officers, amid a perfect shower of shot and shell, came out on the decks, and, swinging their hats, gave hearty cheers of encouragement to the soldiers. I do not remember a moment in the history of the Confederacy — not even when the stars and bars were first hauled upon the capitol at Montgomery amid the enthusiastic shouts of an earnest people, when my heart has so swelled with emotion, and when I have been so willing to sacrifice my life, my all, in the defence of the right and my country.

Finding it impossible to proceed further, Col. Anderson ordered the boats to return to the upper end of the island, in order to effect a landing there. Covered by the gunboats, the barges retreated and were soon out of reach of the fire. Running as near in shore as possible, Col. Anderson ordered the barges grounded, and then proceeeded to land the men as rapidly as possible. The disembarkation was conducted by Col. Anderson and Capt. O. J. Wise, in an orderly manner, and in less than two hours the men were formed in column on the beach, and were prepared to march down the island to the point where it was supposed an attempt to land would be made.

All the time the naval battle continued, and, despite the heavy odds, our little fleet of seven gunboats could not be silenced, and continued the fight as actively as in the morning. At fifteen minutes past two the Curlew received a shot which soon after sunk her. She was run up to the opposite shore and her ammunition taken off by the Fanny, which boat immediately returned into the fight. At four o'clock a small steamer was run ashore below the Pork Point battery, and the landing of troops begun. Only one gun in Fort Bartow could bear upon the point, and it was kept engaged by a gunboat which ranged itself alongside about a mile distant. Soon after this it began to grow dark and the firing on both sides was about to close. Our boats fired until the course of the shell could be traced through the air and its explosion marked by a fierce red flash At forty-five minutes past five, the firing ceased, owing to the darkness, and soon after, our fleet retired. They were, however, nearer the enemy than in the heat of the engagement, and, with one or two exceptions were little injured. Commodore Lynch deserves the thanks of the nation for the skilful manner in which he conducted the battle, and the officers under him also merit a country's gratitude for their bravery and gallant conduct.

Collecting his forces, Col. Anderson marched down the island some five or six miles, and bivouacked near the barricade constructed across the island at the marshes. In going down he passed under the fire of the ships, but the men marched through it with the greatest coolness and determination.

The guns in Fort Bartow were very skilfully used, and (lid good service throughout the day. The battery was manned by two companies of the Seventeenth North-Carolina, under Major Hill, the State guards, and the John Harvey guards, but only the former company was brought into immediate action, as the guns were ranged rather too much up the channel. Only three guns could be used during the fight, a rifle and a howitzer, en barbette, and one embrasure gun. These three, however, were so well manned that no one of the hostile ships passed up far enough to come within range of the second embrasure gun. The men fought with great coolness and intrepidity, and showed conclusively what they could do under experienced and skilful officers. From the time the battle commenced until darkness put a stop to the scene, the enemy threw over three thousand shot and shell, and used every conceivable kind of projectile. Still the battery was but little injured, and the casualties only amounted to one man killed and three wounded. It seems almost a miracle that no more damage was done; for hour after hour the ponderous shell were thrown into it, sending up huge jets of sand and stone from the outer angles and from the turf and sand revetments of the embrasures. None of the guns were injured to any extent; and when the sun rose on the ensuing morning the fort was in as good repair for defence as on the first day.

Immediately back of the fort were the quarters of the Seventeenth North-Carolina. These were set on fire early in the action by the explosion of a shell, and long after dark they were still burning, the lurid flames lighting up the sky, the light flashing for miles across the flickering waves. When morning dawned there was but a mass of smouldering embers. In these huts was the baggage of the regiment, and about two hundred stand of arms; all of which was destroyed. Late in the evening it began to rain, and throughout the night it was dark and stormy. I was in the hospital near by, attending to the wounded men, in company with other surgeons. Every attention possible was given them, and every effort made to relieve their sufferings. Towards morning, owing to frequent use of opiates and anodynes, they became easier, and I went down to the battery to see the result of the bombardment. It was after two o'clock in the morning. Passing by the quarters of Major Hill, we found the gallant officer already up and preparing for the forth-coming fight. By him was Capt. Taylor, C. S. A., the officer in general charge of the ordnance on the island, and also Lieuts. Talcott and Loyall, all of whom fought nobly and bravely during the engagement. The night was intensely dark and misty. The light of the burning huts reflected its red glare upon the ramparts of the fort, and showed us where the enemy's shots had taken effect. Just below us was the beach, up which the little waves washed musically, and far beyond the lanterns hung in the rigging of the ships, indicating where they lay at anchor. We went through the work, examining every embrasure, the magazine, parapet, gun-carriage, and traverse--Lieut. Talcott at the time giving directions to guide the artisans and laborers in their repairs. At three we returned, and I was soon after dreaming of — not battle scenes, but of happy hours with dear, good friends.