Didn't know if you were aware that the guns situated out on the Rip Raps were used in the first long range forward observer exercise in the early summer of 1861. Members of the provisional US army signal corps were placed on the Rip Raps out in Hampton Roads, VA, and also abouad a harbour tug boat so as the hits and misses could be corrected with the aid of Albert J. Myer's newly adopted system of flag signals.

For the first time in history, artillery, coupled with the tug boat - Rip Raps signalling system proved overwhelmingly effective against the Confederates over in Norfolk's Sewell's Point emplacements.

For more reading on the subject you may wish to go to:
http://scard.buffnet.net/pages/lh/lhmain.html and look to the left button bar for the link to tugboat signalling.

Enjoy the map.