Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/174

 166 Southern Historical Society Papers.

son and Captain Cheshire, through other ravines and behind other houses to and through the lot of -William Henry Jordan, at the top of Todd's Hill thus assailing, unobserved, Captain Lee's forces on both flanks. Whilst the artillery was all the while en- gaging them in front.

When the columns led by my brother emerged through the ravines into Church street, at the Presbyterian church, less than one hundred yards distant from Captain Lee, it was immediately observed by him and his men; and they broke and ran down Todd's Hill to the county wharf, where they threw the artillery overboard, and then ran down and along the creek to the lot of William H. Day, and to Hodge's Shipyard adjoining, seeking the shelter and protection of the Smith Briggs.

Sturdivant, observing the panic, instantly pursued, quickly placed one of his guns on the county wharf and sent the other to the hill at Hodge's Shipyard, and thus at both places had the gunboat in full sight and in easy range. The gun on the county wharf sent a shot through her and right into her steam chest. She instantly surrendered.

A part of Captain Lee's force was captured in the garden of William Henry Day, in a large vacant house in the shipyard, and at other places on the creek front.

Captain Lee and some six or seven men swam the creek to the mainland and thus reached Old Town (now Battery Park), at the mouth of Pagan Creek, where they signalled passing boats, and thus escaped.

Six Oaks is four miles from Smithfield in the southeast. Ivor is eighteen miles from Smithfield to the west. Four Square is four miles from Smithfield on the road to Ivor.

The North Carolina Cavalry with Sturdivant's Battery, was under the command of Captain Pipkin. I do not know the names of the captains of the two small infantry companies.

A RED'HOT REBEL.

In going to Ivor you stopped at " Four Square " for water. You may remember the lady of the house as a red-hot Rebel. Captain Pipkin had on his horse behind him, a boy of your command, some twelve or thirteen years of age, who was a little " sassy " to her. She recognized him after the war, in the Green