Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-11
civil, WAR
F|F1Y YEARS AGO TO-DAY
June l. 1861-War on the Potomac Was Begun by an En-
qaqement Between Federal Steamers and Confederate
Batteries at Aqua Creek-A BIOdess Bombardment and
Its Object

Bluff known as Split Rock bluff. and 1t
was here that the Confederate batteries
had been erected.
Their purpose was twofold, to COM
mand the river and to guard the interior.
The railroad landing at the creek had
formerly been the terminus of a line of
steamers from washington.
This approach to Richmond, the new
capital of the Confederacy, must be de-
Tended. The evacuation of Alexandria
had left Aqua creek the Confederate
frontier point on the river. Should an
effort be made TO close the Potomac to
northern ships, it might become CEN
ter of action.
The position was not strong one,
since 1t could easily be turned. and was
exposed to attack from the rear; yet the
batteries there, the Confederate COM
manders believed, might serve to draw
attention from the construction of
stronger ones at other points.
JAMES H. WARD APPEARS.
Engineers had therefore been sent
there by General Lee in the last week of
April, and by May IA or so a battery
of 13 guns had been erected behind
earth and sand breastworks. OF these
guns two were s-inch dahlgreens,
brought from the Gosport (Norfolx) ma
Wy ydAus tue ohhSIS WOAS " FoA AooS
sizes and bores.
The construction OF this battery had
not gone unnoticed by the commanders
been patroling the river. but no action
was taken against it until after James
H. Ward took command of the Poto-
mac flotilla.
midshipman at II. lieutenant at
25 Ward was now SIS years old and
a commander. At one time an instruc-
tor at Annapolis and the author OF ma
val text books, he had courage and
practical ability as well as theory and he
lost no time after taxing command In
proceeding against the battery.
On the evening of May 30 he made
his first demonstration, appearing before
it about sunset with two small steam
ers and firing a dozen shots, without
further effect than to hurry over Gen.
Daniel Ruggles with 700 men from
Fredericksburg, Is miles away.
SPIRITED ATTACK.
The next day. Friday. May 81, the real
attack begun. With the Thomas Free
horn, his flagship: the Anacostia ana
the Resolute, Commander Ward appear
eo again before the battery and began
firing about 1920.
1t was no fleet of dreadnoughts that
he commanded. All three vessels were
classed as fourth rate only. The Free
born, the heaviest. was a paddle-wheel
steamer of 279 tons and mounted two
guns, 32-pounders of smooth bore. Ine
Anacostia, a screw steamer of 217 tons,
and the Resolute, tug of 80 tons, eacn
had two little howitzers.
BY this miniature armada fire was
opened on the batteries and for more
than two hours maintained vigorously.
How accurate was the fire is shown by
the fact that one shell, penetrating the
sandbank, demolished the room occupied
by the Confederate officers.
When Commander Ward believed that
he had silenced the batteries about the
railroad terminus new fire was opened
upon him from q battery of four three
inch rifled guns from the bluff in the
rear, dropping the shot on board and
about us for nearly an hour"
Unable to elevate his guns sufficiently
to reach this new battery, the COM
mander gave up the fight for the day
and steamed off down the river.
THIRD DAYS COMMANDMENT.
During the night the Pawnee, S. g.
Rowan commander, steamed down the
river from washington.
The Pawnee was far more substan-
tial vessel than the others of the flo
tilla. Listed as second rate, she was a
screw sloop of 1880 tons and carried
a battery of eight guns and nominal
crew of "a men. She and the Freedom,
at 1870. ran in before the batteries,
the Freedom leading. leaving the other
vessels out of range, where they might
help get off the fighters If disabled.
The firing was kept up for five hours,
until AGO. with hardly any interruption.
The Pawnee was the principal target for
the Confederate guns, and was herself