Fleshing out a skeletal Pembina
It is said that 150 years ago today the USS Pembina captured the schooner Rowena in the Stono River near Charleston. The southern press was also noticing increased Union military activity in the area. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch June 6, 1862:
The enemy a movements in Stone [Stono?] river.
The Charleston Mercury, of Tuesday last [June 3], says:
Yesterday morning the enemy’s gunboats began a vigorous and indiscriminate shelling of the neighborhood of Secessionville. The firing continued with greater or less rapidly during the forenoon but did not result in any particular damage on our side. During the afternoon the firing ceased, but the number of the enemy’s gunboats was increased, eight having anchored in Stone river, while thirteen others were reported to be outside the bar. To-day will probably develop the meaning of proximity of this unusually large flotilla to James Island.
Last night the town was full of rumors, of various degrees of possibility; but as we could trace none of them to authentic sources, we confine ourselves to the facts we have ascertained and given above.
Also on June 6, 1862 The New-York Times mapped the harbor (and got Sumter spelled right):
Trying to get at Charleston
