noon
The island itself appeared to be some twelve miles in its greatest length , and two or three in breadth , indented with numerous creeks and coves , and forming a slight curve about Croatan Sound . It was within this curve that the naval battle took place . It had now fairly begun . At noon the flag-officer 's ship displayed the signal for closer action , and the engagement soon became general . The enemy 's gunboats , seven in number , showed a disposition to fight at long range , retreating up the sound as the fleet advanced -- a movement which soon brought the latter under the fire of a battery that opened from the shore . The air , which had previously been perfectly clear that morning , was now loaded with clouds of smoke , which puffed from a hundred guns , and surging up from the vessels of the squadron , from the rebel gunboats , and from the shore battery , rolled away in broken , sun-illumined masses , wafted by a light northeasterly breeze . The soldiers in the rigging of the transports could see the flashes burst from the cannons ' mouths , the spouted smoke , the shots throwing up high in air the water or sand as they struck , or coming skip-skip across the sound , the shells exploding , and the terrible roar of the battle filled the air .