THE IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED
before we could have captured the guard; yet there was no thought of the consequences of failure, no hesitation as to who should lead. By consent, Col. Van Manning was the leader, and with him we were all ready to chance the fire of a thousand guns. Colonels Manning, Fulkerson, DeGurney, and Major Goldsborough went upon deck and demanded that Captain Webster, commanding the guard, should surrender the ship into our hands at once, otherwise we would take it. Our men below were all ready to obey the order to rush the guard. Hardly had Colonel Manning made the demand for the surrender of the ship when, to the surprise of all the committee, Captain Webster agreed to the surrender of the ship. My recollection is that he and his men were not to be put into prison, but taken to Charleston City and exchanged at once, or paroled and sent home; to which condition Colonel Manning agreed. We were to land our men on Folly Island, with assistance of the ship's lifeboats,
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