The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-11-28
Rebel Account of the Battle at Port
ROYAL.

capture of the forts at Port Royal from the
Charleston Mercury:
Thursday dawned gloriously upon our
weried but undaunted gunners. and all
felt that the day of trial had arrived.
Scarcely had breakfast been dispatched,
when the hostile feet WAS observed in
commotion. The great war steamers
formed rapidly in single file and within
supporting distance of each other. the
frigate Wabash. the flag ship of Com. Du.
pont, in tie van. AS the long line Of
formidable looking vessels. thirteen IN
number. most of them powerful propelers,
with a few sailing met of war in tow,
swept rapidly and majestically in. with
ports open and bristling with guns OF the
largest calibre. the sight was grand and
imposing. This was at half past o'clock.
Until the Minnesota came within the range
of and directly opposite our batteries on
Hilton Head. all was still Suddenly the
fifteen heavy guns Of Fort Walker. which
had been aimed directly at the huge -irigate.
belched forth their smultuous fire. and the
action was begun.
Almost Immediately afterwards. the bat
teries of Fort Beauregard, on the other
side OF the entrance. also opened their fire
The enemy at first did not reply. But as
! ha
Walker. the hulls Of the first three were
suddenly wrapped in smoke. and the shot
and shell Of three tremendous broadsiies,
making in all 70 guns came crashing
agains, cur works.
! From this moment the bonbardment
WAS incessant and terrific. one by one the
propelcrs bore down upon our forts. de
iivered their fie as they passed. until nine
had gained the interior of the harbor. be-
yond the range Of our guns. The Mime
sofa, still followed by the others, then
turned around and steamed slowly out,
giving broadside to Fort Beauregard as
she repassed. Then the battle was con
tiLuei, the enemy's vessels sailing in AN
ellptical course. pouring one broalside
into Bay point, and sweeping around to
deliver the other against EIi,cn Head
THIS furious fire from rour hundred guns.
many Of them eleven inch Dahlgren pat
tern, and some Of them thirteen inch bore
{ 4 e. hot oC ,I,, -,
For, Beauregard. twas maintained inces
sanity. and the roar of the cannonade
seemed continuous
Meanwhile our garrison were making a
gallant defense They kept up vigorous
and we'll directed fire ag"iHst their aesai-
ants, and Notwithstanding that their best
gun was dismounted at the beginning of
the action. they succeeded in setting fire
tn several of the ships. Whenever this
happened. however. the enemy would haul
off and soon ex,inguish the flames. The
effect e our guns was. IN many instances.
plainly visible from Tie forts. Although
the sides Of tie Minnesota are of massive
strength. several of her boats were knock
ed into one. Nor was she The only vessel
upon which this e.ideace of the power oi
our fire. could be seen Many of the other
steamers were likewise badly hulled.
After some time spent in sailing round
and delivering their broadsides in rotation.
/ a.
enemy's steamers adopted another and
more successful plan Of attack One
took position inside the harbor So as L.
ea6 the batteries Of Font Walker, while
several opened Simultaneous eniilading
fire from tie outside Besides this terrif-
6c cross fire, two Of the largest steamer.
maintained the fire in front of the fort.
Thus three furious convergipg streams o.
shot and shell were rained amongst the
brave little garrison for hours. The YES
sells came up within half mile Of the shore
: but nearly all our guns had. by this time
become dismounted. and we were no longer
e able to reply with serious effect.
Soon after II o'clock, the batteriers o
Bay Point were silenced. The fire Of For
Walker. as far as the guns that remained
Z were concerned, was not a whit slackene,
e until o'clock. By tha, time the dreadful
0 condition of the fort became too apparen
to be disregarded longer. The guns la.
in every direction. dismanted and useless
the defenses were terribly shattered; Tia
y dead and dying were TO be seen on ever,
o side. and still the iron hail poured PiIleSs
ly in.
FORT WALKER ABANDONED.
II In this strait il was determined to aban
= don the fort. A long waste. about mil
: in extent, and commanded by The enemy
g guns, intervened between the garrison am
Y the woods Across this they were ordere,
4 l