Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-18
IS e CIVIL WAR
3lF|F1Y YEARS AGO TO-DAY
May 10, 186l-First Engagement in the War Between
Ships and Shore Was Fought at Sewa's Point, Below
Norfolk, Not Far From, Hampton Roads-Geography of
the Scene

were sent to the battery to serve these
guns.
Meanwhile the Monticello was lying
off the battery. preparing to open fire
again. This she did at $50, with
much greater precision" reported the
Confederate general, than on the pre-
ceding day. Tn engagement continued
for an hour and a half without inter-
mission on either side"
Capt. Peyton H. Colquitt of Georgia.
who commanded at the battery, report
ed that he had only two rounds of am
munition left at the end of the engage
ment.
Some of the Confederate soldiers mad
interesting stories to tell of their bap-
tism of fire.
"One tremendous bomb hit the muz
zle of the cannon at which Lieut.. Moi,
fatt and myself were working" said
one of them, and exploded in the en-
brasure, not three feet from us. cover
ing us with the turf and splinters o.
the battery. and so tearing up the en-
brasure as to make it big enough fol
three guns.
Another smell passed within a foot
of Robert Lockhart, as he ran out to
plant the flag little further to the
left than where it was waving. and
that saved him. Privates Mayo and
GdrkeT naQ one Dali pass DStWccH tHctA
legs while they were shoveling away
sand from in front of their gun.
THE trees near the fort were com
pletely peeled and trimmed by the grape
and she'll A chain came whizzing just
a foot above the battery. struck a tree
about 10 feet off, and cut 1t in two as
smoothly as you could cut sprig o.
asparagus.
FOUGHT UNDER GEORGIA'S FLAG.
One interesting note in the report OF
Brigadier General Gwynn was as follows:
"In consequence Of the want of .
Virginia or Confederate flag for the oc-
casion, the flag of Georgia, belonging
to Captain Colquitts company, was
planted on the ramparts during the en-
gagement."
The little band thus fighting under g
borrowed flag were not deficient In bra
very, as witness the following from Gen
eral Gwynn's report:
while the hottest fire was prevailing
two members of his (Colquitt's) company
whose names l will forward, fearlessly
passed to the outside of the battery
and deliberately removed sand and other
distractions to the range of one of the
guns. while shot and shell were striking
all about them"
bears testimony to the accuracy of the
Union soldiers fire, in this first engage
ment between ships and shore in the
war. III
1.-THE enemys fire was well directed
he stated. zone shell bursting within an
embrasure while solid shot repeatedly
passed through the embrasures and
merions, hurting masses of earth from
outside among the gunners."
Still, IT am happy to inform you that
no casualty of moment occurred. nor was
material injury done to the battery"
In his report Captain Eagle, of the
Monticello, stated that he expended Il;
rounds of grape, IL 10-inch shot, 50 TO-
inch shells, 10 shells for S2-pounders and
As 32-pound shot, making a total of II
shots l only desisted for want of am
munition."
The Monticello was hit several times.
She was assisted for a time by the
armed tug Freeborn. which fired several
32-pound shot, and was ait in return.
The attack on the battery had the eff
feet to hasten the further strengthening
of the place by the concentration there
of about 1000 troops having four heavy
guns.
copyright, 1911, by Associated Literary
Press.)