Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series 1, Volume 13. Page: 22
xix, 922 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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SOUTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUADRON.
The Department, I am sure, will be pleased with the report of Com-
mallnder Prentiss, as it conveys Inot only important information but at
the same time evinces on his part courage and discretion.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. F. Du PONT,
Flag- Ofice,' Comdq. South Atlantic Blockadinq Squadron.
Hon. GIDEON \WELLES,
Secretary (qf the Navy, Washingtan.
[Enclosure.]
U. S. S. ALBATROSS,
Win ah Bay, May 25, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report that on the afternoon of the 21st
instant, finding my draft of water sufficiently reduced, I passed the
bar with the steamer Norwich, Lieutenant Commanding Duncan, in
company, and entered this bay.
Passing a small deserted redoubt near the light-house, we could see
on South Island quite an extensive fortification, with apparently sev-
eral large guns mounted en barbette. We ran for this, but on nearer
approach found it abandoned and armed with rebel quakers. From
this point we could see on Cat Island a well-built fort. Some cavalry
appeared in the skirts of the woodland; we scattered them with a few
shell, and, running under the walls, found it deserted like the others
and armed with the like harmless batteries. This was a well-built
fortification of quadrangular form, fitted with platforms for mounting
ten guns and containing bombproofs, magazine, and furnace for hot
shot. I landed, fired the fort and encampment near it, together with
a large quantity of timber prepared for closing the channel.
At daylight on the 22d I stood up the bay for the city of George-
town, entered Sampit Creek [River], on which it is built, and steamed
slowly along the wharves, the muzzles of our guns within 30 yards of
the houses.
A brig loaded with turpentine was fired as we approached, probably
with the intention of stopping us; but the time chosen for entering
was slack water and the wind unfavorable for their purpose.
We passed the burning hull to the outskirts of the town, turned
with some difficulty, and retraced our route, stopping from time to time
to capture a boat or see if the authorities were disposed to communi-
cate with us.
I had sent word to the Union men to make no demonstration what-
ever, as I was not prepared to hold the place permanently; a few,
however, appeared upon the wharves and indicated by gestures or
words their joy at seeing us, while the mass of the citizens kept aloof.
No hostile movement was made, though there were at the time both
cavalry and artillery in the place.
While passing up, a woman appeared in the belfry of a church or
city hall and spread a rebel flag over the bell. I was greatly tempted
to send on shore and seize it, but refrained, from the consideration that
a contest in the streets would have compelled me to destroy the city,
involving the ruin of the innocent with the guilty. This would have
been the work of a few minutes only, and I am prepared to put the
place in possession of the military whenever they will send a force to
occupy it permanently and protect the Union men, who number nearly
one-fourth the population.
In the afternoon I ran up the Waccamaw about 10 miles, through aJ2
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Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion: General Index (Book)
General index listing persons, naval units, ships, battles, and major subject headings mentioned in the "Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion" volumes. Listings include the numbers for the series (Roman numerals) and volume (Arabic numbers) where the reference(s) can be found.
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United States. War Department. Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series 1, Volume 13., book, 1901; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth192848/m1/45/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.