The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-11-19
THE PORT ROYAL ENGAGEMENT.

Authentic accounts show that it was one of the
most terrific fights record. Soldiers in the
Crimea say there was nothing like it in the memo
rable seiges of that celebrated campaign. The
fire from the feet fell upon the devoted garrison
ike storm of hail for five consecutive hours, So
rapid were the reports ofthc guns that it was diff
icult to distinguish between them. One contin-
uous roar was kept up throughout the fight,
The battry on Hilton Head (Walker's) consist.
ed Of one lO-inch columbad, one S-inch do, ono
rifle cannon and seventeen "a and 30 FOUNDERS
The fort is common earth structure, but very
strong of its kind, and the width of the bay, "a
miles, proved from the beginning that feet of
such power was obliged to enter with an effort
The Bay Point battery, just opposite, on st. Hele
ma Island, had II guns, and there was but little
risk in swift steamers passing mile and quarter
from each The ships disposed so as to di-
rect their fire from three points. The achieve
ment, in itself, is of little consequence but it is
important in that it gives the enemy foothold on
coast and possession Of cf our best harbors
Our force in the battery while the fight was
progressing amounted to about 220 men, the rest
Of the troops being disposed in the and with
in the distance of mile The greater portion of
the loss occurred outside, from the bursting of
shells, which were rained large district OF
territory. The German Artillery Company from
Charleston, who were the fort, fought like
tigers. Our ordered to retreat when
their powder was nearly exhausted, the holding
of the battery had become hopeless, and the
enemy had it in their power to cut off their re-
treat They left in good order, followed by
shower of shells from the ships. Fortunately
considerable number of steamers were lying in
deep creek that skirts the west side of the island
which enabled, it is thought, our entire forces to
make safe their retreat. A portion landed at
Bluffton and other points on the Carolina shore,
and another the largest, was brought by Com.
TattnalPs feet to Savannah. S@
Col. Wagner, of the German Artillery was in
command Of the fort. Gen. Drayton was also
present throughout the fight, and Gen. Ripley
arrived about 10 o'clock a'aa s'sf
Com IattnalPs feet was present, aiding the
fort to the full extent Of its power, and all are
loud in their praise Of the intrepidity and daring
Of its heroic commander. OF his feet, the Lady
Davis and the Huntress were cut off, and went on
to Charleston. 75E " f@
Com Tattnall, after his flagship was crippled
by SHE'LL retired to Scull Greek, and landed his
marines and powder to give aid to the fort, but
before reaching it he discovered the United States
flag flying on the hospita he then retraced his
steamer. .aaa sa - 5s7s s@e t
The garrison at Bay Point commanded by
Capt Stephen Elliott lnade good their escape, and
at last accounts were engaged in throwing up a
battery Mt Port Royal Ferry, near Beaufort.
Capt VIM. Elliot's company, which garrisoned
the work on Braddock's Point, South end of tho
island retrcated in small boats and many Of
them, with their baggage, were picked by up tho
steamer Leesburg, from Savannah, and landed on
the opposite shore. They burnt their stores and
left their tents behind them. ssrs gahss
All the records and papers Of the 9th South
Carolina Regiment, together with the stores were
left behind and fell into the hands of the enemy
The killing of an Aid TO Gen. Drayton, and the
woundBg of the General himself, are false reports.
Our hospital was fye hundred yards from the
fort, and bad the yellow flag flying, yet the van
dals sent three balls entirely through it; fortu
nately, however, injuring no one. s'ss'a@-
We learn that the guns were taken from the
Lady Davis and Huntress and placed in battery
at Port Royal Ferry, where, under command of
Col DonoTsnt, with his regiment, stand Wilt be
made. II
Messrs Pope and Baynard, who reside on
Hilton Head, set fire to every building on their
premises and their crops, leaving mass of ruins
behind them to fall into the hands of the enemy
The citizens of Beaufort have all deserted the
town-the men for the army and the rest for the
interior.-Sav Republican, 9th.