Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-11-23


their FIRE, regardless alike Of bursting ebells
bumming projectiles and whirripg round shot
which plunged into the water from a quartz
to half q mile away. The distance betweei
the two Notifications is two miles and six
teDtbs and the water makes q swift passag,
through the straits between them.
The current was setting 10 when th'
engagement commenced, and as none OF th,
vessels could remain stationary before eitbe
battery, unless they had anchors out, it wa,
determined that the forts should be passed
and fred into alternately. Accordingly th,
vessels entered the bay on the northern side
not more than eight hundred yards from Bay
Point battery, into which each delivered fire
from its starboard guns. Then they swept
Ground 10 circuit Of mile or mile aud Q
half, and bore down towards Hilton Head
4 upon which the contents of the port broad
sides we're thrown. The four larger vessels
alone performed this manGusre, while the
remaining eight eun'boats participating 10
.he battle took positions about q mile north
Of the Notifications, into which they threw
increasingly destructive enfilading fire.
From my point of observation, on The
Atlantic, about three miles from the com
batants, the operations, both aAoat and
ashore, were very we'll seen by the aid of a
powerful telescope belonging to the Engineer
corps OF tie expedition.
After the first attack upon Bay Point,
during which several ricoshetipg shells burst
plumpy within the battery, and others in
tree tops far beyond it, scattering destruction
amid the soldiers who we're concealed 10 the
vicinity, the vessels comparatively neglected
it., allowing it to blaze away with only an
occasional rejoinder, while they devoted
themselves to extnguishing the ERE at Hilton
Head.
| In describing their circuit and delivering
the fire, the steamers, each time consumed
about an hour. AS the Wabash came down
on the second round, she thuudered forth her
salutations at distance of not more than
six hundred yards from the battery, and, as
her shells exploded, large columns of dust
would rise, indicating the point where tie
fragments struck and ploughed the ground.
On the third round am told that she sp.
preached two hundred yards nearer than
before, and made awful havoc, sending shells
in various parts Of the woods within range
Of three miles, in order that the Rebels,
supposed TO be concealed there, might be
driven from their hiding places.
What is true respecting the firing Of the
Wabash, is also the fact regarding that Of the
Susque ehanna, Mohican, Vandaie, and others.
Each vessel discharged her broadside at the
shortest possible range.
But the enemy was by no means inactive.
Some OF his guns were rifed, and not one Of
them was poorly served. The red shirts OF
their gunners were seen above the parapets
OF their works during the hottest part of the
light, and the bravery and pluck displayed
excited the involuntary encomiums of the
spectators. That their workmanship was
good, the torn hulls and cut rggiugs of our
vessels, rather than the number of killed and
wounded 90 board of them furnish full evi.
dence. Three OF their guns seemed to have
been dismounted almost sim ultaneously when
the firing had been in progress three huurs
and then, for the first time, was there any
waverng on their part. 1t subsequently was
ascertaned that the shells which threw over
the guos did fearful execution upon the
artl1erists, and caused the partial silence of
the battery.
The Wabash and other vessels sgaiu, for
the fourth time, made detour, while the
gun boats continued to throw 10 their fierce
enfladlng fire, which now received but q
feeble reply from the fort. By the time that
the feet was again in front of the enemy, he
wss obssrvea 20 DO ~-e-.ius Lis U-sso.J.
Men we're Fastening across a meadow to the
shelter OF piece Of woods, about half mile
in the rear, carrying with them their wounded,
baggage, &c. This was precisely q quarter
before three o'clock, and 10 few moments
afterwards the Rebels struck their fog,
raising white one upon the staff.
The signal to cease firing was at once given
by the flag ship which lowered boat and
sent it ashore, carrying flag of truce at the
bow, and our own proud banner at the stern.
Captain John Rogers, a passenger on the
Wabash, who had come down to Join bis
vessel, the Flag, now blockading off Charles
ton. volunteered to take the boat ashore,
which he did, himself and crew being anarm-
ed but there was no one there to receive
them. No time was lost by the sailors n
planting The United States ensign upon the
extreme outer parspet of the fortlfication,
while Captain Rogers displayed the beloved
emblem OF our nationality upon the flag
staff OF building few rods to the right,
from which the rebel standard had just been
token down.
| Who shall describe the enthusiasm with
which this glorious victory was received
The minds of the eager spectators Of the
| tight had been in measure prepared for it
by seeing the boat 60 ashore with flag OF
truce, aud as soon as our flag was planted
upon the parapet, cheer followed cheer from
the vessels. Tears Of joy filled many eyes
and hands were cordially shaken and congrat-
ulations freely expressed. Some, in the
exuberauce Of their exultatiog, danced wildly
and clappek their baEds, until it became q
matter Of doubt that they would ever cease
their antics. The ebullitior Of patriotic ferveI
was not decreased 10 the least when the
regimeutal bands played, with hearty feeling
the "Star Spangled Banner" whose majesty
had been so signally viudicated.
The transports had been lying, during the
action with their anchors "hove short" ready
to run up with the troops at the first sign o
victory. They Immediately steamed towarC
the fort, awakening echoes by the cheers
which burst spontaneously from the soldiers
in acknowledgment of the prowess Of the
Navy, as each ship that had been in the battl'
was passed.
Meantime, Lieut.. Barnes OF the Wabash
had made landing with his battalion o
sailors, whom he stationed ss seDtinels abou
the fort, placing his pickets about 200 fee
from the water limit OF the work. Everything
about the battery and the encampmeDt Il
the right of it Indicated that its late occupant
had decampsd in hurry. probably under th
Influence of panic. Not one OF the twenty
three guos forming the battery was spiked
and they we're al in complete order 70
! defending the place by our troops in case {