Daniel Ammen, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 7.2, The Atlantic Coast
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

The Peerless, an army transport laden with stores, was discovered in a sinking condition by the steam sloop Mohican, Commander S. W. Godon, and the crew rescued. In effecting this, Lieutenant H. W. Miller of the Mohican was very highly mentioned by the captain.

It is sufficient to say that certain naval vessels that came down in the fleet were detailed to relieve the war vessels proper blockading off Charleston, and that during the forenoon of the 5th all the vessels that were expected had assembled at the rendezvous with the exception of the Pocahontas, mentioned hereafter, and that all of the army transports arrived before the attack on the 7th, with the exception of the Peerless, already reported as lost, and the Belvidere, Union, and Osceola, none of them having troops on board, but army equipment and supplies, whose failure to arrive seriously affected army movements and also the means of transportation.

The bar of Port Royal lies ten miles from the nearest low sandy shores which form the land-locked harbor; only the tops of the taller trees are visible, except in certain states of the atmosphere when the mirage brings up to view continuous forests on Hilton Head to the west, and Bay Point on the east side of the harbor. Several of the vessels of war, among them the gunboats and the surveying steamer Vixen, were directed to feel their way in with the lead, and buoy out the bar, and secure the safe entrance of the heavier vessels. This was effected by 3 P. M., and all vessels of the fleet having a draught not exceeding eighteen feet, entered forthwith, and anchored some five miles outside of the headlands, in good holding ground, and fairly sheltered by shoals to seaward. Flag-Officer Dupont says: ‘To the skill of Commander Davis, the fleet captain, and Mr. Boutelle, the able assistant of the coast survey, in charge of the steamer ’