The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-26
THE sEMI-wEEKLY MESSENGER: FRIDAY, AUGUST a, 1898.

called TO his men to get up and be
quick about it.
Upon retiring that night each soldier
made special preparation in case OF
danger. When the sentinel ran in
ne found the squad dressing in b
dark, no lights being allowed. He
graphically told what had occurred.
Captain Galloway. in addition TO his
sword tool a rife, feeling sure 1t
would be needed. He hastily informed
the men of his plans and urged each
one of them &c do his full duty. For
tunately they were all thoroughly IA
miliar with every foot of the ground,
and they knew the marines were to-
tally ignorant of it. That fact, to-
gether with the darkness, gave them
a fighting chance, though they were
outnumbered five TO n and the enemy
carried breech-ioaders.
While Captain Galloway did not
know he was then going to meet Cush-
ing, he believed it, and fearing that
willy officer might have a guide and
would attempt to throw out a picket
line from ocean front to river shore,
some three hundred yards in extent
he made a rapid detour towards the
river bank with the view of getting in
the rear and a little above Cushing.
If he could reach there unobserved,
he would have Cushing's men in the
open half-moon of the fort, and, be-
sides, at that point his own force
would have the protection of larger
trees. Two men were thrown out to
feel for the enemy and the squad eau
tiously and noiselessly but rapidly
followed. When they passed opposite
the fort they felt sure no picket line
had been extended; if SO, it had not
reached the river. Now the march
veered for the fort. AS they neared
it the leaves rustled not, neither did
the sticks crackle under their gentle
agile tread. Getting within seventy
five lards of the enemy, who could
now be seen against the skyline NOV
ing about in the battery, Captain
Galloway separated his men into two
halves and placed them a few yards
apart, each man being sheltered behind
a tree. At this juncture one Of the
men complained that his tree was too
small, and Captain Galloway snapped
trees with him. The slight separation
of the squads, who were to fire, n a
few seconds after the other, was to
deceive the enemy as to the strength
of the attacking force. Everything
being thoroughly understood and each
man ready, in an undertOne the COM
mand to fire was given. At the first
flash of the guns the bluecoats vigor-
ously answered, but their aim was
high, some of the bullets striking the
oaks above the mems heads. When
the second squad opened a feebler re-
ply was returned, and Immediately the
yankees rushed out of the fort for their
boats, taking their dead and wounded
with them. The fort was examined
at daylight and frequent marks Of
blood were discovered.
The confederates advanced, reload
ing their old muZZle-lOaderS as rapidly
as possible, and as the foe retreated
sent volley after volley into them.
Reaching the fort they kept firing I'M
til the enemy pulled out of sight. If
the whole company could not have
been captured, what a terrible pun
ishment could have been inflicted upon
them, if our men had been armed
with bretch-loaders. Cushing was
| not satisfied with the turn of affairs.
, Failing to surprise and capture the
camp, he determined to enter the har-
| Dor and make a bold attempt to reach
| the ships. By the use of padded oars
| he thought he could steal in under the
| cover of darkness; and as he courted
danger, if it came, he would be in his
| element.
Captain Galloway OWNED Cushing's
| intention and had the inlet closely
watched; he also began promptly to
| prepare for the defense of the ships.
Three quarters of an hour after the
short, decisive result at the fort, a
picket reported that three barges had
entered the mouth of the river and
were heading for the blockade runners.
To reach them they had to pass a
sharp bend of the river, the channel
being narrow at that point and on the
bluff side. The bluff, too, was steep
and thickly studded with large oaks
clear to it's very brink. There, upon
the brow of the embankment, Cap
tain Galloway placed his men, each
again behind a tree some. six feet apart
as nearly as he could arrange them,