History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1864 DESCENT UPON FORT JOHNSO. 59
Fifty-second in advance, was to pull directly for the beach, six hunchled yards
in front of Fort John son, land, and assault the fort. The One Hundred and
Twenty-seventh New York was to land at Battery Simpkins, a half mile nearer
and carry it. The Third Rhode Island Artillery was to take possession of, and
turn upon the city any guns found in the works. This bold undertaking could
only be successful by being a surprise to the enemy. The harbor was at that
time picketed by two rebel rams and a line of picket boats, extending from
Sumter to James Island on one side, and Sullivan's Island on the other. The
most formidable obstacle for the forces to overcome was a bar, extending from
the beach in front of Simpkins, to within a few hundred feet of Sumter.
This bar was completely out of water at low tide, and was only covered when
the tide was three-quarters full. The time selected seemed unfortunate; for on
the night for the movement, July 3d, it was dead low tide at one o'clock A. M.
and there wouid not be sufficient water to pass the bar before four, day-light,
at that season.
The regiment made very full preparations for this perilous enterprise. If
the fort should be taken, it could only be held by strong re-inforcements. Its
garrison was believed to consist of four hundred men. Could a landing once
be effected, the rest seemed a work merely of dash and boldness. The Fiftysecond went out with the intention of taking the works and remaining there;
to that end, it was furnished with several days' rations, entrenching tools,
and other needed supplies. All day of the 3d of July, preparations for the coming night-work went solemnly but steadily on. The bar was carefully examined, if possibly it had a channel through it. Boats were put in order, and
boat-crews organized. Signals were agreed upon, and minute instructions issued.
All this was indeed indispensable, for no word of command, above a whisper, could be uttered without betraying the movement. The expedition, once
fairly afloat, must thenceforth proceed according to the pre-arranged scheme
or fail. The night came at last and the regiment fell in, in front of its camp by
boat crews. They silently wound aronud the sand-hills, down to the marsh
where the fleet of boats was moored. One by one they were filled and shoved
out to Paine's Dock, the place of rendezvous. Before they reached the dock
many of them grounded, for the tide was now at its lowest, and most crews
only made progress by debarking in the muddy shoals of the inlet. By two
o'clock A.. the fleet was together and the tide turned. As it covered the
shoals, the Fifty-second in advance, they moved out in single file and headed
into the darkness for Fort Johnson. Either through ignorance or misconduct, the pilot selected by Colonel Gurney, from the One Hundred and Twentyseventh New York, failed to find any passage over or around the bar. Daylight began to streak the east when the leading boat passed the bar, close under
the slopes of Simpkins. Towering in the distance, at one thousand yards,
frowned Fort Johnson. Steadily the boats pulled on. The lookout at Simpkins had, however, discovered the procession of blue coats. Discharging his
musket, he with the rest of the pickets on duty, fled up the beach. It was an
even race now between the boats and the rebel sentinels. Soon the guns in
Fort Johnson opened, sending their shells hissing over the heads of the men,
now pulling for dear life. Discovery was no longer to be avoided. With
a hearty cheer one hundred and twenty-five men of the Fifty-second landed
from the five leading boats at the designated points. Promptly fornming, they