ious fire upon the
place. Three times we advanced, each time nearer, until within
good charging distance; but the artillery had it all to
themselves. The movement was merely a demonstration to call off
the enemy's attention from Hoke's attack upon Fort Wessells,
which, after a sharp but short resistance, fell before the
superior powers of Hoke's brigade; and that night's work was
done.

The _Gunboat appears on the scene_. Leaving a line of pickets on
the field, the main body of the troops withdrew to prepare, by a
few hours rest, for the attack, which we all felt would be made
on the morrow, and as we lay down by our fires, every one
wondered at the Albemarle's delay, and prayed for her speedy
arrival. At three in the morning we were all awakened by the
thunder of her Blakely guns, as she defiantly saluted Warren
Neck, _en passant_, and sailed safely by over the obstructions
which the enemy had placed in the river. She went to work at
once among the enemy's gunboats, sinking one and driving the
rest to Hatteras, and then turning her attention to the
fortifications, she kept up a speedy fire during the morning,
silencing the enemy's guns, and driving him into his bombproofs.
But still the "stars and stripes" floated over his works, and as
he refused, when summoned to strike his colors, it became
necessary for us to do it ourselves, and the evening and night
of the 19th were devoted to preparing for the assault on the
morning of the 20th. Kemper's brigade had fought gallantly at
Warren Neck. Hoke's men had taken Fort Wessells with three guns
and sixty prisoners. It was now Ransom's turn.

The Columbia road which enters the town at its eastern
extremity, running parallel with the river and near it, crosses
Coneby creek about a mile from town: To this point Ransom's
brigade, the 8th N.C. and Pegram's battery marched late in the
evening of the 19th, behind a screen of woods, which hid the
movement from the enemy, and reached the creek about sunset. The
bridge was destroyed, and the creek was too deep to be forded. A
strong picket of the enemy was on the opposite bank behind
entrenchments, and about three-quarters of a mile off were two
32-pounders and five 12-pounders bearing on the spot. The
pontoons must be laid for the infantry and artillery to cross,
and that quic