St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-11-14
TELEcRAFElC.G
THE NAVAL EXPEDITION
/. A SUCCESS. #s@35

THE NAVAL EXPEDITION
& A SUCCESS. ss'
A Great Victory In Kentucky.
INTERESTING NEWS. =: r.
J sPH11ADl1 pn1A, Nov. 12.-Thc znq.i;,
rer has the following from Fort Monroe,
derived from rebel source. In anticipa-
ton Of the arrival of the great expedition
tile. rebels have been engaged III erecting
batteries upon point at Hilton's Head
and on the. opposite neck Of lanl ,.,. The
principal ratification on Hilton's head was
denominated Fort Walker 1t is situated
on low land, and partially concealed by
trees and unlcrbrush. Adjoining it were
other batteries Of smaller size, but so con-
nccted as to prove q formidable bar to the
entrance of vessels. Fort Beaufort was Of
considerable Importance, having been
mounted with heavy guns. The garrisons
arc supposed to have been South Carolina
regiments, assisted by additional regiments
sent from Richmond. Near the batteries
a, Bay Point, opposite Hilton's Head, were
others equally as formidable.~. Inside of
Pert Royal entrance, and beyond the bat
teries, lay the feet Of Commodore Tatnall,
which consisted Of small. vessels, carrying
y few heavy guns, but principally light
ones. Tugs constituted a great proportion
Of the feet. Many OF them remained out
side the entrance till the arrival of our
feet, when they formed in miniature line
Of battle, il the position already stated, be-
yond the guns Of their own forts and across
the entrance. ....
On tine morning Of Thursday last, the
United States feet, numbering fort, two
vessels, headed by the flagship, approach
ed the mouth Of Pert Royal entrance
This was at half-past nine clock. Sever.
al Of the transports renamed of the coast.
Upon arriving ut suitable position, the
guns Of the feet opened continuous fire
upon Forts Walker and Bcauregard, as
we'll as upon those of Bay Point. .,....:
Under cover Of this fire, an effort was
made 70 run the gauntlet Of batteries, which
thy did. A number of the vessels passed
through the fire from the shore batteries
with very trifing injury ut least fifteen
Of them succeeded in passing up beyond
the reach Of the land batteries. As the
Union feet sailed up, the musquito feet
Of latnall opened fire, but seeing the i'm
possibility OF making any resistance, soon
dispersed. Some were forced to run on
shore others we're driven up the lnlets
out Ut sight. Com. .Tatnall went on shore
with his men to assist in working the bat
teries, AMI use them against our vessels,
which were endeavorins to follow the adj
vance Of the others. The passage Of the
t1cet through the channel was net accom-
plishcd until the firing had continued from
half-past in the morning, till nearly 5 in
the e'ening. Que Of the Union gun boats
is believed to have been burned and three
steamers disabled 1t is acknowledged by
the enemy that they had twenty men Kill
led in tort Walker, but it is impossible
to state what thsis loss was at tie other
batteries. Doubtless it was very great, as
our fire is said to h We been very effective,
aud ,roul guns we'll aimed aud of heavy
cal,bre. ..: -. .,.
No sooner did our vessels 80 past. tho
batteries at Port Royal entrance and glide
into what is termed Broad river, than they
made tor the mouths Of the Inlet, Leading
to Beaufort, Savannah and Charleston, -
These they Immediately blockaded,. but
not in time to prevent the escape OF the
small rebel vessels. Not one Of the Fed
eral vessels was sunk, aud the only one be-
lieved to have been destroyed by fire was
the gun boat referred to above. - The crew
are said to have passed through q murder
Gus tire to another vessel, which they reach.
ed with very little ifany loss. =,
| 1he Union. vessels acted under special
instructions in blockading the lnlets
which led to most important points and
which afforded loopholes Of escape t, the
enemy. While portion of the fleet en-
tered upon this duty, four ships: made at
once tor Beaufort, at 3 o'clock on Thurs
Gay these vessels were id sight OF the
town. ~. :. .;
| A dispatch dated Beauford, Nov. Z, to-
the Charleston Me'c curry, says that at that
time the ;Union forces were preparing to
land, evidently with the desi; "a Of, throw
ing up llntrencha>ents aud attacking the
town. We have no means 81 knowing tho
extent aud loss OF the rebel forces, but the
rebels confess their own fortune :was very
bad, aud that their artillery arm was sadly
i'll want Of practice. ~ They declare, most
posatisely, that the guns ut the Fort were
not properly mounted. II ..si1 :,.,;.:AN ?;5.
When Commodore Tatnall went to as.
sist at the Forts, he found that many of
the cannon were dismouuted BY theirown
rebound. 10 this the rebel journals attri-
butte their ucteat. aud loudly call nnnn. thu