The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-11-21

War Department.:
HEADQUARTERS EXPEDITION CORPS.
PORT ROYAL, s. c., Nov. 8, 1861. !
To the Adi.- General U. s. Il. Washington, d. G:
SIR:-I have the honor to report that
the force under my command embarked
at Annapolis on the 21st of October,
and arrived at Hampton Roads, Va,
on the 22d. In consequence of the
delay in the arrival of some of our
transports, and the unfavorvble state
of the weather, the fleet was unable to
set out for the Southern coast till the
goth, when. under convoy of the naval
squadron in command of Commodore
Dupont, and after the most mature
consideration of the effects of the ex-
pedition by that flag officer and myself,
it was agreed to first reduce any works
that might be found at Port Royal, S.
c., and thus open the finest harbor on
the coast that exists South of Uatteras.
1t was calculated to reach Port
Royal in five days at the most, but in
consequence of adverse winds and a
perilous storm on the day and night OF
the 1st of November, the fleet arrived
at Port Royal bar not till the 4th, and
then but in part, for it had been al
most entirely dispersed by the gales,
and the vessels have been struggling
in up to. this date. The transport
steamers Union, Belvidere, Osceola,
and Peerless have not arrived. Two
of them are known to be lost. 1t is
probable all are. 1t is gratifying how.
ever to say that none of the troops
transports connected with the land
forces were lost, though the Winfield
Scott had to sacrifice her whole cargo
and the Roanoke q portion of hel
cargo, to save the lives of the regi
ments on board. The former will b.
unable again to put to sea. The yes
sells connected with the naval portion
of the fleet here also suffered much, ant
some have been lost.
After a careful reconnaissance O
Port Royal Bay it was ascertained tha
the rebels had three field works of re
markable strength, strongly garrisone,
and covered by fleet of three GU
boats, under Capt. Tatna.l, late of tn
United States Navy. Besides thes
there were strong land forces whic
the rebels were concentrating fror
Charleston and Savannah. The troop
of the rebels were afterwards ascel
tanned to have been commanded
Gen. Dayton.
One of the forts, and probably tn
strongest, was situated on Hilton Heat
and the other two on Phillips Islant
1t was deemed proper to first reduc
the fort on Hilton Head, though to d
this greater or less fire might have I
be met from the batteries on Bay Poin
= At the same time our original plan
the cooperation of the land forces
the attack had to be set aside, in cons
Z quence of the loss, during the vovag
Mt of greater portion of our means
IS discriminating, together with the fa
i that the only point where the troo,
should have landed was from five to s
miles, measuring around the interve
: ing shoal, from the anchoring place
I our transports-altogether too great
. distance for successful disembarkatic
re with our limited means. 1t was ther
Z, fore agreed that the place should be r
duced by the naval force only.
In consequence of the shattered co
dition of the fleet, and the delay i'm Il
arrival of vessels that were indispenl
N IN BILE for attack, it had to be postpone
until the 9th inst. sI
= / was a mere spectator of the cor
90 bat, and it is not my province to rend
9 any report of this action but dee
.: .: it an important duty to say that the f
% ing and maneuvering of the war file
nd against the rebels and their formidat
'c' land batteries, was a master piece
activity and professional skill, that mr