The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-12

were as one force in restoring the
supremacy of the Federal authority. The
two arms of service coworked harmoni
ously and with efficiency toward the one
end. While the power of the navy was
felt for good by all who were in the Union
army anywhere, those soldiers whose field
of service was along our Atlantic or Gulf
coast, or in the vicinity of our great riv-
ers, had occasion to rely on the navy more
consciously than those who served only at
distance from navigable waters.
Gen. Grant relied on Admirals Foote
and Farragut and Porter for the carrying
out of his best-laid plans of army occupa-
ton at important points, from his earl.
operations against Forts Henry and Do.
elson, and against Vicksburg, in the soutl
west, to his final capture of Fort Fisher
on the Atlantic coast. New Orleans, AZ,
Mobile Bay, and Port Royal, and For
Pulaski, were captured, and made avail
able as bases of military operation
through the brilliant strategy and thu
splendid daring of Admirals Farragut ant
Dupont in cooperation with Gems. Butte
and Mitchell and Benham and Seymou
and Gilmore and Terry, and other arm.
commanders. Neither army nor nav,
could say to the other, at any period in oui
civil war, Il have no need of thee"
My regiment went out originally in Gen
Burnside's Coast Division. which was to
cooperate with Commodore Goldsbor
ough's command for the capture of Roam
oke Island and New Berne; and army and
navy were as one force in all the move
ments in North Carolina. Later the regi-
ment was on the Sea Islands of the South
Carolina coast, under Gers. Hunter, Gill
more. and Terry, in operations against
Charleston. There, we of the army came
to rely more and more on the navy for
opening the way for our landing, for pro-
tecting orr tanks when we moved for
ward, and for adding force to every move
ment in attack or defense.
UNDER PROTECTING GUNS OF MONITORS.
Memories of particular war experiences
in which the navy bore an important part
are vivid in our soldier minds today. For
instance, our brigade was ordered to take
possession of Seabrook Island, in the wa
tiers of South Carolina, in the early Spring
of 1868. Moving along the coast in
steamer transport, by night from Port
Royal Harbor, we found ourselves in the
early morning in North Edisto Inlet, just
off the shores of Seabrook Island. The is
land was covered by dense Southern for
est of typical luxuriance. 1t was still oc-
cupied by the enemy, prepared to oppose
its occupancy by our soldiers. We were
ordered to land small force on the sandy
beach at the lower end. and move up the
island through the forest to suitable po-
sition for an intrenched line. Five
launches containing 100 men each COM
prised our landing force.
Knowing that the enemy under cover
would naturally attack us while we were
landing, before we were in line to defend
ourselves, we realized that the movement
was one of no small peril. Then it was
that our main hope of protection was in
the two monitors and a gunboat covering
our advance and protecting our tanks with
the explosions of their mammoth shells.
As they opened fire on the woods near the
beach, We felt that feasible way was
opened for our landing. Under cover of
: their thunderous artillery our launches
pulled toward the beach. That naval can
nonade was inspiring music to us, and
leader in our foremost boat struck up the
"John Brown" chorus, which 500 soldier
voices Joined in with will. The landing
was effected safely, and the march to the
upper end of the island was made with
slight opposition.
For months after that we occupied that
Nasland with a feeling of security, in spite
of every effort to dislodge MS. We had
confidence because of the feet of ironclads
In she inlet, under the immediate direction
of Commander George W. Rodgers, of the
monitor Catskill. On more than one oc-
casion when the enemy cnme down, we
were enabled to maintain our position on
the island with the help of the cooperating
navy.
REALIZATION OF IMPORTANCE OF THE
NAVY.
Again, in July, 1863, we were ordered to
James Island under Gen. Terry, to make
an offensive demonstration in cooperation
with Gen. Gillmore's advance against
Charleston by way of Folly Island and
Morris Island. On the night of July IS,
we were on picket at the upper end of the
island. The left of the line, held by our
regiment. rested on the shore, its flank be-
ing protected by the Pawnee, small gun
boat. The right of our picket line. which
was refused considerably in the alignment
was held by Col. Robert G. Shaw's 54th
Mass (colored soldiers), now for the first
time at the extreme front, and as yet un-
tested in battle. A reconnaissance had
been made along our line by small force
of the enemy's cavalry the preceding after
noon.
\ During the night there was a heavy
rain, and there was an opportunity, under
cover of the storm and darkness, for Of
fensiye preparation by the enemy. About
dawn of July 16 the storm cleared off, and
sharp attack was made on the right of
our line by the enemy in force. The pur-
pose was evident-to break through the
hne or colored plcketS and thus flank and
overpower our regiment at the left. But
the colored soldiers stood their ground
bravely, and only fell back slowly, Skin
|, mishing as they yielded their ground foot
Sby foot und .r the pressure of greatly su-
Aerior force, thus enabling the left of the
line to fall back to position for a perma-
nent stand.
1t was thrilling sight that morning.
Cavalry, infantry, artillery, and a naval
force, all engaged at the same time, with
In the sweep of a watchers eye, in the
reddening dawn of the eastern sky above
that field. The attack by the enemy was
simultaneous all along our lines In front
of our left the enemy had brought down
and masked a battery during the night, to
engage the United States steamer Paw
nee and the gunboat Marblehead, lying
near the shore for our protection; and the
first notice of this the Pawnee received
was its rapid shots crashing into her
wooden sides before she could be swung
around and dropped down stream to a
position where she could bring her heavy
guns to bear. on the attacking battery.
When these guns opened fire they soon 81.
fenced those of their opponent, but NOT
until the Pawnee had been struck AZ
times.
A Government steamer In the river al
our right did good service with her guns
against the enemy's lines in that direc
ton, and one of our gunboats beyond Sc
eessionville opened vigorous fire on the
enemys rear. We realized that morning
as at many another time, how importan n,
was the cooperation of the navy with tbs
army, as enabling our bravest soldiers Il