Identifier: navalhistoryofun02abbo (find matches)
Title: The naval history of the United States
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Abbot, Willis J. (Willis John), 1863-1934
Subjects: United States -- History, Naval To 1900
Publisher: New York, Dodd, Mead and company
Contributing Library: University of Massachusetts, Boston
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Boston

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ers and men of the navy. Por a man torisk his life in the heat and excitement of a battle, is as nothing to thefeeling that one may be at any time caught in a death-trap, and slaughteredin cold blood. A more successful expedition was organized in October, by Lieut.Harrill of the steamer Union. He had been informed that a hugeschooner was lying in Ouantico Creek, and that the Confederates weremassing a number of troops there for the purpose of crossing the river.He at once determined to destroy the schooner. Accordingly he manned 598 BLUE-JACKETS OF 6i. three boats at half-past two in the morning, and in the darkness proceeded,with muffled oars, toward the mouth of the creek. Here some difficulty wasexperienced, as the entrance is narrow and obstructed by sandbars ; butworking energetically, and in perfect silence, the sailors overcame allobstacles. Once in the creek, they pulled rapidly along within pistol-shotof the shore, until the tall masts of the schooner could be descried in the
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NAVAL PATROL ON THE POTOMAC. darkness. One sentry was on guard, who fled wildly as he saw themysterious boat emerge from the darkness of the night. The grappling-irons were thrown aboard, and the jackies swarmed nimbly up the sides, andbegan the work of destruction. A huge pile of combustibles was made inthe cabin, and hastily set on fire. The flames spread rapidly; and, thoughthey insured the destruction of the schooner, they also lighted up the creek,showing the boats with the sailors bending to their oars to escape the BLUE-JACKETS OF *6i. 599 storm of bullets that they knew must follow. The glare of the burningschooner, the reflection of the flames on the water, the flash of the riflesfrom the shores made a wild picture. Occasionally a flash from the riverwas followed by a deep boom, as a heavy shot left the muzzle of a cannonon the steamers. But through it all, the men escaped; and the projectedinvasion of the Confederates was abandoned, owing to the loss of theirschooner. All th

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