Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-11-21
HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM THE
GREAT EXPEDITION.

Capture Of the Rebel Forts at Hilton's
Head-Dispersion of Tatnall's Mus
quito Fleet--All the Inland APP
proaches Blockaded - The Fleet
ShelIing Beaufort--Terrible Slaugh-
ter of the Rebels-The Rebel Fire
Badly Managed--The National Loss
Small = Great CONSERVATION in
Charleston--The Mercury Indig-
nant-The Rebel Authorities Trying
to Suppress the News.
rt". PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 12.
The Inquirer has the following from
Fort Monroe, derived from rebel sour
ces: In anticipation of the great expe-
dition, the rebels have been engaged in
erecting batteries uptn point at Hill
toms Head, and on the opposite neck of
land.
The principal fortifcation on Hilton's
Head was deuominated Fort Walker,
situated on low land, and partially con-
cealed by trees and underbrush; ad-
joining it were other batteries Of smaller
size, but so connected as to prove a
formidable bar to the entrance of ves-
sells. Fort Beaufort was Of considera-
bic importance, having been mounted
with heavy guns. -s -f .
The garrisons are supposed to have
been South Carolina regiments, assisted
by additional regiments sent from Rich
mond. The batteries at Bay Point. op-
posite Hilton Head, were equally as
formidable.
Inside of Port Royal entrance and
behind the batteries lay the feet Of
Commodore Tatnall. which consisted
only of small vessels carrying few
heavy guns, bu; principally light ones.
Tugs constituted a great portion Of
the feet. Many OF these remained out
side the mouth of the entrance till the
arrival of our feet. when they formed
in miniature line of battle, in the posi-
lion already stated, behind the guns Of
their own forts and across the entrance.
On the morning of Thursday last the
United States feet, numbering 4a ves-
sells, headed by the flagship. approach
ed the mouth Of Port Royal entrance.
This was at hslf-psst9 o'clock. Sew
eral Of the transports remained off the
coast. Upon arriving at suitable po-
sition' the guns Of the fleet opened a
continuous FIRE upon Forts Walker and
BeauregHrd, as well as upon those Of
Bay Point. y D. .glE Ill.
Under cover Of this FIRE an effort was
made TO run the gauntlet Of the bate
ries, which they did.
A number of the vessels passed
through the fire of the shore batteries
with very trifling injury. At least ff-
teen Of them succeeded in passing up
beyond the reach OF land batteries.
As the Union feet sailed up. the mus
quito feet Of Tatnall opened fire, but
seeing the impossibility of making any
resistance, soon dispersed. Some we're
forced to run in ashore, others were
driven up the inlet out OF sight.
Commodore Tatnall went on shore
with his men, to assist in working the
batteries and use them against our ves-
sells, which were endeavoriug to follow
the advance of the others. The pass
age Of the feet through the channel
was not accomplished until the firing
had continued from half-past four in
the morning till nearly FIVE in the even
ing. 10 ttoes h 81 ..a.l9.i .1sd
One Of the Union gunboats is be-
lived TO have been burned, and three
steamers disabled. - sisoa5 .-7i
Il is acknowledge by the enemy that
they had twenty men killed in Fort
Walker, but il is impossible. to state
what their loss was at the other bat