Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-11-15
List of Killed and Wounded
otF2cIfA DESPA TCHES ~ THE NtVi
DEPARTMENT.,
FtAo'snip WABASH, OFF iT1rov,

The following are the official dispatches to the
Navy Department:
FLAa'sH1P WABASH, OFF lIiLTnN,
PORT Royal HAnnOR, Nov, s, 1861.
SiR; The Government having determined to
seize and occupy one or more important points
upon the Southern coast, where our souad,ons
iaght find shelter, possess depot, and afford
protection to loyal citizens, committed to my die
ctetion the selection from among those places
which were thought most available and dcsira.
BILE for these purposes.
After mature delheratiOn, aided by the pro-
fessiOnal knowledge and great intelligence of the
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy, Mr. Fox, and
upon taking iuto consideration the magnitude to
which the joint naval aud military expedition
had been extended, 10 which you have called my
attention, | came to the conclusion that the
original intentions If the Department. ii first
carried out, would fall short Of the expectations
OF the country, and oil the capabilities Q + the ex
reditlon. Port Royal, thought, would meet
both in high degree. therefore submitted
BiigaIer General Sherman, commanding the
military part Of the expedition this modification
Of our earlier maturcd pluus aud had the satis-
faction TO receive his full concurrence, though
he aud the commanders of the brigades verv
Justly laid great stress on the necessity. ii pos
sible, OF getting this frigate into the harbor of
Port Royal.
On Tuesday, the 20lh Of October, the fleet nm
der my command lett Hampton Ronds, and, with
the army transports, numbered fifty vessels On
the day Previous had despatched the coal YES.
sells, twenty five in all, under the convoy of the
Nandaia, Commander llaggctty, to rendt zyous
oil Savannah, not wishing To give the tiue noint
The weather had been unsettled in Hamilton
Roads, though il hUmsed well when We sailed
hut II llatteras il blew hard Suiue Of the
ships got into the breakers, and two struck, but
without injury.
On Friday, the lst Of November, the rough
weather soon increased to gale, and We hal to
encounter one Of great violence from the south.
east, portion Of which approached 10 hurri.
cane. The ileet was utterly dispersed, and on
Saturday morning one sail only was in sight
from the deck of the Wabash
On the following day the weather moderated
and the steamers and ships began to reappehr
Sealed orders, not To he opened except in
case of separation, were furnished to ali the
men-o of.wnr by myself, and to the transports by
General Sherman As the vessels reiOined re-
ports came in of disasters. | expected to hear
Of many but when the severity of the gale and
the character of the vessels are considered. we
have only cause for great thankfIness.
In reference to the men Of-war, the Isaac
smith, most efficient and well armed vessel for
the class purchased, but not intended to en-
counter such sea AMI Miud, had to throw her
formidable battery overheard to keep from foun.
dering; but being thus relieved, Lieutenant
Commanding Nicholson was enabled to 90 10 tle
assistance OF the chartered steamer Governor.
then in very dangerous condition. and on board
OF which were one fDe battalion of marines. un
der Major Reynolds They were finally reycued
by Captain Ringgod, in the Sabine, under diff
cult circumstances soon after which the Cover.
nor went down. believe seven Of the marines
were drowned by their own mprudeace.
Lieutenant Commanding NicholsOn's conduct in
the Isaac smith mas met with my warm COM
mendaliuns.
The Peerless, transport, in sinking condi. |
ton, was met by the MOhcan, Commander Cor.
ion All the people on board, tweuty.six in
number, were saved under very peculiar cir |
cumsiances, in which service Lieutenant n. w. |
Miller was very iayorably noticed by his com
manler
On passing Charleston, sent in the Seneca.
Lieutenant Commanding Ammen, to direct Cant. /
Larlner to Join me with the steamer SusQuehan.
M of Port Royal, without delay.
Ou Monday, nj eight o'clock in the morning.
anchored Of the bur with some twenty. five yes.
sels in company, with many more hea,ing in /
sight The Department is aware that ali the
aids to navigation had been removed, and the
bar lies ten miles seaward, with no features ON
HE shore line with sufficient promiuepce Ia
make any bearings reliable. But to the skill Of
Commander DAVIS, the lag captain, and Mr..
Doulelle the able assistant Of tue CoHst Survey
u chnr4c OF tue steamer Vixen, tlv channel was
iouud, sounded out, aud buoyol.
BY thee O'Clock | received assurances f,on
Japi Duyis that could send forward the light.
n Transports tthose uLder Is feet), with ali the
ynnboals, which was Immediately DONE and be.
ore dark they were securely anchored in the
oadstead of Port Royal, South Carolina.
The gunboats almost Immediately opened their
batteries upon two or three rebel steamers I'M
Ter Commodore Tatnall, Instantly chasing him
lnder shelter Of the batteries. In the morning
Commander john Rodgers, Of the United States
teamer Flag, temporarily on bourd this shin
nd acting on my staff, accompanied Brigadier
eneral Wright in the gunboat Ottawa, Lieuten.
ut Commanding Stevens md supported by the
eneca, Lieutenant Commanding Nicholson
lale reconnaissance in force, and drew tho
re- OF the batteries on Hilton Head and Dav
Oint sufficiently to show that the Qualifications
ere works OF strength, and scientifically con-
iructed.
In the evening of Monday, CAPTAIN Davis
nd MIR. BOutelle reported the water deem
nough for the Wabash 10 venture up
The responsibility OF hazatling 80 noble n
rlgate was not light one over prolonged bar
I over two miles. There was about I. foot mr.
wo OF water TO spare, and the fall and rise Of
he Wlo ls eucn thht " fhe grounded, she would
ave sustained serious injury from straininr. If
ot total loss, Too much, however, was at stake
o hesitate, aud the result was entirely success.
al.
On the morning OF Tuesday, the Wabash
rossed the bar, followed closely by the Susoue.
anna, the Atlantic. the Vanderbilt, and other
ransports of deep draught, and on running
hrough thut portion of the fleet already in. the
afe passage OF this great ship over the bar was
allied by gratifying cheers from crowded yes l
els. We anchored and Immediately commenced {
repairing the ship for action, but the delay of
lanting buoys, particularly on Fishing Rim, a I
angerous shoal we had to avoid, rendered the I
our late before II was possible TO move will, G
ne attacking squadron. In our anxiety to get I
ne outline of the forts before dark we stood in d
ear the shoal, and the ship grounded. BY the d
me she was taken off it was too late 10 proceed n
nd | made signal for the squadron to anchor d
ut of gunshot from the enemy
10 day the wind blows gale from the south. Il
ard and westward, and the attack is upayoida- C
ly postponed. G
have the hoAor to be, sir. respectfully. your v
belient servant i. f. Dupnsr q
Fag Officer commanding the South Atlantic 4
lockadng Squadron. Il
Hon. GIDEON wFLtEs, Secretary of the Navy, L
'ashingtOn. "
FLAG SnIP WABASH, OFF HlLros HEAp.1 f
PORT ROYAL HARBoR, Nov. 8, 1861. c.
eiR haVe The honor TO inform you that o
'sterday attacked the enemy's batteries on il
~ Point and Hilton Head, Forts Beaureeard
"A l.lI