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LUNETTE BATTERY. LUNETTE BATTERY. FORT BEAUREGARD.
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BAY POINT AND FORT BEAUREGARD, AFTER CAPTURE. FROM A WAR-TIME SKETCH.
On the 7th, as soon as the morning light permitted, signals were madeindicating that we would soon move. The flag-ship was then at anchor nearwhere she had grounded, nearly three miles from the forts. In consequenceof a hawser fouling her propeller, some delay occurred in forming after thevessels were under way, and it was 9 o’clock when signal was made forclose order. Tattnall’s flotilla at that time was nearly in line between theforts. | As we advanced, at 9:26, the forts, as well as the enemy’s vessels,lying right ahead, opened fire on the foremost ships. Soon after, the flag-shipyawed sufficiently to bring a heavy pivot gun on her bow to bear on Tattnall’scommand, which forced him to retreat, as his vessels would soon have beenwithin reach of our broadside guns. At that time our rate of speed wasabout six miles, and we were soon making good use of our batteries; theenemy on both sides of the bay had the full benefit of all the shells that bothlines could send with precision. So great was the cannons’ roar that it wasdistinctly heard at Fernandina, seventy miles away. There was deafeningmusic in the air, which came from far and near and all around-; heavyclouds of dust and smoke, due to our bursting shells and the enemy’s fire,partly obscured the earth-works, while our vessels were but dimly seenthrough the smoke from their own guns which hung over the water. The log-book of the flag-ship states: “At 9:45 the Bienville ranged alongside our star-board beam.” This was eighteen minutes after the enemy had opened fire onthe fleet, and eight minutes before the flag-ship ceased firing and turned towardHilton Head to repass the fort in heading toward the sea. This was the oppor-tunity for the Bienville to open wide her throttles: with her great speed, pos-sibly she might have run down Tattnall’s vessels before they could have beenpointed fairly and reached the entrance to Scull Creek. The log-book of theBienville states: “At 10:30 the flag-ship winded the line, turning to thesouthward, when we engaged for a few minutes three steamers that werewithin long range up the river. We soon put them to flight, and then followedthe line in the order of battle, down within close range of the large battery
4 A friend of many years, who was in command of his fire, he said to the signal quartermaster : ‘ Dipone of Tattnall’s vessels, writes as follows: “There my broad pennant to my old messmate,’ and itis one touching incident that I think deserves rec- was dipped thrice. In the confusion it was notord. When the old hero Tattnall got in good range noticed by Du Pont , which I am sure he wouldof Du Pont ’s flag-ship, and was about to receive have regretted had he known it.”—D. A.