But alas! the best laid plans are sometimes miscarried by things really small in themselves.
A small fishing smack one night came in the bay and anchored directly above the Holland.
When the Holland started to move, the anchor of the fishing smack got tangled up in one of the submarine boat's screws.
The result was the wrecking of the screw and the grinding of the anchor into powder. Those on the fishing smack were scared almost to death, thinking there was an earthquake going on under the boat.
Andy Greggs was in despair, but not so Oscar.
"No use crying over spilt milk," said the young captain. "We must get that screw repaired without delay."
And he had the Holland XI. towed over to the Charlestown Navy Yard.
The accident put a damper on the enthusiasm of the navy department, for much had been looked for from the new Holland.
But the enemy was close at hand and must be met, and Admiral Fielding gathered a squadron of twenty-six cruisers and gunboats for that purpose. With this squadron went two of the regular torpedo-boat destroyers.
More warships were telegraphed for from New York, but it would take these vessels two days to reach the scene of battle.