The Move
The garrison was evacuated
in the evening between five and six 'o clock. Surprisingly, his
officers prepared for the crossing with amazing speed. Captain Abner
Doubleday had just twenty minutes to organize his company, and had to arrange
for the safety of his wife. He warned her to leave and hide behind the hills if
firing broke out, and take refuge with family friends. They took a sad and
hasty leave “For neither knew when or where we would meet again" (Ray,
5).
The men were ready, and proceeded to march silently down the beach where six oared boats were parked and ready behind some rocks. When a full moon rose across the harbor, they tensed up and got ready to be spotted. When they rowed out into the harbor, they spotted the enemy patrol boat the Nina. Major Anderson and Lieutenant Meade made wide circles to avoid the boat, while Captain Doubleday rowed straight in front of the boat. Unfortunately, the soldiers on board were not experienced seafarers. Doubleday realized that their boat might be spotted. Moving fast, the soldiers on board tried to hide their shiny buttons and muskets. In doing this, they hoped that they would be mistaken for friendly workmen. The Nina rolled to a standstill, and did not notice them. "The paddle wheels stopped about a hundred yards of us,' Doubleday later described, 'but, to our great relief, after a slight scrutiny, the steamer kept on its way" (Ray, 7).
The men were ready, and proceeded to march silently down the beach where six oared boats were parked and ready behind some rocks. When a full moon rose across the harbor, they tensed up and got ready to be spotted. When they rowed out into the harbor, they spotted the enemy patrol boat the Nina. Major Anderson and Lieutenant Meade made wide circles to avoid the boat, while Captain Doubleday rowed straight in front of the boat. Unfortunately, the soldiers on board were not experienced seafarers. Doubleday realized that their boat might be spotted. Moving fast, the soldiers on board tried to hide their shiny buttons and muskets. In doing this, they hoped that they would be mistaken for friendly workmen. The Nina rolled to a standstill, and did not notice them. "The paddle wheels stopped about a hundred yards of us,' Doubleday later described, 'but, to our great relief, after a slight scrutiny, the steamer kept on its way" (Ray, 7).