76 National Geographic Magazine. 



Survey piloted tlie fleet into Port Royal ; another led the Iron 

 Clads in the attack on Sumter ; a third stationed the fleet in the 

 bombardment of Jackson and St. Philip ; and a fourth rendered 

 signal services in the assault on Fort Fisher. They were on the 

 Peninsula, guides in the wildei'ness on the retreat to Malvern 

 Hill ; at Chickamauga, Knoxville, Missionaiy Ridge ; the march 

 to the Sea and pursuit through the Carolinas ; on the Red river ; 

 before Petersburgh ; in the Sounds of North Carolina ; the Sea 

 Islands of Georgia and Florida and the swamps of Louisiana ; 

 and, wherever they went, few in numbers though they were, they 

 gained honor for their cause and credit for their Chief. 



The Survey of the Coast has excited the admiration of the 

 whole civilized world for its thoroughness and accuracy, and has 

 not been excelled by the most advanced nations. It has justly 

 been claimed to be a scientiflc work, as well as a practical one, 

 for science has guided those who have conducted it and led them 

 through the fields of their labors on the only sure basis to pro- 

 duce knowledge. And the great knowledge that has been ac- 

 quired by its scientific prosecution, is beyond comparison with 

 the little that would have resulted had it been conducted on the 

 less thorough methods of Nautical Surveying that have been so 

 earnestly advocated. We cannot compute the value of what has 

 been learned in dollars and cents; that it has saved to the Nation 

 many times over, all that it has cost, does not admit of a doubt. 

 Its educational influence has been widespread, extending beyond* 

 the seas, and coming back to us with cheering words of encour- 

 agement and praise. Practical men utilizing the results of the 

 great work in the business affairs of life, use no stinted phrases 

 in the encomiums they bestow upon it ; Military men compelled 

 to rely upon it in the perils of warfare, have not found it want- 

 ing, and have given only praise for the great help it was to them ^ 

 Scientific men, ever watchful of that which is true, have approved 

 it the world over, and cite it as an example of the great profit 

 that may come to a people, free to utilize Science in the conduct 

 of practical work. Our institutions of learning have adopted its 

 publications in text-books. Our merchants venture millions of 

 dollars daily on the veracity of its statements, and our mariners 

 risk their lives on the truthfulness of the Surveys. It has added 

 to the prosperity of the nation in peace — to her glory in war ; 

 and when history shall record its awards to our people, there will 

 be no page of the galaxy with more honor than that which bears 



