Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-11-20
IMPORTANT WAR NEWS.
GLORIOUS VICTORY BY THE FLEET


at Beanfort-The inhabitants fed to Charles
ton---The official reports etc, etc.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.-Captain Stedman
arrived to-day at noon, bringing the official
dispatches from the expedition. He Is also
the bearer oil two rebel flags, one palmetto
flag, two brass cannon, and the American flag
first hoisted in South Carolina over Fort Wal
ker. Capt. Sted oman reports that the captured
forts are magnificent with covered ways and
bomb proofs. All that our troops had to do
was to occupy them and they can be held
against any force. He reports the gale en-
countered by the feet to have been very Sc
we're. The Union and Osceola went ashore and
were lost as previously reported The Gov
ernor foundered at sea, but the Isaac L.
Smith succeeded in saving all her crew with
the exception of a few marines. On Tuesday
the smaller gun boats rounded and buoyed
out the channel under fire from the forts
which did no damage. On Wednesday the
weather prevented active operations, but on
Thursday morning the eth the men-of- war and
gun boats advanced to the attack. The action
commenced at 50 a. m. and was hotly carried
on by both sides and lasted four hours. At the
end of which time the rebels were compelled
by the shower of shells to abandon their works
and beat hasty retreat. Rebel loss not known.
Fifty bodies were found by our men and were
buried. All their wounded except two were
carried off. Two forts were captured-FOrt
three guns and Fort Beauregard on Bay Point
mounting nineteen guns. The guns were Of
heavy calibre. They were both new and
splendid earthwo rks, of great strength, con-
structed in the highest style OF military sci
ence and pronounced by our Engineers as
impregnable against any assault by land forces.
The final retreat of the rebels was perfect
route. They left everything. arms, equip
ments OF all kinds, even,to the officers swords
and commissions. All the letters and papers,
both public and private, ,order books and docu
ments of all kinds, Were left in their flight and
fell into our hands, affordng our officers much
valuable information. Among the papers was
telegram from JEFF Davis to the commander
of the post, informing them of the sailing of
the fleet and that he knew their destination
to be Port Royal. (Query who was the tra-
tor?) The whole surrounding country was
seized with q perfect panic. The day after
the fight the Seneca and two other gun boats
under command of iLieut. Amman, proceeded
up to Beaufort, and found but one white man
in the town, and he was drunk. ALI the plan
tations up the river seemed to be deserted ex-
cept by the negroes who were seen in great
numbers and who as the boats passed came
down to the shore with bundles in their hands
as if expecting to be taken oft. They seized
all the letters in the post office at Beaufort.
After the capture of the forts the whole army
about fifteen thousand men, were safely landed
aud established on shore. The forts were but
little injured, but the rebels could not stand
the explosion OF our big shells. The force
of the enemy, as ascertaincd from their papers
was from three to four Thousand men under
General Drayton OF South Carolina. Our vic
tory is complete, the enemy leaving every
thing but their lives, which they saved by rum
ming. The boats from the Wabash were the
first TO land after the fight, and Capt. John
Rogers was the first man on shore. The boats
returned loaded with valuable trophies oil, all
kinds. One of our officers finding an elegant
cavalry sword with solid silver scabbard.
Swords, pistols. etc. ,etc., were scattered about
in every direction and in any quantity. But
four prisoners were found, two of whom were
wounded, All hands connected with the ex-
pedition are represented as acting in the most
gallant manner. Among the more efficient
vessels were found to be the new gun-b boats,
and of which the Navy Department had %
constructed tor such purposes, and their sue
cess both in the gale and under fire was per-
feet. Commodore Drayton, who commanded
the Pocohantas, is a brother of General Dray-
ton who commanded the rebel forts, and Cap
tain Stedman who brings the dispatches, is
the son of a former mayor Of Charleston.
The Tribune's special report from Fortress
Monroe says that OF Thursday corning the en-
tire fleet formed into two grand lines for the
fight. The steamer Beinville hanked the
movement which was in a circle, first deliver
ing broadsides into Fort Beauregard, on the
| northwest, and as the feet came round raking
Fort Walker on the southwest. Both Forts
| responded vigorously. The Pawnee and Mo-
! hcan having for the time being got aground,
were considerably damaged. The lombard.
| ment lasted between three and four hours,
| when the rebel flag on Fort Walker came
| down. The rebel loss is sopposed to be 200.
Gen. Drayton commanded at Fort Walker and
| Col. Elliott at Fort Beauregard. The rebels
| retired across Scull creek to village % miles
1 Sstz
! tend to make stand The negroes had al
ready begun to destroy Beaufort-the white
population having fled to Charleston by small
steamers through the inland route. 1t is un-
derstood that Gen. Sherman will improve the
| defences OF his possession before making any
| forward movement. In the Forts was a large
| supply of ammunition and stores of tie best
description. Commodore Dupont will imme-
| diately survey the harbor, place buoys and
erect lights, and the position will be made
| pertinent base OF operations. Every one en-
| tered into the fight with the determination
| that the forts should be silenced though it
should cost the entire fleet. The fleet stood
between six hundred and eight hundred yards
| off the Forts, and used five second fuses, and
poured shell into them at the rate of two thou
aand per hour. Not single she'll sent by the
| rebels burst in ship. The w abash was struck
several times was most OF the fleet, but
/ every ship was in fighting position when the
rebels took to their heels. The surgeon of
Fort Walker was killed. At Charleston the
/ next day thirteen minute guns were fired, in
| dicative of the burial OF a Brigadier. General
Sherman has hundreds, perhaps thousands, of
negro laborers at his command to work on the
new entrenchments. A terrible panic prevails
at Savannah and it is believed that the capture
of that city could be easily effected. Not
/ withstanding the heavy calibre of the guns in
the rebel forts and their abundant supply of
/ ammunition, as the subsequent discoveries