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one rarely does well when not doing what he thinks best, I took the matter per-sonally in hand, had the gun leveled and trained as desired, and pulled thelanyard. The huge shell skipped along the surface of a glassy sea, and, asreported from aloft, struck the vessel abaft the starboard wheel-house. In amoment^ the head of the flag-ship was turned for the harbor, and she lost notime in entering, followed by her consort. It was soon afterward known thatthe captain of the vessel had availed himself of the temporary absence ofTattnall, and had sallied out to have a little diversion, which would haveproved serious had the shell exploded that lodged in the liog-braces.
About the time of this occurrence, the flag-ship Wabash crossed the bar,followed by all ofthe heavy vessels,including the trans-ports, and anchoredsome two miles out-side of Fishing KipShoal, some fivemiles from the forts,the bar being abouttwelve miles outside iof the headlands.
Very soon after theflag-ship anchored,signal was made for
UNION GUN-BOAT “MOHAWK,” THE GUARD-SHIP AT PORT ROYAL.FROM A WAR-TIME SKETCH.
officers commandingvessels to come aboard. On their arrival, those who commanded vessels detailedfor the main line were invited into the cabin, and instructions were given asto position and plan of battle; and afterward those commanding vessels inthe flanking line received their instructions, which differed as to the duties tobe performed after passing within and beyond the earth-works. It was theintention of the flag-officer at that time to go at once into action, althoughthe hour would of necessity be late.
The main line was to be on the west or Hilton Head side, in line ahead, andthe vessels one ship’s-length apart. The report of the flag-officer states: “ Theorder of battle comprised a main squadron ranged in line ahead, and a flank-ing squadron, which was to be thrown off on the northern section of theharbor to engage the enemy’s flotilla, and prevent their raking the rear shipsof the line when it turned to the southward, or cutting off a disabled vessel.”
The leading ship of the main squadron was the frigate Wabash , CommanderC. R. P. Rodgers, followed by the frigate Susquehanna , Captain J. L. Lardner;sloop Mohican , Commander S. W. Codon ; sloop Seminole , Commander J. P.Cillis ; sloop Pawnee , Lieutenant Commanding R. H. Wyman ; gun-boatUnadilla , Lieutenant Commanding N. Collins; gun-boat Ottawa , LieutenantCommanding T. H. Stevens ; gun-boat Pembina , Lieutenant Commanding J.P. Bankhead; and the sailing sloop Vandalia , Commander F. S. Haggerty,towed by the Isaac Smith , Lieutenant Commanding J. W. A. Nicholson. The