The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-14
Splendid Conduct of Our Sailors
and Soldiers in the Storm
and Under Fire.
n Alto N AL = ALUT II,
&c., Sc, &c.

The United States steamer Bcnvfe, Captain steed
man. which formed part the grea. expedition against
The Southern coast arrived at this port hast evening 1T
seven o'clock, bringing full accounts Of the triumph Of
she national arms at Port Royal and Beaufort.
The BcnvalIe touched at Old Point on Tuesday after
noon where she landed her captain who PROCEEDED direct
70 Washington bearer of dispatches taking with him.
trophies, two brass cannon, flags and rebel
documents She also landed At Old Point s. s. Bradford
q the Coast Survey bearer Of dispatches Lieutenant
\. Il. wymsn Of the Pswnec, who comes home on sick
lssye.
The Mcnville left Port Royal Sunday morning She
reports gale encountered by tho have been
very The Union and Osceofn went ashore and
we're lost previously reported Tho Governor foun-
Asssd sea- but the Smith succeeded saving
AN her crew with the exception Of seven marines.
1ne feet arrived at Port Royal Monday the4h inst
q Tuesday the smaller gunboats rounded into tho channel
under Are from the FORTS which did no damage. On
Wednesday the weather prevented active operations
Thursday morning, It'll inst, the war and the
gunboats advancedLto the attack.
Tho action commenced ut ten o'clock A. NJ Thurs.
day. and hotiy carried both Sides and lasted
about four hours at the end Of which time the rebels
were compelled by the shower Of Shells abandon their
works and beat hasty retreat.
Tho rebel force, asceraincd from their papers, was
om three TO four thousand men, under the command Of
General Drayton Of South Carolina Fort Beauregard was
commanded by Colonel H. NJ Dnnovant formerly captain
IN the United States Army.
Two forts capturcd--Fort Walker on Hilton Head
nounting twentythree guns, and Fort Beauregard on
Bay Point, mounting nineteen guns. Tho guns wore Of
hsavy calibre The forts both new, and splendid
sarhwoks Of great strength constructed in the highest
style Of military science and pronounced by our en-
sineers as impregnable against any assault by land
forces.
They situated opposite sides Of she hsrbor the
distance between them being about two and half miles
m the direction Of northwest and southeast.
Tho Gna retreat Of the rebels perfect rout They
lsft everything arms and equipments Of all kinds,
20 the officers swords and commissions All the letters
and papers, both public and private order books and
documents Of all kinds left in their fight, and fe
INTO hands, affordng officers much valuable in
formation Among the papers despatch from Jcff
Davis to the commander Of the post informing him OF the
sailing Of The feet and that he knew their destination
be Port Royal.
After the capture Of the forts the whole army-about
coo safely landed and established on shore
Tho forts but little injured, but the rebels could
not stand the explosion Of our big shells.
Our victory 10 complete the rebels leaving everything
but their lives, which they saved by running.
Tho whole surrounding country was seized with per
feet panic.
The day after the fight tho Seneca two other gun.
boats under the command Of Lieutenant Anmcp, pro