The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-11-13
The War ON the Coast.
From the Mercury of tho 7th inst
From Port Rovsl

"c'e yestcruhy from savannah RIO
beaufort, >. Z. and vicinity. Captain Peck
passed Hilton Head on Monday afternoon
ABOUT p IN, Mt which time cannonadc
was taxing place between some of Com.
tnodorc Tatnall's fleet aud few Of the
smaller vessels of the enemy's squadron
The latter were some four or five mile, cui
side of tho Hilton Head fort, but were ir.
side the bar ; the last being some ciuh, or
nine miles below Fort Walker, on liiIton
Head. The larger vessels Of the fleet were
not inside the bar. After firing abou, TWEEN.
ty or .."!r'v minutes, both parties retired
our vessels going near :hA fort, and the
enemy's proceeding outside The bar. No
ships were seen ashore, nor were any sunk,
and, so far as was observed, our bn;tr FicS
did not fire gun, the LncOinit"s being
some four or five miles off
Capt. Peck is under the impression that
they intend landing on Hilton Head Island
between Fort Walker on the north end and
the batteries at Braddock's Point. In
smooth weather they can land on the beach
from their boats with facility. and they had
several large Transports anchored about
tour miles off, stretching along the island
shore. Should this be their plan, they pro.
badly intend 10 attack the fortified portions
both by laUd and sea We are Informed
that the larger vessels of the fleet cannot
approach the sca-shore of the island nearer
than Tour miles, and that they would have
TO come inside tho bar and up the channel
to bombard Fort Walker.
From the Savannah Republican, Of YES
tcrday morning we have later account
That paper says:
(rpn u NtT Inn rnt,, - a..
last evening, having visited the Southern
point of Hilton Head during the day, in
Order to ascertain ~ far as possible. tb,
movements Of the enemy's feet. Cartain
Stewart, whom he saw on the island, said
an engagement commenced between seven
vessels of the feet and the fort at Hilton
Head, about seven O'Clock Tuesday morn.
ing. IL was kept mp for II considerable time
on both sides. when n large steamer. be.
coming disabled. was towed ont of rroch
Another vessel went ashore. and at the last
accounts Commodore TulnalI was at Il con.
venient distance with his little feet pouring
heavy fire into her sides
Immediate steps have been taken To Cur
nlsh all necessary assistance to the garrison,
at Port Royal. Captain Read. with pnr.
ton Of his artillery corps, left last uight on
the iiatteras, and Col. Spauldug's regiment
655 strong, will leave on the ST. Marys
this morning
We hear that Commodore TatnalI had
slight brush with the enemy on Monday
afternoon Being at Port Royal with nj,
nect, IN order 10 test the range Of his rams.
he ran out and fired iew shots into the
squadron. They were returned, first with
small shot hich fell short, then with shell,
which passed completely over our liuI,
ieet. About this time there WIS move
ment among the large ships Of the squad
ron, "hereup"n the Commodore retired.
Savannah, Nov. THE steamer s, Va.
rys has just arrived from Hilton Head
Passengers report that an engagement
between our batteries ut Port Royal and
the anEee fleet commcnccd at hali.past
nine o'clock, this morning.
large three decker was towed up and
took position in front of our batteries, at
the North end Of Hilton Head.
The fleet attempted to pass the batteries
and seven OF the largest steamers, in "A few
moments succeeded. They moved out Of
range OF the batteries and were lying in the
bay. The firing from the batteries was
continuous and heavy.
PocATALIGo, November 8. 3 n m.-Our
batteries at BAY Point and Hilton Head
have been abandoned by the gu7risons -
The enemy have possession of Port ROYAL
harbor and Broad River. All the inhubi,
tants have left Beaufort, taking with them
such of their effects as they cou,I carry off
The town snow almost de.ertri IL il
presumed that the enemy will effect "A Ian
ding ,o day, either ut Beaufort or at some
point in the immediate neghborhood
SECOND DESPATCH.
SAVANNAH, November 8-3 =. m.-Vbe
steamer Sampson has arrived from Port
Royal, bringing some of on. msa WHO
were wounded in the engagement ye,ler
day. The principal fighting took place di.
recty between Fort Walker II. Hilton
Head, and the Oattcriers on the other side.
nj Bay Point. When the NgmpsOn ref,
Port Royal, fifteen Of the Yankee vessels
were inside, and several outside The gar-
rson Of Fort Walker consisted Of five hun
dred men, and 300 more were posted np.
on the Island, outside the Fort Tin.
steamship Minnesota was tho first vessel to
run the gauntlet Of our batteries She was
rapidly folio by the Others They then
attacked our forces simultaneously from
three sides. After the second round from
the fleet the principal gun in our battery
was dismounted. The engagement lasted
about five hours. All tie guns in Fort
Walker were dismountcd, except two
The post, being then no longer considered
tennbIe, the two remaining guns were also
dismonnied, and the magazine was arranged
40 as to blow up when the enemy enters.
10 total loss on our side was about one
hundred, Killed and wounicd.
THIRD pI~PATCH.
PocotaIigo, Nov. $40 p. m-Gcn. Day
ton and his command rctrcated in two sI.a.
mers by way of POpe's Ferry in safety. and
are now at BIuiiton. The last REPORT of
the casualties received here, makes the
number between thirty and forty. Gen.
Dunnovant retr-ated by way of I.ady's Is
land and Beaufort. to Port Royal Ferry.
Beaufort, probably, will not be- burned.
a great deal of cotlan on the Islands will
fall into the hands Of the enemy. Bluff,on
will be burned, il attacked
The points of danger now, are: The rail
road, at Pocoi"ligo, Charleston and Savan-
nah.
The Command ofihe Southern Coast