een driven
out of the forest before the Federals came within musket-range. Not an
atom of resistance was made. The plans of the invaders seemed
irresistible. About half-past four in the afternoon, a puff of smoke
rose from the river-bank far ahead of the leading vessel, and in a few
seconds a heavy shell plunged into the water a hundred yards ahead of
the flotilla. The enemy was getting awake to the situation. The
gunboats soon returned the fire, and the cannonading was continued at
long range, without damage to either side, until sundown, when the
troops went into camp, and the vessels chose an anchorage near by.

At daylight the next morning, the advance was resumed. The day was so
foggy that the usual signals between the vessels could not be seen,
and orders from the flagship had to be carried by boat. The fleet
proceeded up the river; and, when the fog lifted, the ramparts of Fort
Dixie--the one that had fired on them the night before--were visible.
A vigorous bombardment was at once begun; but the fort failed to
reply, and a storming-party sent ashore found it empty. Hoisting the
stars and stripes above the deserted bastions, the ships went on. Soon
they reached Fort Ellis. Here the firing was sharp on both sides. The
fort was a powerful earthwork, well armed with rifles ranging from
thirty-two to eighty pounders. The Confederates did but little damage
with their guns; their aim being bad for want of practice, and their
powder of poor quality. Still, they fought on with great courage until
a shell from the "Delaware" burst in the magazine, firing the powder
there, and hurling the fort, with large numbers of its brave
defenders, high in the air. This ended the fight with Fort Ellis, and
the fleet continued its way up the river.

[Illustration: Flag of South Carolina.]

Shortly after passing Fort Ellis, two rows of obstructions were met in
the channel. The lower barrier was composed of a series of piles
driven into the river-bottom, and cut off below the water; back of
these came a row of pointed and iron tipped piles pointing down stream
at such an angle as to be likely to pierce the hull of any vessel that
should run upon them. Entwined about these piles was a cable
connecting with thirty powerful torpedoes. That any vessel could
pierce such a barrier seems almost incredible; yet all the vessels of
the flotilla passed, and but two were seriously injured. One of the
sharp iron piles drove through the bottom of th