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HEADQUARTERS CARSTON'S BLUFF,
April 21, 1862.
CAPTAIN: I take this the first opportunity to make my report of the engagement between a portion of my command and a regiment of the enemy on Whitemarsh Island on the evening of the 16th instant:
The island lies east of this place, and between is the island called
Oatland. I have for some time kept pickets and small scouting parties
In the evening I took with me Capt. J. T. Crawford, of Company G; Lieut. R. T. Bowie, of same company, and 37 of their men, with axes, across to Oatland to have the trees on the island cut down. I required the men to carry with them their guns and cartridge boxes.
Soon after getting there and about 3 p.m. one of my pickets came in from Whitemarsh and told me that the enemy were landing at Mr. Gibson's place, on the point of Whitemarsh next to Wilmington River, and that a steamer with about a regiment of men on board was lying in the river some 400 or 500 yards from the landing, and that Lieutenant Medders, with his men, had fallen back across the island to a cross-road some 2 miles from where the enemy were seen. I immediately started Captain Crawford, with his company of 37 men, to the place where Lieutenant Medders had halted. I gave to Captain Crawford instructions to remain at that point until I could return to camp and get an additional force, and also directed him to send out pickets from the cross-roads in two directions, one leading to Gibson's place and the other to Turner's place, which is on the point of Whitemarsh next to Augustine Creek, and in view from which is Skidaway Island. I then hurried back to camp, being delayed in crossing Augustine Creek. Taking with me three companies (A, B, and C), commanded respectively by Lieut. E. L. Connally and Capts. James McCallay and John L. Moore, I started for the island, hurrying the steamer Leesburg, at my command for this purpose. In order to take two chances of getting assistance to Captain Crawford I had Captain McCallay to land from the boat on Oatland, just across from the battery at this place, and directed him to hurry over to the cross-road on Whitemarsh, with orders that he and Captain Crawford should remain with their companies at that place until I could reach them with the two others, and not to attack the enemy until I joined them, unless they should ascertain that there was only a small party of the enemy, instead of a regiment, as reported to me by the pickets. My reason for not taking the three companies directly over Oatland to Whitemarsh was that the only means of crossing the stream between the two islands was a small boat that would carry about 10 or 15 men at once, and too much time would be consumed in this manner. I therefore went on the steamer with Companies A and C around to a landing on Whitemarsh. Being delayed at the mouth of Whitemarsh Creek about one hour the boat ran aground, and by the time I could get my men all on land it was near 5.30 o'clock.
In the mean time the pickets posted by Captain Crawford discovered a party
of the enemy, about 50 strong, who had advanced 1 (?) miles across the
island. The pickets fired on them and fell back to the crossroad, and
reported the number of men seen to be about 50 or 75, whereupon Captains
Crawford and McCallay, after distributing between their two companies the
scouting party under Lieutenant Medders, determined to endeavor to surround
the enemy and capture or kill them. Captain Crawford with his force went
the road toward Gibson's, and Captain McCallay with his force up the road
toward Turner's, to where another road turned off to the left and led to
Gibson's place. Both parties met small parties of the enemy and the firing
commenced, the force on each side being nearly equal. The enemy were driven
back for 1 (?) miles across little fields and skirts of woods to the Gibson
house, where they sheltered themselves behind a hedge of cedar, and brisk
firing began.
This was the first firing I heard, the other being scattering and the noise of the steamer preventing those of us on board from hearing anything else. As soon, however, as we had landed and the reports of the guns were heard I started my men at a double-quick, having then 2 or 2&1/2 miles to go. This distance we made as quickly as possible. On the way I met several of the wounded men and those who were without cartridges coming back. At the distance of about half a mile or less from the Gibson house I met Captain Crawford with his men retreating across a small field, and learned from him that he and Captain McCallay, who with their forces had divided near the cedar hedge, had been overpowered after having sustained heavy loss and exhausted their ammunition, and were compelled to retreat, and that the enemy--a full regiment--were in hot pursuit. Seeing that Captain Crawford and all his men were completely worn out I ordered them to the rear, and formed my men in single rank along and just in the edge of a skirt of woods, ordering them to lie down and wait for the command to fire. Soon the enemy came, shouting as they came, apparently confident of overtaking and capturing the small party who had so long held them in check. The imprudence and impatience of one man prevented me from getting the enemy completely by surprise, and I believe in our power. He, contrary to orders, fired too soon, and knowing that a scattering fire would begin, I gave the command to fire, and one volley checked their progress and turned them back. They discharged their guns at us, but without effect. I kept my men in their position, expecting another advance, but no Yankee showed himself again. Soon Captain McCallay, about whom I felt great uneasiness, came in from a direction to the right of us, some of his men wounded and the rest without cartridges and all completely exhausted.
Night had then come on us, and having only about 60 men with cartridges and physically able to fight, I deemed it imprudent to pursue the enemy to their boats, knowing their overwhelming force of 800 men and also fearing an ambuscade, as a skirt of woods through which they retreated was between us, and we could not then ascertain whether they were fleeing or awaiting our advance.
On the next day I found that they had remained on the island only long enough to gather up their dead and wounded, as they had left knapsacks, cartridge boxes, canteens, haversacks, overcoats, blankets, &c., and a number of guns, all of which we gathered up. I also saw the doors that they had taken from the houses there and on which they had borne off their killed and wounded. The doors were very bloody.
During the first part of the engagement, and while Captains Crawford and
McCallay were driving the enemy before them, a Federal lieutenant was
mortally wounded, and from him the fact was ascertained that their force
numbered 800 or 860; it was the Eighth Michigan. Another prisoner, who was
taken with the lieutenant, also stated that the men we were fighting were
not foreigners. Several caps were found with the letters of the companies
to which the wearers belonged on them, showing that there were different
companies. I also learn from the officers and men that while the fighting
was going on in the field in front of and from here, just beyond the Gibson
house, the enemy formed in line of battle and their entire force took part
in the fight. Some time during the engagement the enemy landed some
artillery (the tracks of the wheels were found by us the next day), but it
was not brought into action at all, and I judge was carried back on the
boat as quickly as it had been landed.
The officers of my command engaged were: Capt. J. T. Crawford and Lieut. R. T. Bowie, of Company G; Capt. James McCallay and Lieuts. A. W. Pearce and J. T. Horsley, of Company B; Capt. John L. Moore and Lieuts. T. M. Breed and J. B. Breed, of Company C, and Lieuts. E. L. Connally and J. C. Steger, of Company A. Lieut. Thomas G. Medders, of Company H, was lieutenant of the scouting party sent out in the morning.
The whole force engaged at any one time was not over 90, some having been detailed as pickets to prevent surprise from the rear and to guard the steamer.
Below is a list of the casualties:
| Killed | Wounded | |
| Officers | .... | 2 |
| Non-commissioned officers | .... | 1 |
| Enlisted men | 4 | 12 |
| Total | 4 | 15 |
The loss of the enemy could not be ascertained, except approximately, by going over the ground and finding the bloody places which marked where they fell. There were quite a number of these, some of them indicating that those shot had bled very freely. Bloody garments were found, some caps that had been shot through, and the bloody doors upon which they had borne off their men; guns and various other things with blood on them indicate that the enemy suffered severely.
I have forgotten also to mention that the lantern they had used in searching for their dead and wounded was found the next day. In their haversacks were found plates, knives, and forks, butter-crackers, meat, &c., as if they had come prepared to remain on the island a day or two. They had also some ground coffee that they dropped in their hurry. The guns used by them were muskets, some of them large-bore Springfield muskets rifled. The loss on our side, particularly in the ranks of Captain Crawford's company (G), and the length of time they were fighting, show with what bravery they maintained their ground against overwhelming numbers--eight or ten to one.
I cannot omit to state my high appreciation of the skill and courage of Captains Crawford and McCallay and the valor of officers and men under them. Captain Crawford had command of the party until I arrived, and in his judgment and valor I have entire confidence. Captain McCallay nobly seconded him in every movement, and a braver, truer man cannot be found. Individual instances of heroism and narrow escapes were reported to me, among them that of Garland Upshaw, of Company B, who in assisting in bearing off a wounded comrade had four bullet-holes made through his coat. Upshaw is quite a youth, and yet is considered one of the best scouts in the regiment. Private Pilkinton, of Company A, was shot just as he had loaded his gun, and after falling handed it to Captain McCallay, requesting him to discharge it at the foe. Captain Crawford and his men were nearly surrounded, and though exposed to fire from three directions bravely fought until they had no cartridges to use. Captain McCallay had a ball shot through his coat.
I have made this report too long, and yet not long enough to do full
justice to the men who, less than 100, in a fair fight kept back 800
well-armed
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. DOUGLASS,
Colonel, Commanding Post.
Capt. MALLORY P. KING,
A. A. G., Second Brigade.
Lawton-Gordon-Evans' Brigade | Wartime Service
Last Update: Dec 1, 1997