Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[134] some of them were steamers intended for river-service, whose flat bottoms supported a frail construction of iron and planks; the others were small merchant-vessels, whose weak frames could scarcely resist the recoil of the guns. But they were commanded by two energetic and daring officers. Lieutenant Lamson had charge of guarding the Nansemond above Hill's Point, and Lieutenant Cushing below. The latter, who distinguished himself during the war by several brilliant actions, was first in command in virtue of seniority.

On arriving in front of the Federal works, which had been put in a perfect state of defence, provided with heavy guns, and well garrisoned by Peck's infantry, Longstreet saw at once that all surprise was impossible, and did not deem it expedient to venture an attack by main force. He tried to avail himself of his numerical superiority in order to turn those works. While Anderson's and Pickett's divisions were to occupy the besieged along the right bank of the Nansemond, Hood was to join French in order to force a passage below Suffolk. The character of the river between that city and Hill's Point was, as we have stated, favorable to such an operation: Getty's seven thousand men had great difficulty in effectively guarding the eight miles entrusted to their care. Longstreet's first object, before attempting a passage, was to get rid of the Federal vessels, which could interrupt the operation or cut up his bridges if he succeeded in throwing any across the river. To effect this, strong works were erected in front of the principal angles of the river, while the field-artillery, concealed in the woods, would hold itself in readiness to occupy them as soon as one of the enemy's vessels should come in sight. It seemed that these vessels, whose lower works and machinery had no protection whatever, would be speedily destroyed or compelled to put back to sea, thus leaving the pass perfectly free to the Confederates. In order to divert the attention of the Federals while these works were being constructed, the troops stationed south of Suffolk made strong demonstrations against that place during the day of the 13th, while a swarm of skirmishers, ambushed along the left bank, were trying to harass Lamson's flotilla.

Some of the Confederate batteries were in readiness on the following