Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-13
SECOND EDITION.
THREE O'CLOCK p. m.
FULL OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE
BATTLE OF BEAUFORT.

FULL OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE
BATTLE OF BEAUFORT.
The following Is Commodore DuPont's report
Of the battle Of Beaufori, that reached the Navy
Department at IL m. to-day:
Flag Ship Wabash. Of Hutton Head,
Port Royal HaTb0T, November 9Th, 1861.
Sir: The Government having determined to
seize and occupy one or more important points
Upon Southern coast, where our squadrons
might ind shelter, possess depot, and afford
protection TO loyal citizens, committed 10 nv dis
erection the selection from among those places
which II thought most syailable and desirable for
these purposes.
After mature deliberation, aided by Che profess
| sionaI 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 eX-
| tended, TO which you have called my attention,
came 20 the conclusion that the original intention
Of the Department. IL first carried out would fall
aad
thought, would meet both in a hish degree.
l therefore submitted to Brig. Gen. Sherman.
commanding the military part Of the expedition,
this modification OF our earliest matured plans,
and had the satisfaction to receive bis full con-
| curence, though he and the commanders Of the
brigades very Justly laid great stress on the
cessity. II possible, Of getting this frigate into
| the harbof Of Port ROYAL.
On Tuesday, the 2gth October, the feet under
my command Ieft Hampton Roads and with the
daV previous had di.p .cSeS the eosl vessels. .n
twenty five in all, under convoy Of the Vandalia,
Commander HaggertY, to rendezvous of Charles
| ton, not wishing to give the true point
The weather had been unsettled in Hampton
Roads, though IL promised well when we sailed,
but of Hatterss Il blew hard. Some ships got
| into the breakers, and two struck, but without
injury.
On Friday, the LIST November, fough weather
soon increased into gale, and we had 10 encoun-
| ter one Of great violence from the southeast,
portion Of which approached to hurricane The
Meet was utterly dispersed, and on Saturday
morning one sail only was In sight from the deck
On the following day the weather moderated,
and ships and steamers began TO feappear Orders
| mot opened except in case Of sepsretion) were
furnished TO all tbe men Of-war by myself and to
| the transports bH Brig Gen. Sherman
'ne vessels rsloinea, reports came In Of dis.
severity OF the gale and the character Of the YES
sells are considered, we have only cause for great
"a most efficient and well-afmed vessel for the
| class purchased, but not intended TO encounter
such sea and wind-had to thf6w her formidable
battery overheard to keep from laundering; bet
| thus relieved, Lieut. Commanding Nicholson was
enabled 10 20 TO the assistance Of the chartered
| steamer Governor, then In a very dangerous con-
dition, and on board Of which was one fine bat
| talon Of marines under Major Reynolds They
| were finally rescued by Captain Rfnggold. in the
| Sabine, under difficult circumstances soon after
| which. the Governor went down. believe seven
| OF the marines went down by their own impru-
dence. Lieut.. Commanding Nicholsonis conduct
In the Isaac Smith has met With my warm COM
| mendations.
The Peerless transport, in a sinking cundit . /,
| was met by the Mohican, Commander Gordon
| All the persons on board, twenty-six in number,
| Were saved under very perilous circumstances In
which service Lieut.. II. w. Miller was very IA
| vorably noticed by his commander
/ On passing Charleston / in he Genecs \ 4
| Commanding Ammen, to direct Capt Lardner TO
| Join me with the steamer Susquehanna, of Port
In the morning, | anchored of the 6ar, with some
twenty-five vessels in company, with many more
heaving in sight.
The Department is aware that all the aids to
navigation had been removed, and the bar lies
ten miles seaward, with no features on the shore
line with sufficient prominence to make any bear
ings reliable; But to the skill Of Commodore
Davis, the Fleet Captain, and Mr BUutelle, the
able Assistant Of the Coast Survey, in charge Of
the steamer Dixon, the channel was immediately
found, sounded out and buoyed. By3 O'Clock
l received assurances from Capt. Davis that
could send forward the lighter transports, those
under Is feet, with all the gun-boats which was
Immediately done, and before dark they were Sc
curely anchored In the Roodstead Of Port oval,
| Sc The gun-boats almost Immediately opened
| thelr batteries upon two three rebel steamers
under Commodore Tattnall, instantly chasing
them under the shelter Of the batteries
| In the morning Commander John Rodgers, OF
the U. >. steamer Flag, temporarily on board this
ship, and acting on my stef, accompanied Brig
GENERAL Wright in the gunboat Ottawa, (Lieut.
commanding Stevens,) and supported by the
Seneca, (L.eut Commanding Nicholson made
reconnaissance in force, and drew the fire of
the batteries on Hilton Head and Bay Point, suf-
nclehtiy 70 show that the Notifications were works
OF strength and scientifically constructed. In the
evening Of Monday, Capt Davis and Mr. Boi-
leIIe reported water enough for the Wabash to
venture in.
The responsibility of hszardine so noble a
1rgate was not a light one Over a prolonged
bar, OF over two miles there was but foot or two
OF water to spare and the fall and rise Of tide is
SUCH that II she had grounded, she would have
sustained most serious injury from straining, IL
not totally lost. Too much, however, was at stake
70 hesitate and the result was entirely successful.
On me morning of Tuesday, the Wabash
crossed the bar, followed closely by the frigate
Susluehanna, the Atlantic, Vanderbilt, and other
transports Of deep draft, and on running through
that portion Of the feet already in, the safe pas
sage OF this great ship over the bar, was hailed
| Dy gratifying cheers from the crowded vesssls
we anchored and Immediately commenced
preparing the ship for action, but the delay Of
| planting 6uoys, particularly on the " Fishing
Rip" dangerous shoal we had 70 avoid. rem
dered the hour late before IL was possible 10
| move with the attacking squadron. In our anx-
lety to get the outline OF the forts before dark,
we stood In too near this shoal and the ship
grounded. BY the time she was gotten of il was
100 late In my judgment to proceed, and made
signsi FOR the squadron to anchor out Of gun-shot
TO day the wind blows a gale from the south
ward and westward, and the attack 10 unavoid-
ably postponed.
! nave the honor to be, sir, respectfully, your
obedient servant, ST DuPoNT,
Flag Otfcer Commanding
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
Hon. GIDEON WELLRs
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington
Flag Ship Wabash, of Hilton Head.
| Port Royal Harbor, ls6I, Noe 8
Sir: have the honor to inform you that yestef-
day attacked the enemy's batteries on Bay Point
and Hilton Head-FOrts Beauregard and Walker
and succeeded In silencing them after an engage.
ment OF four hours duration, and driving away
the squadron Of rebel steamers, under Comm cd ore
Tattnall. The reconnaissance Of YESTERDAY made
us acc tainted with the superiority Of Fort Walker
and to that directed my special effort, engaging
II at distance Of first eight, and afterwards sir
hundred yards. But the plan Of attack brought
the squadron sumciently near Fort Beauregard TO
receive its fire. and the Rhins ,pere fral,nantI !.