's regiment, the Virginia First, who were on picket duty at that point, were the only men we had present; but they were reinforced this morning about two o'clock by Company C, Capt. Wm. H. Jackson, of the Thirteenth Massachusetts, Col. Leonard, who left this place last night about ten o'clock.

The rebels opened the battle by throwing shell and canister in rapid succession. They had four or five ten-pound rifled cannon, and one large Parrott gun; but when they had ceased firing at dark last evening, had succeeded in doing nothing but destroy Mr. Stanhope's house, which stood close by the river on this side. They also threw several cannon balls into several

this morning. It was at once as brisk and unceasing as it had been yesterday, but was immediately returned vigorously by Capt. Jackson's company, who had by this time arrived and taken their position on the top of the hill. As soon, however, as the rebels had discovered their position this morning, they elevated the range of their artillery, and the second shell they threw struck a large barn on the brow of the hill, a little to the right of Robinson's men, belonging to John Sterling, which immediately took fire and was burned to the ground. Some of the Massachusetts boys, who had been enjoying a nap on the hay-mow during the after part of the night, had just left the barn when the shell struck it. Mr. Sterling had barely time to get his horses and cattle from it, and lost his entire crop of grain.

The cannonading ceased about nine o'clock this morning, but was renewed again about four this evening, and kept up till dark, since which time there has been no firing on either side. The enemy's shells, this evening, were directed toward Sterling's house, which stood a little in the rear of the barn, but they did not succeed in hitting it.

None of our men were killed or wounded, save James Kenney, of Company C, of the Massachusetts Thirteenth, who received two pretty severe flesh wounds in the thigh and in the calf of the leg. He was wounded while coming up the hill from the river, where he had taken his position during the night, with some others, behind Stanhope's house. He was first struck in the thigh, and in an effort to get away was again struck in the leg. He was lying in Sterling's house this evening, while the shells of the enemy were flying thick and fast about it; but he will soon be on his way to Boston, from whence he hails. It is not known how many the rebels lost, but several were seen to fall, and taken into a couple of houses which stand on the Virginia side. Kenney was wounded by a Minié ball, which seemed to be the only kind of small shot the rebels used. The firing of small arms was very brisk on both sides during the whole day.

We expect some artillery here daily, but the rebels have removed from the Dam, and will not likely appear soon again. They showed themselves about a thousand strong.

-N. Y. Times, Dec. 13,

Doc. 218.

DOCUMENTS.

A FIGHT ON THE LOWER POTOMAC.

LIEUT. WYMAN'S REPORT.

UNITED STATES STEAMER HARRIET LANE,
OFF MATTAWOMAN CREEK, December 9, 1861.

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy :
SIR: I have the honor to report to you
that this morning, about half-past nine o'clock,
seeing the enemy's pickets, three camp wagons,
and a mounted officer coming down the road to
the southward of Freestone Point, and halting
at some buildings near the beach, I'directed the
steamers Jacob Bell and Anacostia to shell the
stood in with this vessel as far as
buildings.

the draft of water would admit to protect them
in the event of the enemy's bringing a field
battery to Freestone Point.

After shelling the buildings and hill, and driving back the pickets, Lieutenant-Commanding McCrae landed with a few men, and fired four houses, which have since burnt to the ground. They contained sutler's stores, flour, &c. As eighteen hours elapsed before the fire subsided, I judge that the quantity of stores The enemy must have been considerable. fired but a few musket shot.

I am, very respectfully, &c.,

R. H. WYMAN, Ü. S. N.,
Lieutenant-Commanding Potomac Flotilla.

The correspondent with General Hooker's
Division, near Budd's Ferry, says of this affair:

December 9, 1861.

about. Several wagons were seen approaching
the buildings near the shore, where the rebels
had some store. Lieutenant McCrea, of the
Jacob Bell, communicated with Captain Austin,
commanding the Anacostia, and both vessels
stood off Freestone Point, where they coin-
menced shelling the woods and buildings.

The Harriet Lane, flag-ship of the flotilla, Captain R. H. Wyman commanding, was stationed a mile or more behind. She fired two ninety-six-pound shots. On a line with her, a little lower down the river, were the Reliance and Herbert, with the Stepping Stones immeCreek. This was the position of the steamers, diately behind, all in the mouth of Mattawoman with a sloop lying near, when the cannonado steamers poured shell into the woods. From commenced. For an hour and a half the two the balloon I could see the shells burst over the tops of the trees and near the surrounding buildings. Some struck the residence of Mr. Fairfax, situated in a grove upon the hill. Fairfax is said to be a Colonel in the rebel army. several mounted officers scampered off as well. The wagons moved away as quick as possible, and

The booming of the cannon aroused the camps, and hundreds of our men covered the hills on the Maryland side, from which the whole action could be seen.

across.

While the vessels were firing into the woods, our guns at Budd's Ferry sent a few shells The rebel batteries directly opposite, at Shipping Point, returned the fire. Several of their shells exploded on this side without doing any damage, and one of ours burst right their upper battery. The rebels ran in every direction.

In the mean time I had descended in the balloon and embarked in a boat which LieutenantColonel Wells, commanding the First Massachusetts regiment, had kindly placed at my disposal, with a crew under Lieutenant Carruth, and was on my way up to the flotilla.

The lower Potomac was enlivened this morn-in ing by the gunboats of the upper flotilla shelling the woods and burning the buildings at Freestone Point, while about the same time there was a fine review of New Jersey troops on the Maryland side. At nine o'clock in the morning the New Jersey Brigade, recently arrived in General Hooker's Division, was reviewed and inspected by him. The day was one of the finest ever known in Maryland at this season. It was like a delightful day of the early Indian summer. The brigade, consisting of the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth regiments, is under command of Colonel Starr, of the Fifth, an officer of extensive experience in the regular army. The appearance of the men was highly commendable, eliciting complimentary encomiums from the Commanding General, who never praises those who are undeserving. After the review he proceeded to carefully inspect the different regiments.

The morning being calm and clear, I made an ascension in the balloon to draw a sketch of the rebel camps on the Virginia side of the river. Six steamboats belonging to the upper flotilla were seen near the mouth of Mattawoinan Creek. Presently, at half-past ten o'clock, the Jacob Bell, Lieutenant McCrea commanding, got under way and went within about a thousand yards of Freestone Point. She fired five tensecond shells into the woods, and then put

The The Anacostia fired twenty shrapnel, one five-second and two ten-second shell. Jacob Bell fired seventeen six-inch and fifteen eight-inch shell. Fifty-seven were fired altogether. The Jacob Bell then went close to the shore, and Lieutenant McCrea, with four men in a stnall boat, accompanied by another boat from the Anacostia, landed and set fire to the buildings near the water's edge, which they said contained stores belonging to the rebels. One containing empty barrels was not burned. The other buildings were soon enveloped in a sheet of flame. They were formerly used as a fish The boats presently house, and rented for three thousand five hundred dollars per annum. returned to their respective steamers, which then fell back and anchored near the Harriet Lane.

The reflection of the setting sun on the Potomac, which was placid as a lake on a summer evening, together with that of the burning buildings, rendered the scene exceedingly beautiful.

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »