Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[5] only the Seventy-ninth, and the Fiftieth Pennsylvania, landed here at this first landing, called “Chisholm's plantation,” the Eighth Michigan, understanding that they were to land at the “Adams House,” so called; consequently the point to be reached first was the “Adams House,” where the Forty-seventh and Forty-eighth New-York were to land from the steamers, while the Eighth Michigan went over in flat-boats to the same place.

The Highlanders and the Fiftieth, with the navy howitzers, were still pushing on at double-quick, and arrived at the Adams House, four miles from their first landing, just in time to see the Forty-seventh and Forty-eighth New-York, and Eighth Michigan landing with their first boat-loads. The stars and stripes were placed on the “Adams” just as the Highlanders brought up the advance.

I forgot to mention, the rebels first seen in the woods fired upon our men (signal-officer Lieut. Taft being in advance) one round as they retreated. We were informed by the negroes at Heyward's plantation, that some three hundred men had been there that night, having some intimation that we were going to make an attack. It was at this plantation (Heyward's) where Lieut. Porter, of the Eighth Michigan, took seven pickets as prisoners, a few days since. The seven rebels are all now quartered in the next house to where I am living.

All the while we were landing, our gunboats were advancing and shelling the woods immediately on our right, and playing at long distances upon the fort.

The gunboats Ottawa, Pembina, and Hale covering the landing of troops, and the Seneca and Ellen having gone round the other way through the Broad River, were also pitching into the Fort from that side.

Now, then, the troops all landed and within three miles of the fort, the order of battle was formed with a view of cutting off the retreat of some four thousand to fifteen thousand rebels who were in and near the fort, (as we knew they must retreat when our gunboats had obtained the range.) It was as follows:

Left wing--The Highlanders, Seventy-ninth New-York, in advance, with three hundred men, commanded by Major Morrison; the Navy Howitzers, commanded by Lieut. Irwin of the Wabash, with forty men; Eighth Michigan, Colonel Fenton, five hundred men; the centre--Fiftieth Pennsylvania, Col. Crist, five hundred men; the reserve--Forty-seventh New-York, Lieut.-Col. Frazer, six hundred men, commanding, assisted by Major Bedell, of the Third New-Hampshire; Forty-Eighth New-York, Col. Perry, (as Col. Perry was acting as Brigadier, under Gen. Stevens, Lieut.-Col. William B. Barton took command, and did it nobly.)

The total of the force was three thousand and forty men. The balance of the Seventy-ninth, consisting of two companies, went over to the main, from the other side of the Ferry, covered by the gunboats there, and the Roundheads were ordered to cross at the Ferry in face of the battery. Lieut. Ransom, of Hamilton's battery, with two rifle Parrots, six-pounders, were at the Ferry on the Beaufort side, supported by the Roundheads, Col. Lesure, seven hundred men.

The advance sounded, moving in column and flanking movements, and after about one mile advance (which was a great drill for our troops) without seeing the enemy, we were suddenly fired upon by a rebel battery on the right, in the woods. The shells fell thick and fast all about us; our skirmishers all the while were picking off the rebels who were so unlucky as to get too much exposed from their beautiful cover.

Owing to this sudden outbreak from the rebel batteries, a change of position in column was made. The Eighth Michigan were ordered to advance by companies as skirmishers, leaving about three companies to fall back upon; the “Highlanders,” in the extreme advance, still doing their duty nobly, as skirmishers — the Fiftieth, and the “Howitzers,” being left as a reserve; the Forty-seventh and Forty-eighth moving by flank immediately on the rebels' left. After severe fighting on both sides, for about half an hour, news was brought that the Fort was vacated. The only object of our tete-à--tete being to take the Fort, the order was given to fall back, and our skimishers came in, formed in column.

The Forty-seventh and Forty-eighth came in first, with the Seventy-ninth still in “deploy skirmishing,” but gradually falling back. We all moved for the Fort. The rebels had every advantage in the world, both as to numbers and position; and though they retreated, even from the woods, carrying along their battery of five guns with them, they are not to be blamed for going, for who in the kingdom could ever stand, when Heaven seemed pouring down a thundershower of iron?

I began to give the order of our return. The Roundheads, not having had so much hard work, having gained entrance to the Fort, from the ferry directly opposite, were now placed within the Fort to act as reserve. The Forty-eighth were now on the way back to their transports, closely followed by the Forty-seventh, went directly across the ferry, and marched about one hundred yards, and halted. Each regiment returned from the field, by right and left wing, back into the Fort, and down the shell road to the ferry, with deploy skirmishers still out, but gradually moving in, for the expectation was that the rebels were going to assail our retreat, as they were still in the woods, with an addition of cavalry. The Fiftieth Pennsylvania were on their knees ready to receive a cavalry charge, but the enemy were too much afraid of our “Baby gun” on the Pembina. The Seventy-ninth now over, and the Eighth Michigan falling back, orders were given to burn all the buildings in the immediate vicinity, and Lieut. Porter was detailed for this purpose. Soon the buildings were all in a bright