Monday, February 16, 2015

Union Attack on Bull's Bay, S.C.-- Part 2

As Captain Daniel B. Ridgely later reported to Rear Admiral Dahlgren:  "I am confident that the expedition to Bull's Bay embarrassed the rebels from the great number of men-of-war inside and outside of the bay and the great number of boats provided by the navy to disembark a large land force....  I am of the opinion that the evacuation of Charleston was hastened by the demonstration made by the army and the navy at that point in strong force."

Ridgely also pointed out another example of one of the aspects of Northern control of the sea throughout the war, the fact that the very capability of the Union to move wherever water reached forced the South to spread itself thin in an attempt to meet the federals on all possible fronts.

"The rebels signaled our movements to Charleston day and night, he wrote, adding significantly, "and threw up intrenchments at every point where boats could land."

--Old B-R'er

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