Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/26

16 prevent the vessels from leaving the river, finally prevailed upon Commander Hardy to return to his ship. Francis Winslow was an accomplished naval officer. He died early in the war, or we should have heard more of him.

As soon as day broke, the Confederate vessels followed the United States vessels, exchanged a few shots at long range, and returned to New Orleans. Why they did not prosecute their success has never been explained. It was a lost opportunity. Lieutenant Averett, a very gallant, cool-headed officer, says: "The expedition was a complete success so far as opening the way to the sea from New Orleans was its object, but the officers of the McRae were greatly disappointed when it was discovered that her machinery was so defective as, in the judgment of Flag-Officer Hollins, to render the steamer unfit for sea service." Lieut. C. W. Read, who was present on the McRae, in a letter to the Southern Historical Society magazine, says in relation to the morning's transactions:

On arriving at extreme range we fired a few shots, all of which fell short. One of the enemy's shells falling near the Ivy, which had ventured nearer than the other boats, signal was made to "withdraw from action," and we steamed gallantly up the river.

We shall hear more of this same Lieutenant Read. He was, in the writer's opinion, one of the greatest naval officers the South produced. He had his counterpart in young Cushing, of the United States navy. Lieutenant Read mentions the McRae, Manassas, Ivy, Calhoun and tugboats Tuscarora and Watson as being present on this occasion, but does not give the names of all the captains, nor does Colonel Scharf in his history.

Soon after the secession of North Carolina, steps were taken to defend the entrances to Pamlico and Albemarle sounds, and batteries were constructed at Hatteras, Ocracoke and Oregon inlets. On the 2 6th of August,