From the March 6, 2011, Charleston (SC) Postand Courier "Charleston At War: Wave after wave of gunboats descend on coast" by Brian Hicks.
More and more Union gunboats were entering and ascending Stono River. The USS Isaac P. Smith, a converted river steamer, was especially becoming a problem. Its commander, Lt. F.S. Cooper, allowed bored crewmen to pass time taking target practice in houses and people along the river.
They once landed at an abandoned plantation on John's Island and painted a picture of a man on the carriage house. For days afterward, the amused sailors fired shots at it.
News of the Smith's fun soon reached Confederate General Beauregard who decide to put an end to such practice and make an example out of the Union ship. He ordered that several heavy guns be moved to James Island and hidden near the river at Thomas Gimball's plantation. Other guns were mounted on John's Island, two of them at the infamous carriage house.
By January 29, 1863 the trap was ready but they had to wait until the 30th when the Isaac P. Smith came steaming up the Stono again, very close to Gimball's plantation. The Confederates under Captain John H. Gary opened fire at less than 100 yards. The first shot went through the ship. Greatly surprised, the Smith returned fire, taking out one enemy gun.
Then the other guns got off three good shots in a row. One of them knocked out the Smith's engine and it was forced to surrender.
This was one of the first times in history that a ship surrendered to shore batteries.
A Hot Time at the Old Plantation Today. --Old B-Runner
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