New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-14
NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE THURSDAY NOVEMBER a..


confidence in their ability to speedily do the work az
signed them and the result has proved that they did
not overesimste their powers.
five nav take Newspaper reports and, indeed, u
we NAV take private letters a. significant straws 10
show which way the Southern wind blows, we are
certain that MANY thousands Of the deluded Southern
- ,olderceu,lsmeu" had intended to take up their
Winter residence in the conquered cities Of the
North.
Tie operations Of yesterday have doubtess
changed heir calculations somewhat, and put new
face upon matters. believe the Southrons' bre
no, yet qusrtered in "the luxurious Efth-avenue
palaces Of The New-York Merchant Princes, accord
ing to their Published programme Of some months
ago. but II is certain that some thousands Of the de-
tested " Yankees" have escaped the SHOWS Of "a
Northern Winter. and are now, in the more bslmy
and genial climate Of South Caroline, wandering
among Tie grange groves, that the pride Of the
aistoct5ic plautstions rear Beaufort, sud esgerly
examining the, 10 them, unknown wonders Of the
Palmetto Jungle
The battle took place on Thursday, the 9TH inst,
after TWO or three precious days bad been consumed
in delay that at the time seemed mefpIeaple ana
inexcusable One reason for this most yeXatous
waiting has been ascertained 70 be the non-rriyal
of the ship Star Of the South, in which one s'rgle
vessel all the heavy siege guns, in fact all the large
cannon that were intended to be taken on shore to
strengthen orr position as coon attained, and all
the ordnance stores including nearly all the powder
in the whole feet, had been slowed by Capt McNutt
the Superintendent of Ordnance. This officer is
now ssceItained to be insane, and is confined to bis
roonl The Star was the tow Of the Baltic, and was
cast loose from that steamer in the great gale Of the
lst inst.
The attack bad, however, been fixed for Wednes-
day. bat on the morning Of that day the frigate
Wabash got aground on Fishing-Rip" shoals, and
could not be extricaed in daylight without placing
her in a position to receive raking fire from the
shore batteries and the attack was again postponed
for day. that tie Wabash might be extri,ated from
her danger.
On Tbursday the lattle-dly dawned bright and
clear. the morning being as warm and balmy as
day of our Northern Junei small singng-birds from
the shore paid us occasional visits aud hundreds OF
lovely butterflies futtered through the rigging, one
Of which, captured in the thickes Of the fight is my
individual memento ofthe fray The water was broken
ntogentle rpplesby the pleasant breeze which proved
of Just sufficient power in the succeeding eventful
hours 10 lift the batte.smoke from the water, and
give TO the splendid audience of many thousands the
finest possible view of the deadly spectacle.
The transports were securely anchored at a safe
distance Just out of cannon range and crowded
in every available part Of deck and rigging with an
eager and excited throng.
There had been a rumOr that daring attempt was
TO be made by some of the rebel gunboats during the
heat Of the action, and while all our armed vessels
were engaged at q distance of several miles from
our transports, to dssh down into the flock of un-
armed ships, and burn, sink and destroy. To pre-.
vent the accomplishment of this notable scheme, the
soop-ofwar Dale, which had that morning arrived,
was towed ont to a position TO intercept any such
hostile craft.
FlagOlicer Dupont had ordered that the ships
should form in two lines-the Starbosrd or main
column, nearest the shore, being led by the Wabash,
under Flag-Ofhcer Dupont himself, and the Port or
thanking column, being headed by the Benville,
Captain Steedman.
Tie batteries were situated-one, q strong, i'd
miraby built fertilization called Fort Walker, mount
ing % guns, one on the eide Of the Broad River
here about q miles wide, and two other batteries
behind lea elaborate esLworks on the opposite side
Of the river. OF the latter, one mounted 10 guns,
and was named Fort Beauregard, and the other
guns.
The plan Of our attack was equally simple, adj
mirable and effective, being neither more nor lees
than for the ships to steam in circle eipse run
ming clote to one shore they came dO0H the river
drifting or steaming slowly as possible past the
batteries there and paying their fiery respects then
making the turn to 60 back and as they went up the
river favorng the other batteries with similar COM
yliment-tbe game to be continued ad hbtam, or
until the Rebel flag came down.
The ships were all prepared for action the day be-
fore, and at o'clock on Thursday morning. began
to move from their respective points Ct anchorage
and take their appointed places in tie line Of battle
At about half-past nine o'clock, they began their
magnificent march, in the following order, as nearly
as it could be preserved though, after making the
first voyage round, it was found feasible and more
effective to change slightly the plan and proceed in
a single line, which was done, in obedience to orders
sienalized from the flagship.
THE ORIGINAL ORDER OF BATTLE.
Port or Flafkag Column. lSIorbodrd, Main Column
81 suyille - Capt JAMES Wabash Flag Officer DE-
5s.p 5oar, and / Ions i i '-'''
piyot-gun forward
Penguin-5 guns Susquehanns--l3 guns
August guns Mohicon-i guns.
CuIleW-7 guns. Seminole-7 guns.
Seneca large nfed gun; Il PswBee-9 guns.
small howitzers.
r. b. Forbes-l gun. Unsdila-3 guns.
OttswA-3 guns
Penibins-S guns.
The Forbes did into Nsndaa in tow Of the gun
the fight until the second ost lsaac smith-22 guns
round having been engaged Isaac Snih-l large pivot
ia towing the Dale 10 sea gun.
Tho s,rsnoeness of tie siobt of this fine Heet now