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

While Commander Rodgers was making his reconnoissance in one direction, other officers with proper vessels were sent elsewhere, with the same objects and like results. Commander Drayton in the Pawnee, to which he had been transferred, accompanied by the Pembina and the coast survey steamer Vixen, entered St. Helena Sound on the morning of the 26th. On the point of Otter Island was found an abandoned bastioned work, triangular in shape, with two faces looking upon the water, and surrounded by a ditch. The magazine had been blown up and the armament removed.

Continuing his reconnoissance up the Coosaw, at the mouth of Barnwell's Creek was found another deserted redoubt, which had an armament of three guns; one had been removed and the others destroyed. The carriages, a sling cart, and intrenching tools that were found were taken on board of the vessels.

Commander Drayton, with the Pembina and Vixen, some four miles up the Ashepoo found another deserted earthwork; its armament, save three small guns, had been removed; two of these had already been destroyed and the third was put in like condition.

Commander Drayton recommended that the fort on Otter Island be occupied, as it commanded the inland route to Charleston. No single point commanded all of the entrances to St. Helena Sound, as it is five miles across. The Otter Island fort would command the best entrance, and its vicinity would give excellent anchorage for vessels blockading the other channels. He expressed great indebtedness to Captain Boutelle of the Coast Survey, whose services had