Daniel Ammen, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 7.2, The Atlantic Coast
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[152] killing 5 and wounding 7 men; it did serious damage also to the woodwork, and broke a bronze casting connecting the stem to the keel. For the time the vessel was disabled.

Late in November, 1864, General Foster asked navy cooperation ‘in an attack to assist the movement of General Sherman.’ For this purpose a force of 500 men was organized and placed under Commander George H. Preble. Four depleted companies of marines formed a part, and two navy howitzers with their complement of men.

On the evening of the 28th, this force at Port Royal was embarked on the Mingoe, Pontiac, and Sonoma, but the fog was too thick to permit a movement. At 4 A. M. it broke away partially, and the vessels got over the shoals into Broad River, the Pontiac ahead, with the only pilot on board, followed by eight other navy vessels. At eight o'clock the admiral found himself at Boyd's Landing, the point designated, twenty miles up the river, with the Pawnee, Mingoe, Pontiac, Sonoma, and Winona. The Wissahickon had grounded below and did not get up. The army transports had not yet arrived, but the transport with General Hatch came in sight very soon, followed by others, and the troops began to debark, as also the naval force before named organized for landing. General Foster arrived at 2 P. M., and army transports continued to arrive with troops and field artillery throughout the day.

The general and the admiral returned in the afternoon, the latter ordering back two or three vessels not required. No advance was made toward the railroad at Grahamsville until the 30th. The enemy had by this time collected in force. General Hatch, who commanded, found ‘further progress barred by a work which looked upon the road, and was covered on the flanks by heavy woods and other obstructions.’