Brigadier-General Ellison Capers, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 5, South Carolina
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

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[625] soldier was borne away by a faithful slave and afterward dragged across the creek bed at low water as he held to the flap of a cavalryman's saddle. He was unfit for duty for three months, and always lame. On his return he was elected lieutenant and at once became Elliott's close friend. He took especial interest in Elliott's floating torpedoes, and finally a day came to test them. Two fast rowboats were provided, Elliott taking one and Hamilton the other. During the night they pulled away for a hummock on Morgan island and watched two vessels in the offing. When the tide suited, they ventured out and blew one vessel, a tender, to atoms, causing a loss of thirty-five of the Federals. The Federals with a large force of infantry and artillery tried to tear up the railroad, but were driven away. A second time they landed with 5,000 men and Dahlgren's brag marines as gunners. Hamilton held a second defense in the opening of the fight. His two guns were at a large field gate, supported by one company of infantry. His horse was shot under him while he was carrying cartridges from the caisson. One-third of his men were down. The Federals pushed to within 100 yards of his guns. General Walker said to him: ‘Hold this gate until I get in place at the bridge.’ It was a terrible grip, yet he held it. Elliott rode up. ‘What are you doing here? You'll be bagged in a few minutes.’ ‘I am holding this gate; that is the order.’ ‘Fall back to the bridge, get your guns in position and rest your men.’ Away they went as the Federals raised their hip, hip, hurrah! The bridge crossed a deep stream. On the Confederate side was a noble grove of oak and an old store, and on the Federal side was a dense pinery and heavy underbrush hiding the enemy. An hour after, the tug came. It began fairly at 10 o'clock and lasted until 6. Twice Hamilton's howitzers heated and had to be cooled with water brought from the river. Fourteen times were his guns struck, yet he escaped. The enemy retired at sundown with a loss of about 600. That night, as the various commands were enjoying supper, one officer arose and offered the following: ‘Rhodes and Hamilton; their guns gave us the day.’ Elliott was sent to Fort Sumter. He wrote to Hamilton: ‘General Beauregard tells me to select an officer to take charge of and apply the torpedoes which I left at . . . I could think of no one so fit as you are.’ He reported at once for