[507]
Lieut. Commanding Rhind speaks of him as an excellent officer.
He is disabled for some time, but has no desire to leave.
The name of James Wilson, boatswain's mate, is also mentioned favorably.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. F. Du Pont, Flag-Officer Com'g South-Atlantic Blockading Squadron. To Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.
Lieut. Rhind's report.
sir: On the eighteenth, a party of the enemy, concealed in the woods below Seabrook's plantation, fired on one of our boats, sent there to assist Mr. Reynolds, Government Agent, in securing some cotton.
Acting Master W. D. Urann, who had charge of the boat, was severely wounded in the right arm and left hand.
No one of the enemy was seen during the fire, which was promptly returned by our boat's crew.
I planned an expedition to capture the party that night, and called on Col. Fellows, commanding the post here, for some men to assist me. He promptly afforded them, and enabled me to land a party of about sixty men, including officers.
We marched through the swamps to two plantations where I expected to find the enemy, reaching the furthest place about three A. M. The enemy discovered our approach and fled, receiving the fire of a platoon of the Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania regiment, under Lieut. Bedell, of company K.
We halted there to rest our men, and shortly after daylight discovered a considerable force of mounted riflemen approaching rapidly to attack us. They opened fire upon us boldly, but fled as rapidly as they advanced, after a smart skirmish of twenty or twenty-five minutes. I had one howitzer with me, and the first fire from it brought them to a sudden halt; the third and fourth dispersed them.
Three of the Crusader's crew were wounded in the affair.
The loss of the enemy, I feel sure, was sufficient to punish them for their cowardly attack on our boat.
Their numbers were variously estimated at from fifty to one hundred.
We returned leisurely to the vessel, the enemy not attempting to follow, although all were mounted.
I am under obligations, for his prompt response to my call, to Col. F. Fellows, and to Capt. R. C. Dow, of company K, Third New-Hampshire, and Lieut. E. Bedell, company K, Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania, for their cordial cooperation.
I enclose the report of the Assistant Surgeon.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. C. Rhind, Lieut. Commanding.
