Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-11-23

! have not time however to describe the
disgraceful scenes.
The fort itself lie very fine defensive work,
and was nearly completed. IL was an sagu.
lar structure covering -four acres Of ground.
The deep ditch runs around the exterior.
where pickets are planted on the land side
and two palisades Of palmetto logs, With
loop holes for musketry defended the sp
proaches to the work on the sea coasts from
infantry assaults. The enemy had twenty.
two guns 10 position, but three we're dis
mounted by our fire. The remainder are oil
in serviceable condition, with good carriages
&c. Following is list OF the pieces =
Thirteen 30 pound smooth sea coast guns |;
two heavy siege guns two rihed inch guns ;
one 10 inch columbaid two carronades one
8 inch gun. end an abundant supply of
ammunition, consisting Of friction tubes,
shells, cartridges, strapped, grape and round
shot. A large quantity Of small arms we're
also seized. The interior of the fort was
supplied with numerous traverses, aud the
magazines, saliy.ports, and n fact everything
about the fortfcation, bears evidence Of skill
and careful construction.
| Six dead bodies we're found within the
battery unburied, and at lesst twenty more
were slightly covered With earth at the foot
| OF one OF the traverses. 1t is known that the
Rebels carried away some OF their dead, and
it is thought from the data obtained, that
their loss in killed alone was fully one hun
dred. Our killed throughout the feet is only
eight, and wounded twenty.
From letters found in the Rebel camp and
information obtained from two prisoners, IL is
ascertained that, during the action, there
we're ouly fifteen hundred troops at Hilton
Head, and about eight hundred at Bay
Point. They we're commanded by Brigadier.
RaI III
planter residing on the island. The troops
consisted of the Ninth and Twelfth Reei.
ments of South Carolina Volunteers, com.
msnded respectively BY Colonels William q.
Heyward and Elliott. The camp at Hilton
Head was called Camp Campbell, and the
battery Fort Walker. The fort at Bay
Point was named in honor of Beauregard.
The names OF the killed on our side as far
as have been able to ascertain, are
On the Wabash-Thomas Jackson. captain
of forecastle gun, thigh shot off by AZ. pound
shot, aud four other men we're wounded at
the same gun.
On the Mohican-Tbird Assistant Engi.
neer Wblttemore, who was struck by a spln.
ter which was caused by a shot coming
through the hammock pettings. He was
standing at the bell pull at the time. At the
same moment, Quartermaster VIM. Thomp.
wheel, received mortal wound from frap.
meut Of shell. Mr.. Cuthbert, another of the
Third Assistant Engineers, was badly
wounded. Messrs. Leyburn and Clinton,
Master mates, were also hurt, the former
having his leg broken. Four others we're
slightly injured. Eight shots struck the
vessel, seven Of which we're 10 the bull.
On the Bienvllle-Thomas Gurgon and
Alexander Chambers, who we're struck while
working gun three others were wounded
slightly at the same time.
There we're two men killed on the Susuue.
hanna. do not know their names.
The UDadila received seven shots 10 her
hull No one was hurt on board.
The Wabash was struck thirty four times
One shot lodged in her counter, causing her
to leak badly; rigging badly cut i; manmast
injured beyond hope Of repair, although she
the ports, spare spars, channels cut, aud
spauker boom shattered. Not any of the
vessels engaged escaped more or less injury.
The Notifications at Bay Point were aban.
doned by the enemy at the time Of the
evacuation of Hilton Head The works
there are scarcely inferior to those opposite
Stevens brigade, consisting Of the New York
Seventy ninth aud Eighth Michigan, occupy
doned, only one of which was spiked. 80.
pound guns we're mounted on the water front
and also cOumbaids. One rifled gur burst
into fragments while the Rebels we're using
it, and killed several witbou. a Goubt. TO
the right Of the principal redoubt, or main
battery, is another of three guns AS at
Fl iltoD Head the Rebels were well supplied
with all kinds of ammunition, which has fallen
into our hands. Vast quantities of stores,
rice, &c, were left behind. When the army
took possession Of the place, letter was
found from Colonel Elliot, addressed TO the
Commander Of the United States forces, to
the effect that, finding the place untenable
against the force brought before it, and in
view of the evacuation of Hilton Head be
bad determined to abandon his position.
adding that it would be better TO fight the
cause of the Southern Confederacy else here,
than to be taken prisoners and confined at
Fort Lafayette.
Yesterday, several successful recopnoisan.
ces we're made by the Engineer corps. The
country was explored six or seven miles from
| camp on the eastern and western shores Of
| Hilton Head Island. ! have not time to
| give you particulars. Not white man was
seen, however, about the plantations, and but
| few negroes About two dozen have come
into our camps. They say that the troops
all left the island on Thursday night. The
reconnoitering parties brought in several
cart-loads of arms, blankets, cartridge boxes,
stores aud other things, which the enemy
bad thrown away in bis buried flight There
| is plenty Of forage to be obtained, and on
Colonel Drayton's plantation, quantities Of
commissary stores were found 10 o warehouse.
A few dead men and several wounded were