The national Republican., 1861-11-14
No. l..
NO. I,
FLAG SHIP WABASH,


No. l.
FLAG SHIP WABASH,
of Hilton Head, Port Royal Harbor,
November 1861.
SIR: The Government having determined to
seize aud occupy one or more important points
on our Southern coast. where our squadron
might fhd shelter, sni possess a depot and
afford protection to loyal citizens, committed
TO my discretion the selection from among
those places which It thought most available
and desirable for these parposes. Alter ma
ture deliberation, aided by the professional
knowledge and great intelligence of the as
sistant secretary. Mr.. Fox, and upon taking
into consideration the magnitude to which the
join, naval and military expedition has been
extended, to which you have called my attan-
ton. I came to the conclusion that the original
intentions Of the Department, If first carried
out, would fall short of the expectations Of The
country aud OF the capabilities the expedition,
in high degree.
| therefore su mitted to Brig. General Sher
man. commanding the military part OF the ex
p dition. the modii,a ,atiou Of our earliest ma
tuged plans, and had the satisfaction to receive
his full concurrence, though hs and the com
N luders of the brigales very justly laid great
stress on the necessity, if possible, ot getting
this frigate into the harbor OF Port Royal. On
Tuesday. the 29h of October, the feet under
my command. LETT Hampton Roads, and With
The army transports numbered fifty vessels.
On the day previous, had dispatched the coal
vessels. twenty-five in all. under convoy of the
Vandalla, Comm lnder Haggerty, TO orendezvous
off Savannah not wishing TO give the true point
The weather had been unsettled in Hampton
Roads. though it promised well when We sailed;
but off Hatteras It blew hard. Some ships gotinto
the breakers, and Two struck, but without in
jury.
On Friday, the lst November, rough weather
soon increased into Il gale and we had to en-.
counter one Of great violence from the souIn.
east, portion of which approached to hur-
ricane. The feet was utterly dispersed. ard
on Saturday morning one sail only was in sight
from the deck of the WabQsh.
On the following day the weather moderated.
and the steamers and ships began to reappear
Orders mot opened except in case of separa
tom were furnished to all the men ofwar by
myself, and to the transports by Brig. Gen.
Sherman.
Az the vessels rejoined, reports came in #
disasters. ] expected 10 hear of many, but
when the severity of tn gale, and the char
acter of the vessels are considered, We have
only cause for great thankfulness.
In reference 10 the men-of.war, the Isaac
Smith, most Efficient and well-armed vessel
for the class purchased. but not intended for
such sea aud winG. had to throw her formi.
dable battery overheard but thus relieved,
Lieutenant Commanding Nicholson was en-
abled to 90 to the assistance of the chartered
steamer Governor, then in a very dangerous
condition, and on bo ard Of which was our fine
battalion OF marines, under Major Reynolds
They were finally rescued by Capt Ringgold,
in the Sabine, under difficult circumstances,
soon sfter which the Governor went down. /
believe seven of the marines were drowned by
their own imprudence.
Lieut.. Commanding Ncholson's conduct in
the Isaac Smith has met with my warm com.
mcndation. The Peerless, transport in sink
ing condition. was met by the Mohcan, Com
mander Godon. All the people on board,
twenty-six in number, were saved, under peril
ous circumstances, in which service Lieut.. H.
w. Miller was very lavorably noticed by his
commander.
On passing Charleston, | rent in the Seneca,
Lieut.. Commanding Ammen to direct Capt.
Lardner to ] lin me With the steamer Susque-
hanna off Port Royal, without delay. On
Monday, at eight o'clock in the morning,
anchored Off the bar, with some twenty-five
vessels in company, with many more heaving
in sight.
The Department is aware that all the aids io
navigation had been removed, and the bar
lies ten miles seaward, with no features
on the shore line with sufficient promi.
nence to make any bearings reliable. But
to The skill Of Commander Davis, the fee
r1ptain, and Mr. Bou!ele the able assista N
of the Coast Survey, In charge Of the
steamer Vixen, the channel was immediate
ly found, sounded out, and buoyed. By thre,
o'clock received assurances from Capt Davis
that / could send forward the lighter trans
ports, those under eighteen feet, with all the
gunboats which was Immediately done a; anC
before dark they were securely anchored il
the roadstead of Port Royal, South Carolina
The gunboats almost Immediately opened thoi
batteries upon two Of the rebel steamers, under
Commodore Tattnall, instantly chasig hin
under the shelter Of the batteries.
In the morning, Commander John Rodgers
of the United States ste. mer Flng, ten nOraril,
on board thi' ship, anl actinS on my staff, DC
compan'ed Brigii or General Wright in >h'
gunboat Ottawa, (Lirl'. C,ud'g s. .vens,) 40,
supported by the Seneca CL.eu;. Comd'l
Nicholson,) made 4 reconnaissance IN force, anC
drew the fire of the batteries on Hilton llpa,