Old Plantation Neck and the Big Pond, Now Cape Charles Harbor, Part 2

[Cape Charles Harbor] The gunboat kept up an incessant fire of shot and shell while aground, which was returned by the regiment with small calibre guns without effect. Floating free at high tide she armed two boats with brass cannon as a convoy down the channel and around the point of shoals, and proceeded to Old Point. There was no harm done on either side so far as was known.

The next threat of invasion came from the upper peninsula which the regiment essayed to meet but having no ammunition of consequence, and no artillery "worth a cent," wisely concluded to return and disband, when many of the boys ran the blockade to Richmond and enlisted.

This conclusion to disband was a wise one, for the section, cut off as it was from the state could not defend itself with any hope of success.

Now, the indomitable blockaderunners were the means of communication with the people over the water. Jolly good fellows, too, were they. Better sailors, along their line, and shrewder persons have never hauled a sheet or handled a tiller, they were ubiquitous as the "Irishmen's flea," in the way of landing. They had the art, too, of making a big sailing craft, in "a twinkling" to look as if it was an insignificant speck of floating timber when the federal ships hove in sight. Big masts would be stepped and understepped while the passenger wondered at such strength and agility. Soon everything would be made snug in the bottom of the craft, showing itself like a big log floating in the bay. But they not only helped in the beginning of the unpleasantness between the States, they were in evidence all the way along, and must "bob up" here and there in a narrative of events post bellum.

The federals had quiet possession of the Eastern Shore and were kind to the citizens from the beginning of the war to the end.

When the Virginia steamed down to Hampton Roads and destroyed the Cumberland and the Congress, Commander Austin Pendergast was captured, and again the second time when commander of the Water Witch in Ossabaw Sound, near Savannah, Ga., later on in the war.

This time by a boat expedition commanded by Lieut. Pelot of the Confederate navy, who was killed just before boarding the ship. He was shot from the deck of the Water Witch, his pilot likewise (a black man) was killed standing in the bow of the leading boat.

This was a severe hand to hand fight on the deck of the ship with cutlass and pistol. Captain Pendergast was coming out of the companionway of his vessel in his night clothes, having just rang the bell to slip the cable, but too late. He was cut over the head and shot.

The men from the boats cut the nettings around the ship quick and were soon aboard, and not long before they had the pilot of the ship at the wheel steering for Savannah, when all the wounded were sent to the naval hospital.