[465]
day and in the night.
The whole time was used in labor-constant and severe.
It seems almost a miracle that the boats were saved.
If Colonel Giles A. Smith had not arrived at the time he did, their safety would have been hopeless — if Generals Sherman and Stuart, by their utmost exertions and labor, had forwarded their troops a single half-day later — if the second forced march of Col. Rice, under Gen. Sherman, had been retarded a single hour, in all human probability not only our navy, but the first small force, under Smith, would have been lost.
The simple truth is, that the gunboats were saved by Stuart's division.
The traditionary jealousy between the army and navy at this point is, to a great extent, removed.
There is no dispute or doubt in relation to the services performed by the soldiers of the line.
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