at the first sign of dawn, , next in line to the southward of "augusta", got underway and began firing. parrott soon saw black smoke rising in the direction of the action, signaled the senior officer present — in "housatonic", next in line to the northward — that an enemy was present, and stood to the southward. a short while later, the two southern ironclads passed successively between "augusta" and the shore. during the exchange of fire, a nine-inch southern shell entered "augusta"s starboard side, passed just above her boiler, and lodged in her port side. "housatonic" and also engaged the confederate ironclads before the secessionist warships retired into the entrance to maffitt's channel.