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

[178] number of vessels, all were under way, with the naval division as prescribed, arranged in three columns, commanded respectively by Lieutenants-Commanding Werden, Murray, and Davenport. Although the weather favored us, our progress was unavoidably slow.

At sundown the vessels arrived and anchored in line off Stumpy Point, within ten miles of the marshes. ‘A certain individual’ was sent for, who lived near by, whose services were deemed important, and he was brought on board of the flag-ship Philadelphia. The following morning, Flag-Officer Goldsborough, with his staff, consisting of Commander Case, Captain's Clerk Fisher, as signal officer, and Lieutenants T. R. Robeson and N. S. Barstow went on board of the Southfield, which for the time became the flag-ship. The vessels were again under way with two light-draught steamers, Ceres and Putnam, a mile or so in advance. About 9 A. M. the weather, which had been thick, partially cleared, and the vessels of the enemy were seen at anchor, apparently close in with the shore, between Pork and Wier Points. At 10.30, when within a couple of miles of the marshes, it became thick, rainy, and windy, and the vessels again anchored in line. In the afternoon, one of the steamers of the enemy approached the marshes for the purpose of reconnoitring, and was not molested, as the flag-officer ‘was not unwilling that she should accomplish her wishes.’

The day following, February 7th, gave evident signs of good weather. At nine, general signal was made to get under way. The Underwriter was also put in advance as a lookout, the Ceres and Putnam to keep only one-fourth of a mile in advance of the flag-ship. The channel through the marshes is so narrow as not to admit of more than two vessels abreast, and that was the order of steaming until the much wider waters of Croatan Sound were reached. The