Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-11-20
New Series---Vol. XVI, No. 4
NEWS FROM THE GREAT FLEET.
The Official Dispatches

tHo NaFy bCFaithChts
UNITED STATES FLAG SuIP WABASH, J /
Orr llILTUN HEAD, PoRT Royal HAHBoR, Z |
November 9th, 1851.
Hon. Gideon Hrjles, Secretary Of the Mary;
Sir-The Government having determined
to seize and occupy one or more Important |
points upon our Southern coast, where our
squadron might find shelter. possess depot
and afford pFutectipp to loyal citizens, com
mitted to my discretion the selection from
among those places which it thought most
available and desirable for these purposes.
! After mature deliberation, aided by the pro-
| fessional knowledge and great intelligence OF
| the Assistant Secretary, Mr.. Fox, and upon
| taking into consideration the magnitude to
| which the joint naval and military expedition
! bad been extended, to which you have called
my attention, | came to the conclusion that
the original intentions Of the department, if
! first carried out, would fall short Of the cx-
! pectatlons Of the country and of the capabih
! ties Of the expedition, while Port Royal, |
thought, would meet both in a high degree.
therefore submitted to Brigadier General
Sherman. commanding the military part of
the expedition, this modification of our earl
est matured plans. and had the satisfaction to
receive his full concurrence, though be and
! the commanders of the brigades very justly
| laid great stress upon the necessity, if posi-
ble, Of getting this frigate into the harbor OF
Port Royal.
On Tuesday, 29th October, the feet under
my command left Hampton Roads, and with
the army transports numbered fifty vessels.
On the day previous had despatched the
coal vessels, twenty FIVE in all, under convoy
of the Vandaia, Commander Haggerty, to
rendezvous off Savannah, not wishing to give
the true points. The weather had been un
settled in Hampton Roads, though it promis
ed well when we sailed, but of Hatteras it
, blew hard. Some ships got into the breakers,
and two struck, bHt without injury.
On Friday, lst November, the rough wealth
er soon increased into gale, and we had to
encounter one of great violence from the
southeast, a portion of which approached to
] d hurricane. The feet was utterly dispersed
t and on Saturday morning one sail only was
s in sight from the deck of the Wabash.
e On the following day the weather. modera
6 ted, and the steamers and ships began to re
appear. Orders, not to be opened except IN
> case of separation, were furnished to all the
men-of war by myself. and to the transports
l by Brigadier General Sherman.
0 As the vessels rejoined reports came OF dis
! asters. | expected to hear of many, but when
E the severity of the gale and the character oi
the vessels are considered, we have oply cause
for great thankfulness.
In reference to the men of war, the Isaac
Smith, most efficient and we'll armed vessel
$ for the class purchased, but not intended &c
i | encounter such seq and wind, had to throw
e ! her formidable battery overheard to keep from
+ laundering, but thus relieved, Lieut.. Comman
: ding Nicholson was enabled to 90 to the as
= sistance of the chartered steamer Governor
then in very dangerous condition. and on
board of which was our fine battalion of ma
e rines, under Major Reynolds. They were
;. finally rescued by Capt Ringgold in the Sa
l. bine under difficult circumstances, soon attel
q which the Governor vent down, and believe
seven of the marines were drowned by thei
own imprudence.
l. Lieut. Commanding Smiths conduct in tht
n Isaac Smith has met with my warm commen
= datIon.
d The Peerless, transport, in q sinking con
e dition, was met by the Mohican, Commando
! Gordon, and all the people on board, twenty
six in number, were saved under very perllou
l. circumstances, in which Lieut.. Ii. w. Mile
was very favorably noticed by his commander
l. On passing Charleston | sent in the Seneca
IS Lieut.. Commanding Amman, to direct Capt
;e Lardner to join me with the steamer susque
- hanna off Port Royal without delay.
! On Monday. at eight O'Clock in the morn
!, ing anchored off the bar with some twenty
= five vessels in company many more being Il
~ | sight
W The departing mt is aware that all the aid
- to navigation had been removed, and the ba
ar lies ten miles seaward, With no features o.
n. the shore line with sufficient prominence
make any bearings reliable But, to the ski
i1 ~ of Commander Davis, the Fleet Captain, an
u Mr. Boutele. the able assistant of the coas
at survey, in charge of the steamer Vixen, th
IN channel was Immediately found, sounded ou
It, and buOyed.
to By three o'clock | received assurances fror
"A Capt Davis that | could send forward tn
~ lighter transports. those under eighteen fee
~ with all the gunboats, which was lmmedlatel
is done, and before dark they were securel
OF anchored in the roadstead of Port Roya
,h South Carolina.
ID The gunboats almost Immediately Opene
r. their batteries upon two or three Rebel steam
:. ers. under Commodore Tatnall instantly cha
ing him under the shelter of their batteries
4 In the morning Commander John Roger
st, of the United States steamer Flag, tempora
st lily on board this ship, and acting on my Stai
lis accompanied Brigadier Gen. Wright, in Il
bv gunboat Ottowa, Lieutenant Commandir
bv ! Nicholson, made a reconnaissance IN fore
and drew the fre of the batteries on HiltC
Head and Bay Point, sufficiently to show th
y the Notifications were works of strength al
u scientifically constructed In the evening
ess Monday Capt Davis and Mr.. Boutelle repOl
* ed water enough for the Wabash to enter
- Che responsibility of hazarding so noble
ay frigate was not light one. Over proionn
ay- ed bar of over two miles there was but 10
,ar or two of water to spare, and the fall and RI
:, of the tide is such that if she had ground
os e, she would have sustained most serious inJn
|! from straining, if not probably Lost. 7
D., much, however, was at stake TO hesltate' al
the the result was entirely successful
IN On the morning Of Tuesday the Waba
the crossed the bar followed closely by the trigs
get susquehanna, the Atlantic Vanderbilt a