Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/159

 Shaft to Historic Old Portsmouth Artillery. 151

April i the medical examination took place and we were mustered into the Confederate service by Mai. Edmond Bradford,

On the 23d of April, 1862, our battery was ordered from Hofrler's Creek to reinforce Gen. A. R. Wright at South Mills, N. C, but arrived there too late to participate in the battle of Sawyer's Lane.

We crossed the new cut of the Dismal Swamp canal and bivouac- ked at Richardson's Mill, on the Pasquotank river, and on the first of May the battery was divided into two sections with a view of at- tacking the Federal gunboat Lockwood, which was at anchor a few miles above Elizabeth City, N. C.

Capt. Grimes with his section of one gun, recrossed the river to go down on the opposite side so we could attack the enemy simultaneously from both sides of the river.

I took one rifle parrot gun and proceeded by the main road until within range of the vessel, then went into masked bivouac to wait for daylight, and about daylight on the 2d of May I opened fire, firing five shots at the steamer in rapid succession, and I think we struck the ship, for she hauled off down the river. The report of her commander says:

U. S. S. LOCKWOOD, Pasquotank River, N. C., May 2, 1862.

Sir While lying at anchor at Three Miles Reach about daylight this morning", the enemy opened fire upon me with or two more field pieces at a bend in the river three-quarters to a mile distant. After a sharp engagement of twenty minutes' duration, I drove them from their position (as I have subsequently learned), wounding eight of their number and disabling the carriage of one of their field pieces. No casualties on our side. Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

G. W. GRAVES, Acting Master Commanding.

To Lieutenant Commander C. W. Flushcr. Commanding Naval Forces at Elizabeth City, N. C.

Now Mr. Graves was very much mistaken as to the damage to us. No man was injured in the affair on our side, nor was any damage done to our gun. \Ve did retreat and return to our camp at Richardson's mill.

When we returned to Portsmouth, we bivouacked for a short time on Edward's farm, and on May 8th were ordered to Bower's