After the events of the past few days, I'm lucky to even know what day it is. Most of us are alive and I thank our Creator for
On the morning of Thursday last, our situation was quite favorable. Our big guns were mounted, our artillerymen were standing to their guns, the rest of us, the infantry and cavalry were ready to repulse a Yankee landing. Tatnall's mosquito fleet had engaged their ships and had driven them off. Our blood was up, our ammunition and mouths were dry, and we were eager to begin the fray.
All eyes were directed to the sea where the enemy ships were positioning themselves for the assault to come. We could hear our hearts pound over the noise of the waves breaking shore. And then, at about nine and one-half of the clock, all Hell opened up and let fly.
There was so much noise from the cannon fire that I didn't hear anything. At least, I do not recall hearing anything. Their ships were in a circle and as they came within range on one fort, they leveled a broadside at it and then reloaded, I suppose as I was not on board, as they made the turn to back where they came from. Once in range of the other fort, another broadside was offered. This
Our artillery, under Captain Elliott responded valiently but the contest had already been deceided with the first shot. All of our guns that were facing away from the sea to defend against an attack from land were utterly useless as no such attack never matieralized. Of the guns facing the enemy, so few of them were of a size sufficient to do them any damage.
Both of our forts, being of log and earth construction, their being no local source of stone or brick, suffered little actual destyruction although both were mightily shaken up. They threw shot and shell at us for hours. Our responce diminished as one gun after another was dismounted or otherwise put out of action.
We in Company I, the Lancaster Hornets, and some of the other companies were some distance away from Beauregard and thus were not the direct recipients of this bombardment. Even so, enough hot iron was thrown our way to convince us that a close relationship with the earth was desirable. We Hornets stung nothing as a musket cannot hurt a ship. It was so frustrating to be shelled and not return fire. Their infantry did not come. The only thing the Yankees had to send us was death.
I have seen the elephant and I hate him.
The fire from Walker ceased and caused some consternation amongst our officers. We had no means to communicate with Walker or they with us. It was determined that Walker could defend itself no longer and was ready to fall. If Walker fell, Beauregard could not stand. The order was given to evacuate.
From this point untyil we reached Beaufort, my memory of what happened is cloudy. We left in a great hurry, abandoning much of our supplies. At some place, we boarded some ship or boat and steamed away as fast as our paddlewheels could go. Tatnalls mosquitos could not protect us and we feared that a Yankee ship would catch us and blast us into oblivion. It did not happen but I think there were some of us who would have prefered such a fate if it meant that this affair would be over.
Beaufort was deserted when we arrived at the docks on Friday morning. I saw no one save us and a occassional slave. As we left Beauregard without sufficient provisions, orders were given to open the shops on Bay Street and gather what we could to sustain us. It pained me to break into Mr. Fyler's store but it was necessary. I will have crackers and cheese for some time. I tried to leave a note of explanation and apology for Mr. Fyler but there was no time to finish it.
Then we marched until we reached Port Royal Ferry, some miles away from Beaufort. There we halted and threw ourselves on the ground to sleep. What had happened to us?
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