Smyrna times., 1861-11-21
Complete Success of the Navo
Expedition.
Army SAFELY LANDED.
The Victory Almost BIoodl sss.

The expedition arrived off Port Royal on
Sunday, Nov. ga portion of the fleet, how.
ever, being detained by the gale. The steam
ers Etren and Mercury were sent on Monday
morning TO sound the channel, and were soon
followed by several of the gunboats, which
were fired upon by the batteries Of Fort Beau.
regard. The rebel Commodore Tatnsll also
attacked them with his gunboats, but darkness
put an end to the contest tor that day. On
Tuesday morning, the 4th, the whole fleet en-
! tered the harbOr, and Gems. Sherman, Wright
and Stevens made a reconnaissance, to ascer.
tain the location of the rebel batteries by draw.
ing their FIRE. At o'clock A. NJ, the enemy
opened fire from their batteries and gunboats
the NatiOna fleet responding with prompitude
and telling effect Our gunboats withdrew
abont O'Clock, having gained full knowledge
of the location and strength ofthe enemy's bat
! teGies In the afternoon the heavy men, Of. wal
moved inward TO get into position, but the Wa
! bash grounded, where she remained an hour
aud half This Circumstance postponed the
general engagement. On Wednesday, the 9th,
the weather was stormy and unfavorable, and
a council OF war decided to wait little lon
ger" On Thursday, at 9 o'clock, A NJ, the
fleet got under way, and few minutes past
10 o'clock the rebels opened fire again. The
Wabash gave one broadslde 10 Fort Walker,
on Hilton Head, and another to Fort Beaure-
gard, on Bay Point. The rebel navy also
opened fire, but kept at prudent distance from
the big guns of Uncle Sans ships. The Wa
bash, SusquehGnnah and BienviLle swept down
in line, anu delivered their compliments al Hill.
ton Head, in the shape of l0-second shells,
while the lively gunboats put IN the punclua.
tion points TOR the benefit of rebel Com nOdore
at the same time enfiladIng the two batteries.
The hrelng was now lncessant, and q perfect
shower OF shot aud shell tell inside The rebel
iOrls. AT noon, the three ships above named
came down, and poured toll broadsides into the
two forts, the gunboats keeping their positions
aud doing excellent service. The flagship
the SuSgWehann0h aud BienUille, went within
six hundred yards, and made terrible havoc with
their 5-secoud shells, sllenclng several of the
enemy's guns. This fire was continued for
four hours, during which the National fleet
delivered over tive thousand rounds. The reb-
. els fought with desperation, and inflicted con.
siderable damage on our vessels, nearly all o
which were hit by shots. At 3 o'clock, p. M
: the guns of the enemy had been dismuunted OF
, slenced. and Commander John Rogers went on
shore at Fort Walker, and found it vacated
and hoissd the Stars end Stripes. A consid
erable number OF killed wounded were dscov
cred, and it is estimated that the enemy mus
have suffered loss of at least one hundred
men killed, and equal number severely wound
{ ed. Bay Point battery was taken possession O.
on Friday at sunrise. The rebels fled in the
greatest confusion, leaving everything in theil
tents, even to their swords, watches, private
papers and clothing. The loss on board the
National feet was eight killed, and six severely "
and seventeen slightly wounded. The troops
landed and took possession on Thursday even
ing, end the next day the BienuilIe left with
dispatches for the Government. The accounts
which have previously reached Us through reb
el sources have been wonderfully correcI, con
sldering thur Origin-only a few trihing disas.
ters having been thrown in by way of effect to
their humtliatIng reverse. These disasters
however, prove to have been pleasant rebe
fcliOnp, invented 10 smooth off the rough edge
OF defeat Not one Of the National vessels wai
disabled or destroyed, as reported, though sew.
' era OF them were badly cut up
! The intelligence of the entire success OF the
. expedition was, of course, received with greal
/ rejoicing in Washington. Flags were display
a ed everywhere. and the trophies of the affair
brought on by Capt. Steedmsn ofthe BienViLle
1 exhibited at the Navy Department, attracted
e universal stteniion.
|. The rebel loss is unknown. Fltty-two bodist
were found by eur men aud buried. Alllhsi