fort walker on hilton head — the stronger of the two defensive works protecting the harbor — was some across the water to the southwest from fort beauregard on bay point. since this distance was great enough to prevent the guns of one fort from effectively supporting those of the other, du pont decided to engage the southern positions, one at a time, beginning with the stronger, fort walker. having learned that most of its guns faced south, the flag officer had his main squadron steam by the hilton head shore along a counterclockwise, elliptical path which kept its warships out of effective range of the confederate batteries. then, when it had reached a point beyond the traversing limit of these guns, this squadron began a turn to port along a wide arc which closed the shore as the union ships opened fire on the fort and steamed back in the direction from which they had come. this maneuver prevented most of fort walker's cannon from getting into action while leaving them almost completely exposed to the federal salvoes.