The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-11-13
The War ON the CO asst.
From the Mercury of tho 7th inst.
From Port Royal

Il I r
rived here yesterday from Savannah riic
Beaufort, s. &. and vicinity. Captain Peck
passed Hilton Head on Monday afternoon
about p. IN, at which time cannonadc
was taking place between some of Com.
modorc Tatnal's fleet aud few of the
smaller vessels of the enemy's squadron
The latter were some four or five miles ont
side of the Hilton Head fort, but were ir.
side the bar (; the last being some eipht or
nine miles below Fort Walker, on Hilton
Head. The larger vessels Of the fleet were
not inside the bar. After firing about TWEEN.
ty or .nir'v ...i.'v minutes, both parties retired
our vessels going near Cha fort, and the
envmy's proceeding outside The bar. No
ships were seen ashore, nor were any sunk,
and, 80 far as was observed, our batteries
did not fire gun, the Lincolnitcs being
some four or five miles off
Capt. Peck is under the impression that
they intend Il landing on Hilton Head Island.
between Fort Walker on the north end and
the batteries at Braddork's Point. In
smooth weather they can land on the beach
from their boats With facility, and they had
several large transports anchored about
four miles of stretching along the island
shore. Should this be their plan, thev pro.
badly intend 10 attack the fortified portions
both by Iapd and sea. We are Informed
that the larger vessels Of the fleet cannot
approach the sca-shore of the island nearer
than four miles, and that they would have
10 come inside the bar aud up the channel
to bombard Fort Walker.
From the Savannah Republican of YES
tcrday morning We have later account
That paper says:
Gen. Lawton returned to tho CITY late
last evening. having visited the Southern
point of Hilton Head during the dly, in
oider to ascertain a. far "a possible, the
movements Of the enemy's feet. Cartain
Stewart, whom he saw on the island, said
an engagement commenced between seven
vessels of the feet and the fort ut Hilton
Head, about seven O'Clock Tuesday morn.
ing. II was kept up for considerable time
on both sides, when n luge steamer, be-
coming disabled. was towed ont Of reuch
Another vessel went ashore. and at the Las,
accounts Commodore TatnalI was at Il con.
venient distance with his little feet pouring
n heavy fire into her sides
Immediate steps have been taken to fur
nish all necessary assistance to the garrison
at Port ROYAL. Captain Read. with a pnr.
ton Of his artillery corps, left last night on
the Hatteras, and Col. Spauldiug's rcrimcnt
555 strong, will leave on the ST. Marys
this morning.
We hear that Commodore Tatnall had n
slight brush with the enemy on Monday
afternoon. Being at Port Royal with his
tleet, in order I" test the range of hi, plnS,
he ran out and fired a tow shots into tn.
squadron. They were returned, first with
small shot which fell short, then with shell
which passed completely over our lit,,,
fleet. About this time there was a move.
ment among the large ships Of the squad.
ron, "hereup"n the Commodore retired.
Savannah, Nov. 1.-The steamer 81. Va.
ry's has Just arrived from Hilton Head
Passengers report that an engagement
between our batteries at Port Royal aud
the Yankee fleet commenced at half. past
nine o'clock, this morning.
A large three decker was towed M and
took position in front of our batteries, at
the North end of lIton Head.
The fleet attempted TO pass the batteries
and seven of the largest steamers, in Il few
moments succeeded They moved ont uf
range of the batteries and were lying in the
bay. The firing from the batteries was
continuous and heavy.
PocATALIGo, November s, 3 n m.-Our
batteries at BAY Point and Hilton Head
have been abandoned by the gn7riS0ns -
The enemy have possession Of Port RovaI
harbor and Broad River. All the inhabi.
tants have left Beaufort, tIking with them
such OF their effects as they cOu,I carry of,
The town isnow almost deserted IL is
presumed that the enemy will effect "A Ian
ding To day, either ut Beaufort or at some
point III the immediate neighborhOod.
SECOND DESPATCH.
SAVANNAH, November 50 p. m.-Vhe
steamer sampson has arrived from Port
Royal, bringing some of on. mqn who
were wounded in the engagement ye,ter
day. The principal fighting took place di.
rectly between Fort Walker II: Hilton
Head, nnd the battcriers on the other side,
at Bay Point. When the NamySon eft
Port Royal, fifteen Of the YANKEE vessels
were inside and several outside The gar-
rison Of Fort Walker consisted Of five hun
dred men, and 1900 more were posted M.
on the Island, outside the Fort The
steamship Minnesota was tho first vessel To
run the gauntlet Of our batteries She was
rapidly followed hy the Others They tnen
attacked our forces simultaneously from
ihree sides. After the second round from
the fleet the principal gun in our battery
was dismounted. The engagement laSteI
about five hours. All the guns in Forl
Walker were dlsmounted, except two
The post, being then no longer considered
tenabie, the two remaining guns were also
dismounted, and the magazine Was arranged
so rs to blow up when the enemy enters
10 total loss on our side was nbOut one
hundred, Killed and wounded.
THIRD pI,PATCu.
PocOtaligo, Nov. $40 p. m.-Gcn. D.ay
ton and his command retreated in two sr,a
mers by way of Pope's Ferry in safety. and
are now at BIutftOn. The last report o!
the casualties received here, makes the
number between thirty and forty. Gen
Dunnovant retreated by way of Lady's Is.
land and Beaufort. TO Port Royal Ferry.
Beaufort, probably, will not be burned
a great deal of cotton on the Islands will
iali into the hands Of The enemy. Button
will be burned, if attacked.
The points Of danger now, are The rail
road, at Poco,"lgo, Charleston and Sayan.
nah.