She sought the protection of the guns of Fort Fisher, which opened venomously on the chaser.

They did not stop her, though they were less than half a mile away.

In another minute she would have sent the Rebel vessel to the bottom of the sea, by a broadside from her heavy guns, but the Captain of the latter turned her suddenly, and ran her high up on the beach, wrecking his vessel, but saving the much more valuable cargo.

Our vessel then hauled off, and as night fell, quiet was restored.

At midnight two boat-loads of determined men, rowing with muffled oars moved silently out from the blockader towards the beached vessel.