Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-11-21
CUMBERLAND, MD. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 81, 1861.

not intended to encounter such sea and
wind had to throw her formidable batter J
overheard to keep from laundering, but
thus relieved, Lieutenant commanding
Nicholson was enabled to 60 to the as
sistance of the chartered steamer Gov
ernor, then in a very dangerous condi-
tion, and on board of which was our
fine battalion of marines, under Major
Reynolds. They were finally rescued
by Captain Ringgold in the Sabine un-
der difficult circumstances, soon after
which the Governor went down, and /
believe seven of the marines were drown
ed by their own imprudencc.
Lieutenant Commanding Nicholson's
conduct in the Isaac Smith has met
with my warm commendation.
The Peerless, transport, in sinking
condition, was met by the Mohican,
Captain Godon, and all the people on
board, twenty-six in number, were saved
under very perilous circumstances, in
which Lieutenant H. W. Miller was
very favorabIy noticed by his commander.
On passing Charleston, sent in the
Seneca, 1t. Commanding Amman, to
direct Captain Lardner to join me with
the steamer Susquehanna off Port Royal
without delay.
On Monday, at 8 clock in the morn
ing, I anchored off the bar with some
twenty-five vessels in company, many
more being in sight. r
The Department is aware that all the
aids to navigation had been removed,
and the bar lies ten miles seaward, with
no features on the shore line with suf-
ficient prominence to make any bearings
reliable. But, to the skill of Com
mander Davis, the feet captain, and
Mr.. Boutelle, the able assistant of the
coast survey, in charge of the steamer
| flAeu, VIC ClaHuel Wab lIuuleuidtciy
found, sounded out and buoyed.
By three o'clock received assurances
from Capt Davis that could send for
ward the lighter transports, those under
eighteen feet, with all the gunboats,
which was Immediately done, and before
dark they were securely anchored in the
roadstead of Port Royal, South Carolina.
The gunboats almost Immediately O.
pened their batteries upon two or three
rebel steamers, under Commodore Tat
nall, instantly chasing him under the
shelter of their batteries. '.'.'.
In the morning Commander John
Rogers. of the U. S. steamer Flag, tenn
porarily on board this ship, and acting
on my staff, accompanied Brig Gen.
Wright, in the gunboat Ottawa, Lieut..
Commanding Stevens, and supported by
the Seneca, Lieut. Commanding Mich
olson, made a reconnaissance in force,
and drew the fire of the batteries on
Hilton Head and Bay Point sufficiently
to show that the Notifications were works
of strength and scientifically y constructed
In the evening of Monday Captain Da-
Wis and Mr.. Boathelle reported water
enough for the Wabash to enter in.
The responsibility of hazarding so
noble frigate was not a light one. -
Over prolonged bar of over two miles
there was but foot or two of water to
spare, and the fall and rise of the tide |
is such that if she had grounded she
would have sustained most serious in
ury from straining, if not probably 10 st.
Too much, however, was at stake to hes
tate, and the result was entirely sue.
,essful.
On tie morning of Tuesday the Wa
bash crossed the bar, followed closely by
he trigatc Susquchanna, the Atlantic.
Vanderbilt and other transports of deep
lraft, which was hailed BY gratifying
cheers from the crowded vessels.
We anchored and Immediately COM
nenced preparing the ship for action,
'ut the delay of planting buoys, partic-
llarly on tho fishing reef, dangerous
hoal VIC had to avoid, rendered the
lour late before it was possible to move
With the attacking squadron. In our
nxiety to get tho outline of the forts
,efore dark, we stood in too near this
hoal, and the ship grounded BY the
ime she was gotten of it was too late,
n my judgment, to proceed. and made
ignal for the squadron to anchor out Of
unshot from the enemy.
To-day the wind blows gale from
he southwark and eastward, and the at
ack is unavoidably postponed. /,
l have the honor to be, sir, respect
lilly, your obedient servant,
S. +. Dupont.