The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-30 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA

LIVERPOOL FRIDAY.
The Canadian mail steamship Jura, and the In-
man steamship City of New York, have arrived, the
former with advices from Quebec to the 16th and
the latter from New York to the same date.
The following are the official reports from the
expeditionary squadron on the Carolina coast:—
" To the Adjutant-General of the United States'
Army, Washington, D.C.

"Port Royal, South Carolina, Nov. 8.

" Sir,—l have the honour to report that the force
under my command embarked at Annapolis, Mary-
land, on the 21st Oct., and arrived at Hampton-
roads, Virginia, on the 22d. In consequence of the
delay in the arrival of some of your transports, and
the unfavourable state of the weather, the fleet was
unable to set out for the Southern coast until the
29th, when under the convoy of a naval squadron,
in command of Commodore Dupont, and after
the most mature consideration of the object of the
expedition by that flag officer and myself, it
was agreed to first reduce any works that might
be found at Port Royal, South Carolina, and thus
open the finest harbour on the coast that exists
south of Hatteras. It was calculated to reach Port
Royal in five days at most, but in consequence of
adverse winds and a perilous storm on the day and
night of the Ist November, the fleet arrived at Port
Royal Bay not until the 4th, and then but in part,
for it had been almost entirely dispersed by the gale
the vessels have been struggling in up to this date.
The transport steamers Union, Belvidere, Osceola,
and Peerless have not arrived. Two of them are
known to be lost, and it is probable all are. It is
gratifying, however, to say that none of the troop
transports connected with the land forces were lost,
though the Winfield Scott had to sacrifice her whole
cargo, and the Roanoke a portion of her cargo, to
save the lives of the regiments on board. The for-
mer will again be unable to put to sea. The vessels
connected with the naval portion of the fleet have
also suffered much, and some have been lost. After
a careful:reconnaissance of Port Royal Bay it was
ascertained that the rebels had three fieldworks of
remarkable strength, strongly garrisoned, and
covered by a fleet of three gunboats, under Captain
Tatnell, late of the United States' Navy, besides
strong land forces, which the rebels were concen-
trating from Charleston and Savannah. The troops
of the rebels were afterwards ascertained to have
been commanded by Gen. Brayton. One of the forts,
and probably the strongest, was situated on Hil-
ton's Head, and the other two on Phillips's Island.
It was deemed proper to first reduce the fort on

Milton's Head, though to do this a greater or less
fire might have to be met from the batteries on Bay
Point. At the same time our original plan of co-
operation of the land forces in this attack had to
be set aside in consequence of the loss during the
voyage of the greater portion of our means of dis-
embarkment, together with the fact that the

only point where the troops should have landed
was from five to six miles, measuring around
the intervening shoal, from the anchoring place of
our transports, altogether too great a distance for
successful debarkation with our limited means. It

was therefore agreed that the place should be re-
duced by the naval force alone. In consequence of
the shattered condition of the fleet, and the delay
in the arrival of vessels that were indispensable for
the attack, it had to be postponed until the ith
inst. I was a mere spectator of the combat, and
it is not my province to make any report of this
action. I deem it an imperative duty to say that
the firing and manoeuvring of our fleet against that
of the rebels and their formidable land batteries
was a masterpiece of activity and professional skill
that must have elicited the applause of the rebels
themselves as a tactical operation. I think that too
much praise cannot be awarded to the science and
skill exhibited by the flag officer of the naval squa-
dron and the officers connected with his ships. I
deem the performance a masterly one, and ought to
have been seen to be appreciated. After the works
were reduced, I took possession of them with the
land forces. The beautifully constructed work on
Hilton's Head was severely crippled, and many of
the guns dismounted. Much slaughter had evi-
dently been made there, many bodies having been
buried in the fort, and some 20 or 30 were found
some half a mile distant. The land for many miles
was found strewed with army accoutrements and
baggage of the rebels, which they threw away in
their hasty retreat. We have also come into pos-
session of about 40 pieces of ordnance, most of
which is of the heaviest calibre and of the most
approved makes, and a large quantity of ammuni-
tion and camp equipage. It is my duty to report
the valuable services of Mr. Panhelle, assistant in
the coast survey, assisting with his accurate and
extensive knowledge of this country. His services
are invaluable to the army as well as to the navy,
and I earnestly recommend that important notice
be taken of that very able and scientific officer by
the War Department.—l am, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
4‘ T. W. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General,
Commander."
After landing and taking possession of the forts,
General Sherman issued the following proclama-
tion :

" Port Royal, South Carolina, Nov. 8.
"To the People of the South,—ln obedience to
the orders of the President of these United States
of America, I have landed on your shores with a
small force of national troops. The dictates of a
duty which, under the Constitution, I owe to a great
sovereign State and to a proud and hospitable
people, among whom I have passed some of the
pleasantest days of my life, prompt me to proclaim
that we have come against you with no feeling of
personal animosity—no desire to harm your citizens,
destroy your property, or interfere with any of your
lawful laws and rights, or your social and local in-
stitutions, beyond what the causes herein briefly
alluded to may render unavoidable.
" Citizens of South Carolina,—The civilised world
stands appalled at the course you are pursuing—
appalled at the crime you are committing against
your own mother—the best, the most enlightened,
and, heretofore, the most prosperous of nations.
You are in a state of active rebellion against the
laws of your country. You have lawlessly seized
upon the forts, arsenals, and other property belong-
ing to our common country, and within your border,
with that property, you are in arms, and making a
ruthless war against your constitutional Govern-
ment, and thus threatening the existence of a Go-
vernment which you are bound, by the terms of
a solemn "nlPnet, to live under and faithfully sup-
port. In doing this you are not only undermining
and preparing the way for totally ignoring your
own political and social
ezistence, but you are
threatening the civilised world
i
with the odious
sentiment that self-governments impossible with
civilised man.

" Fellow-Citizens,-4 implore you to pause and
reflect upon the tenor and consequence
acts,
bl
of the awful sacrifices made byof devastationtihrea:ier
of our property, the shedding
in battles. The mourning and wailing of widows
and orphans throughout our land. are insufficient
to deter you from further pursuing this unholy
war. Then ponder, I beseech you, upon the
ultimate, but not less certain, result which its
further progress must necessarily ana naturally
entail upon your once happy and prosperous State.
Indeed, can you pursue this fratricidal strife and
continue to imbrue your hands in the loyal blood
of your countrymen, your friends, your kinsmen,
for no other object than to unlawfully disrupt the
Confederacy of a great people, a Confederacy esta-
blished by your own hands, in order to set up, if
possible, an independent Government, under which
you can never live in peace, prosperity, or quiet-
ness ?

" Carolinians,—We have cone among you as
loyal men, fully impressed with our constitutional
obligations to the citizens of your State. Those
obligations shall be performed as far as in our
Pc'wer; but, be not deceived : the obligation of
suSuppressing armed combinations against the con•
stitutional authorities is paramount to all others.
The rights dependent on the laws of the State must

be necessarily snbordinste to military exigencies '
created by insurrection and rebellion.
"W. SHERMAN,
"Brig.-Gen. Commanding, Head- quarters,
South Carolina."
The following are the despatches of the Naval
officer in command
"Flagship Wabash, off Hilton's Head,
Port Royal Harbour, Nov. 6.
"Sir,—The Government having determined to
seize and occupy one or more important points
upon our Southern coast, where our squadrons
might find shelter, possess a depot, and afford pro-
tection to loyal citizens, committed to my discretion
the selection from among those places which were
thought available and desirable for these purposes.
" After mature deliberations, aided by the pro-
fessional knowledge and great intelligence of the
Assistant-Secretary, Mr. Fox, and upon taking into
consideration the magnitude to which the' joint
naval and military expedition had been extended
to which you had called my attention, I came to
the conclusion that the original intentions of the
Department would fall short of the expectations of
the. country and of the capabilities of the fleet,
while Port Royal, I thought, would meet both in a
high degree.
" I therefore submitted to Gen. Sherman, com-
manding the military part of the expedition, this
modification of our earliest matured plans, and had
the satisfaction to receive his full concurrence,
though he and the commanders of the brigades very
justly laid great stress on the necessity of getting
this frigate into the harbour of Port Royal.
" On Tuesday, the 29th of October, the fleet
under my command left Hampton Roads, and, with
the army transports, numbered 50 vessels. On the
day previous, I had despatched the coal vessels, 25
in number, under convoy of the Vandalia, Comman-
der Haggerty, to rendezvous off Savannah, not wish-
ing to give indications of the true point of the fleet.
" The weather had been unsettled in Hampton
Roads, though it promised well when we sailed.
But off Cape Hatteras the wind blew hard, and
some ships got into the breakers, and two struck
without injury.
" On Friday, Nov. 1, the rough weather soon in-
creased into a gale, and we had to encounter one of
great violence from the south east, a portion of
which approached to a hurricane.
" The fleet was utterly dispersed, and on Satur-
day morning only one sail was in sight from the
deck of the Wabash.

On the following day the weather moderated,
and the steamers and ships began to reappear. The
orders were open, except those to be used in case of

separation.
" These last were furnished to all the men-of-war
by myself, and to the transports by Brigadier-
General Sherman. As the vessels reformed reports
came in of disasters.

" I expected to hear of many, but when the
severity of the gale and the character of the vessels
are considered, we have only cause for great thank-
fulness in reference to the men-of-war.
" The Isaac Smith, the most efficient, well-armed
vessel for the class, which was purchased, but was
not intended to encounter such a sea and wind, had
to throw her formidable battery overboard to keep
from foundering, but, thus relieved, Lieutenant-
Commanding Nicholson was enabled to go to the
assistance of the chartered steamer Governor,
then in a very dangerous condition, and on board of
which was our fine battalion of Marines, under
Major Reynolds.
" They were finally rescued by Captain Ringold,
of the frigate Sabine, under difficult circumstances,
soon after which the governor went down. I be-
lieve that seven of the Mai ines were drowned by
their own imprudence.
" Lieutenant-Com manding Nicholson's conduct in
the Isaac Smith has met my warm commendations.
The Peerless, transport, in a sinking condition, was
met by the Mohican, Commander Gordon, and all
the people on board, 26 in number, were saved
under very peculiar circumstances, in which service
Lieutenant W. H. Miller, was very favourably
noticed by his commander.
"On passing Charleston I sent in the Seneca,
Lieutenant-Commanding Ammen, to direct Captain
Lardner to join me with the Susquehanna cff Port
Royal without delay, On Monday, at 8 o'clock in
the morning, the Niagara got off the bar, with some
25 vessels in company, and many heaving in sight.
The Department is aware that all the aids to navi-
gation had been removed, and the bar lies 10 miles
seaward, with no features on the shore line with
sufficient prominence to make any bearings reliable.
" But by the skill of Commander Dove and Mr.
Boutelle, the able assistant of the coast survey, in
charge of the steamer Vixen, the channel was im-
mediately found, sounded out, and buoyed. By 3
o'clock I received assurances from Captain Dove that
I could send forward the lighter transports, those
under 18 feet, with all the gunboats, NS hich was im-
mediately done.
" Before dark they were securely anchored in the
roadstead of Port Royal, South Carolina. The gun-
boats almost immediately opened their batteries
upon two or three rebel steamers under Commander
Tatnall, instantly chasing him under the shelter of
the batteries.
" In the morning Commander John Rodgers, of
the United States' steamer Flag, temporarily on
board this ship, and acting as my Staff, accom-
panied Brigadier-General Wright in the Ottawa,
Lieutenant-Commanding Stevens, and supported
by the Seneca, Lieutenant-Commanding Nicholson,
made a reconnaissance in force, which drew the fire
of the batteries at Hilton's Head and Bay Point,
sufficiently to show that the fortifications were
works of strength and scientifically constructed.
" On the evening of Monday Captain Dove and
Mr. Boutelle reported water enough for the Wabash
to venture in. The responsibility of hazarding so
noble a frigate was not a light one. Over a pro-
longed bar of over two miles there was but a foot
or twoof water to spare, and the fall and rise of the
tide is such that if she had grounded she would
have sustained most serious injury from stradning,
if not total loss.
" Too much, however, was at stake to hesitate,
and the result was entirely successful.
" On the morning of Tuesday the Wabash crossed
the bar, followed closely by the frigate Susquehan-
nah, the Atlantic, Vanderbilt, and other transports
of deep draught, running through that portion of
the fleet already in.
" The safe passage of this great ship over the bar
was hailed by gratifying cheers from the crowded
vessels.
" We anchored and immediately commenced pre-
paring the ship for action, but the delay of plant-
ing the buoys, particularly on the Fishing Rip, a
dangerous shoal we had to avoid, rendered the hour
late before it was possible to leave with the attack-
ing squadron.
" In our anxiety to get the outline of the forts
before dark, we stood in too near those shoals, and
the ship grounded.
" By the time she was got off it was too late, in
my judgment, to proceed, and I made signals for the
squadron to anchor out of gunshot from the enemy.
" To-day the wind blows a gale from the south-
ward and westward, and the attack is unavoidably
postponed.
" I have the honour to be, sir, respectfully, your
obedient servant, " S. F. DUPONT,
" Flag Officer commanding South Atlantic
Blockading Squadron."
" HON. GIDEON
WELLS, SECRETARY OF TIIE
NAVY,WASHINGTON.
Wabash, off Hilton Head, Port
"Flagship
Sir,—l have the honour to' Royal Harbour Nov.in 8m
• you that
yesterday I attacked the batteries of the enemy
Bay Point and Hilton Head, and Forts W on
Walker and
Beauregard, and succeeded in silencing them after
n engagement of four hours' duration, and driving
awaya the squadron of rebel steamers under Com-
mander Tatnall. The reconnaissance of yesterday
made us satisfied with the superiority of Fort Wal-
ker, and to that I directed my special efforts, en-
gaging it a
t a distance
sufficiently near Fort Beau regard to receive
600 yards. But the plan
squadron suffie of attack broughtafterwardsthe
the fire, and the ships were frequently fighting the
batteries on both sides at the same time. The
action was begun on my part at 20 minutes after 9,
ARd at half-past 2 the American ensign wAS hoisted

on the flagstaff of Fort Walker, and this morning '
at sunrise on that of Fort Beauregard. The defeat
of the enemy terminated in their utter rout and
confusion. Their quarters and encampments were
abandoned without an attempt to carry away either
public or private property. The ground over which
they fled was strewn with the arms of private sol-
diers, and the officers retired in too much haste to
submit to the encumbrance of their swords. Land-
ing my marines and a company of seamen, I took
possession of the deserted ground, and held the forts
on Hilton Head till the arrival of General Sherman,
to whom I had the honour to transfer their com-
mand. We have captured 43 pieees of cannon,
most of the heaviest calibre, and of the improved
description. The bearer of these despatches will
have the honour to carry with him the captured
flags, and two small brass field pieces, lately belong-
ing to the State of South Carolina, which are sent
home as trophies of the success of the day. I enclose
herewith a copy of the general order which is to be
read in the fleet to-morrow morning at muster. A
detailed account of this battle will be submitted
hereafter.—l have the honour to be, very respect-
fully, your obedient servant,
" S. F. DUPONT, Flag Officer commanding
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

" P.S.—The bearer of despatches will also carry
with him the first American ensign raised upon the
soil of South Carolina since the rebellion broke out.
a S. F. D."
" Hilton, Port Royal Bay, Nov. 8.
" It is the grateful duty of the Commander-in-
Chief to make a public Acknowledgment of his entire
commendation of the coolness, discretion, and skill
and gallantry displayed by the offitero and men un-
der his command in the capture of the batteries at
Hilton's Head and Bay Point, after an action of
four hours' duration. The flag officer fully sym-
pathises with the officers and men of his squadron
in the satisfaction they must feel at seeing the en-
sign of the United States flying once more in the
State of South Carolina, which has been the chief
promoter of the wicked and unprovoked rebellion
they have been called upon to suppress.
" S. F. DUPONT, Flag Officer commanding the
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron."
"To THE HON. GtDEON WELLS.

"Flagship Wabash, off Hilton Head,
Port Royal, Nov. 9.
" Sir,—Since writing my official despatches I
have sent gunboats to take possession of Beaufort
and to protect the inhabitants, but I regret to say
that they had fled, and the town 13 abandoned to
the negroes, who are reported to me as in a law-
less condition. The light vessels which I had
hoped to have made use of were destroyed on
the desertion of the forts by the rebels. The
post-offices were visited, and a number of docu-
ments, letters, &c., obtained. I have covered Scull
Creek and the mouth of Broad River, and have
cut off this communication between Charleston
and Savannah.—Respectfully, your obedient ser-
vant, " S. F. DUPONT,
" Flag Officer commanding United
States' Atlantic Squadron."

A private letter says :
" On the Wabash, one of our men was killed and
seven wounded. On the Mohican, one man was
killed and eight wounded—four mortally, There
are 34 shot holes in the hull of the Wabash, one
through the chamber of the magazine. Eighb men
were killed on the navy vessels. About 20 rebels
are known to have been killed; among them Cap-
tain Beacon and Dr. Buict, surgeon of the post."
Commander Dupont, in a private letter to a
friend, says

" Wabash, Port Royal, Nov. 9.
"My Dear Mr. Fox,—During the disheartening
events of our passage, my faith never gave way ;
but some moments it seemed appalling. On the
other hand I permit no elation at our success ;
yet I cannot refrain from saying that it has been
more complete end brilliant than I ever could have
believed.

" I have been too much fatigued to send a detailed
official account of the battle. My report is full

up to the eve of it, and I think will interest you ;
but I had to content myself with a succinct ac-
count, which I think will be liked as well as a more
detailed narration. This I will, however, forward
in time for the Secretary's report.

" I kept under weigh and made three turns,
though I passed five times between the forts. I
had a flanking division of five ships to watch, and
old Tatnall too, who had eight small and swift
steamers ready to pounce upon any of outs should
they be disabled.
" I could get none of my big frigates up. I
thought the Sabine would have got clear up to the
St. Lawrence. I sent no word, however, and the
Savannah was blown off. Ido not regret it now,
except on their account.
" I believe my plan was cleve;:. I stood against
the aide, and had the management the better, in

consequence.
" Their confidence waa extreme that they could
drive us away. They fought bravely, and their
rifled guns never missed.
"An 80-pounder rifled ball went through our
mainmast in the very centre, making an awful
hole. They aimed at our bridge, where they knew
they could make a hole if lucky. A shot in the
centre let the water into the magazine,but I saved a
hundred lives by keeping under way and bearing
in close.

" We found their sights graduated at 600 yards.
When they once broke, the stampedo was intense,
and not a gun was spiked. In truth, I never con-
ceived of such a fire as that of this ship, on her se-
cond turn, and I am told that its effect upon the
spectators outside of her was intense.
" I learn that when they saw a flag flying on
shore, the troops were powerless to cheer, but wept.
General Sherman was deeply affected, and the sol-
diers are loud and unstinting of their admiration
and gratitude. The works are most scientifically
constructed, and there is nothing like Fort Walker
on the Potomac.

" I did not allow the victory to check our ardour,
but despatched some vessels under Captain Gilles
over to the side to-day. I sent an expedition to
Beaufort to save the light vessels, but they were
fired instantly after the surrender.
" Beaufort is deserted. The negroes are wild
with delight and revenge. They have been shot
down, they say, like dogs, because they would not
go off with their masters. I have already a boat at
Sewell-creek, and the communication between
Savannah and Charleston is cut off."
It was reported to the New York Associated Press
that the storm encountered by the naval expedition
was extremely severe,and caused much alarm as well
as considerable loss. The steamer Winfield Scott
reached the rendezvous on the evening of the 3d,
with loss of masts and bow stove in. She threw
overboard her three rifled cannon and all her
freight, the muskets and equipments of all her 500
men, everything but rations, to keep from sinking ;
and but for the labour of the soldiers in baling her
fires would have been put out, and nothing then
would have saved her. The steamer Bienville went
to her relief, when her chief engineer, his assistant,
and 13 of her crew, jumped on board the Bienville,
leaving the Scott to her fate. Their action nearly
created a panic among the soldiers, who gave up
all for lost ; but the captain of the Winfield
Scott put the chief engineer in irons, and
brought him and the recreant portion of the
crew back, when things went on better. The
gale was terrible, the vessel a mere shell, the men
terrified by the cracking of her timbers as the masts
went overboard, and despair seized them when it
was discovered that she leaked badly, to which suc-
ceeded a panic when the crew attempted to escape.
The Winfield Scott was taken in tow by the Vander-
bilt, which had cut clear of the Great Republic in
the gale. The steamer Governor went down with
20 men, the Pembina taking off all who coald escape.
eyoTrkheonstlhams e
15thhip tz
with
haadevoialos
cecsfroai
from
Port
at New
Royal
lte
the 13th, at which date the Federal troops had all
been landed, and the store: rumour , &c., were being rapidly
discharged. There
was
e
picketsbyth e
near
Confederates,Savannah
reinforcements were sent
on the day the Coatzaeoalces left
sion of Beaufort was to be thetaken op
a nannaahr ei Ferry
r that the Federal
em had been attacked
Charleston papers intimate that General Lerman
would hays some difficulty in doing so. They state