Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 4.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

In the evening of the same day the greater part of Strong's brigade embarked in the boats of which we have spoken, and about fifteen launches belonging to the fleet, themselves loaded with troops, took them in tow. The flotilla, clearing the breach opened in the piles, and following, with the rising tide, the sinuous course of Folly River, debouched at daybreak into the deeper waters of Lighthouse Inlet, where it hid under the shelter of the tall reeds bordering the eastern shore. A few minutes afterward the forty-seven pieces posted on Folly Island, which were unmasked during the night, opened fire, at the same time, on the southern extremity of Morris Island. Colonel Graham hurried to take defensive measures. He had eleven pieces of large calibre, with three hundred and fifty artillerymen and as many infantry. Having perceived the hostile flotilla rather far up the stream on Lighthouse Inlet, he supposed, not without reason, that the Federals would follow a bayou running between Block Island and Morris Island, to land near an old lighthouse on a spit called Oyster Point, so as to attack in the rear the batteries placed upon the southern extremity of the island. He sent his infantry in that direction, while his artillerymen responded as best they could to the artillery of the Federals.

But the latter soon received a powerful reinforcement. As early as four o'clock in the morning Admiral Dahlgren, hoisting his flag on the Catskill, passed over the Charleston bar with four monitors; he approached Lighthouse Inlet, and when abreast of the hostile batteries, getting his ships to bear broadside on, he soon covered them with shells. Two hours have thus elapsed; it is nearly eight o'clock in the morning, and the decisive moment has come. While some boats, supported by launches from the fleet armed with howitzers, make a demonstration on Oyster Point, and detain on that side the bulk of the hostile forces, all the rest of Strong's brigade moves down toward the sea; the launches, leaving the boats they were towing, quickly throw upon the beach of Morris Island the troops they were carrying, and return to bring the boats containing the rest of the brigade. The landing is promptly executed in front of the Federal batteries. These remain silent, and an instant afterward the Confederate cannoneers are surrounded by a swarm of enemies: most of them are taken or