Tuesday Nov. 12

Mrs. Male here picking over apples; also Mrs Terril ironing.  William went to Chillicothe.  A letter from Mr. Walton saying that James Pennock, their oldest son, is very sick of typhoid fever.  God pity and spare them their first born if it is His holy will.  
The great Naval Expedition has taken Port Royal and Beaufort, S. C.  The Stars and Stripes are floating triumphantly over a port of that rebellious state, a port rich in cotton and rice and slaves.  The harbor is one of the best on the southern coast.  The position threatens both Savannah and Charleston.  The rebels acknowledge their own loss to be large in the fight which took place near Beaufort.  Of our own loss we yet know nothing.  
The present indications are that the war is to be vigorously prosecuted during the winter.  God grant that our arms may be prospered and so order events that Slavery may die.  How blessed is the truth that God is King.  He doeth his pleasure among the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth.  We may safely trust our Country, our friends and ourselves in his hands.  He doeth all things well.


Peggy's Comments:
James Pennock was one of Julia's nephews, the oldest son of her sister Clara.  He was 13 at the time and he did survive the bout of typhoid fever.

The plan for bombarding Fort Walker and Fort Beaureguard was to sail the ships in an elliptical pattern, bombarding each as the ships passed by.  Although this plan broke down, the Federal forces succeeded in capturing both forts.  Loss of life was small.

Here is an interesting article from the current NY Times blog Disunion regarding the naval battles.