March 16, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
We take pleasure in recording the particulars of what is considered one of the boldest and most successful feats of the war. We allude to the brilliant foray of Captain JOHN H. MICKLER, and a detachment of his Company (11th Regiment, S. C. V.), on last Thursday night, which resulted in surprising and capturing a detachment of pickets and signal corps men, at the Spanish Wells Observatory, on Hilton Head Island, a few hundred yards from a regiment of infantry, and within sound of the long roll at General HUNTER’S headquarters. By examining a map of the locality, it will be observed that Hilton Head Island is separated from the main land by wide water courses, navigable for gunboats of all classes, which renders all approach to it difficult, if not dangerous, except to men who can pull an oar lustily as well as handle the rifle with deadly precision. Washed by the Atlantic ocean on the front, and the rear so guarded naturally, Hilton Head was in every respect what might have been thought a safe place for ‘Department Headquarters;’ but it seems that our salt water boys have found a way to get there.
On Thursday evening, all proper arrangements having been previously made, the […..] started in their canoes, and followed May River down to its junction with Mackay’s Creek, where the union of the two streams forms Calibogue Sound. Learning from close observation the picket stations, they effected a safe landing. The night was dark, and the wind high enough to send the tide to the shore with a heavy murmur. After making all necessary dispositions to ensure success, the scouts moved cautiously to the high ground, and thence towards the house, which is used as a picket and signal station. Their plan was to approach the place in the rear, and, if possible, capture or bayonet every one there without firing a gun; but they found that a sentinel guarded the approach from this quarter, and another was posted on the front. Under these circumstances, there was no alternative but to shoot down the sentinel at the back door, and then do their work with dispatch. Bang went a musket, and, as target practice is not certain in the dark, away scampered the sentinel, followed by the attacking party, who rushed close upon his heels into the house. Before the sleeping guards could throw off their blankets, they found themselves in the grasp of a band of stern rebels. Rather than take the twenty odd bright bayonets of our men, the astonished Yankees quietly surrendered. Meantime, the noise below had awakened the sleepers above, and a Lieutenant of the signal corps rushed down stairs, en deshabille, to ascertain what had occurred; but he too was soon a prisoner in the hands of a sturdy grayback, with pistol cocked, whom he encountered at the foot of the stairs. This much having been accomplished, no time was to be lost. The prisoners were marched at the double quick to the landing, the Yankee Lieutenant suffering severely from briars and thorns, he being barefooted, without hat and coat. The retreat was safely conducted, and that, too, over nine miles of water courses, available for gunboats of large size. The following is a list of the captives:
First Lieut. Thomas B. Rushby, U. S. Signal Corps.
Alfred S. C. Williams, U. S. Signal Corps.
John Meirman, U. S. Signal Corps.
John Hudgin, U. S. Signal Corps.
Sergeant S. L. Sibley, 9th Regiment Maine Volunteers.
Private Leonard Baker, 9th Regiment Maine Volunteers.
Private L. Connell, 9th Regiment Maine Volunteers.
Private J. O. Chandler, 9th Regiment Maine Volunteers.
Private J. A. Hannan, 9th Regiment Maine Volunteers.
A Lieutenant of the Signal Corps and a private, who remained up stairs, escaped unobserved, and the pickets on the bluff made their escape. All the rest were taken and brought off the Island without the loss of a man on our side.
But little information was obtained. General BURNSIDE had not arrived up to Thursday, but was hourly expected. An attack on Charleston and a vigorous campaign on this Department had been the camp talk for six weeks, and the troops did not understand the delay. There had been some movements of troops, &c., within a few days, but the object in view was not known. (Our pickets reported an iron-clad up Broad River as high as Hogg’s Neck on Wednesday last, but she retired after firing two guns.)
This is the fifth or sixth successful foray made by Capt. MICKLER. In May last he secured a large quantity of corn and cattle on Calliwassee Island; in July he took two Yankee pickets from Pinckney Island, and killed a third; in August, with Capt. STEPHEN ELLIOTT, they killed, wounded or took prisoners a company of Yankees on Pinckney Island; last week he foraged on Dawfuskie Island, supplying his men with hogs, poultry, eggs, &c., and burnt the wharf before leaving.
In addition to these exploits, he has been on frequent scouts, giving to Headquarters valuable information from time to time. Gen. WALKER is fortunate in having so efficient a force of […..],’ and, we have reason to know, holds them in the highest esteem.