The New York herald., 1861-12-30

Many bullets however, passed through the sides Of the
steamer but did further damage The boat WAS run
fast a. possible and the siz pounder howiiser in
charge OF detachment Of thirty Of the Third Rhode
Island regiment, under comInand Of Captain Day. when
sne nre became TOO hos wes discharged, and load Of
grape and canister distributed in the woods when the
enemy we're observed 70 fire and fall back, and fresh
mon to take their places. When the howitzer was dis
charged the infantry retired and ceased firing. The
hlynower, steamng rapidly on, soon csmo upon
masked battery, which at first appeared deserted but
the Sudden appearance Of In . red shirt jumping
upon the rampars Of tho work and shovcng away tho
dirt satisfied those the Mayfower that they would
soon DO fired upon. As the river too narrow 70
allow the steamer to turn about, IL was made matter
Of necessity to ahead and pass the battery soon a.
possible The men placed OF the howitzer and tho
hayfower steamed ahead, but at . slow pace. az the
channel was unknown and the water rather shallow On
arriving abreast OF the battery the embrasures had
cleared away and four heavy guns disclosed Instantly
the enemy opened fire upon the steamer the nrst shot
going over the steamer but the second striking forward
the shot, entering tho pankaheer knocking horse
pole TO pieces, went OH the tho other sdo Tho
howzcr returned the FIRE promptly throwing shot, shell
and grape, ten shots being fred before the ayaower
passed the battery-a period OF Hveor ten MANIFESTATION
the Mayower got out Of range. All but Of the
mys shot passed astcrn One paced tho
pilot house and the smokestack another over the hurr
canc deck The Mayfower within distance Of three
hundred yards Of the battery while under fire. and tho
wonder is she not torn TO pieces and sunk During
This exciting time Capt Phillips standing by side Of tho
pilot house, was urging the arerists on, calling upon
them to give the rebels hell, and directing
the course Of the vessel Peter Mcnamara the engineer
stood upon the pilot house during the musketry watch
ing the movements Of the enemy, until tho battery ap
peared when he descended to his engine attend
to getting the Mayhower fast as possible After
passing the battery in safety tho Mayowcr continued
between two and three miles, when she shoal
and stuck fast the tide rapidly falling She laid
there nearly hour, when Hamltons battery opened
from the ferry at Beaufort Island upon the rebel battery
Hamilton fred thirty shot and shell the rebel bat
terry, and after ereceived reply He then dscon-
tnned Are.
short time subsequently, to this three boats full or
men, we're observed coming up the river towards the
steamer by those on the Mayfower. As they bore no
aags It was at first supposed that they enemys
boats coming with the intention Of boarding and cap
turing the steamer The howzer was taken over the
shaft and placed aft 70 sweep the river, and 1t
determined that the rebels should receive o
hot reception IL they approached. Upon approaching
within short range It discovered that the boats
The in the boats belonged to tho Seventy.
ninth regiment, and had from Port Royal ferry
On their passage the enemy moved down the shore
section Of light artillery and opened upon the boats
with and canister drpg with great rapdity but
with bad aim. Tho water all about the boat white
with falling shot, but the boats escaped with the Of
killed in the Seventy ninth and ole wounded.
As the boats moved, the artillery moved with them On
coming in range, Captain Day opened upon the rebel
tlery TO the boats and draw their fire. Captain
Day sent weldircced she'll right among the OF the
rebel battery which exploded and doubtless killed many
Of them. at all events, the enemy speedily retired and
the boats came through without any further trouble.
Captain ray discharged elk seven shells into and
around the rebel battery before they withdrew
Too mach praise be awarded Captain Day
bravo under his command for the cool and efii-
cent manner In which they worked his gun,
firing with the greatest rapidity and prcci-
sion, and by his efforts saving not only
the Mayfower, but the in the boats lie will
ainy make for himself hereafter, If opportu-
nity offers. The arrival during he conflict of reinforce.
mcnts from the Eighth Michigan regiment, under tho
Colonel which remained striking distance The island
tended greatly TO the extrca.on OF the steamer The
NayAower remained aground for three hours when
got Off and steamed around tho island TO Beaufort
Nearly every pane OF glass in the Maylowe shat
tered by the concusson produced by the howtzer prac
tce, and it now well for boat Captain
Phillips reports that tho rebels have driven spes across
the river and sunk several loads Of live oak the
river to oDstruc the navigation of the stream but
far their efforts have been unsuccessful. Perhaps
gunboat or two may be sent up TO drive out the
rebels from their battery If it ID done will sepd you
the results at the earliest moment.
Altogether the trip Of the MayGower though rather
too for comfort and pleasure developed many new
and mpor,an, facts that will have important bearing
the campaign in this quarter. She will undergo
the repairs made necessary by the heavy gale through
which she passed in coming South, and will then be ready
again engage in any service which she may be called
upon to perform.
Another Of series of important Reconnaissance pro-
ectcd by Flag ORcer Dupont successfully performed
last week by the gnboats Pawnee and Seneca poted by
the surveying steamer Vixen, under the command Of
Captain c. II. Boutce, Of the Coast Survey expedi
ton under command Of Commander Percival Drayon
the Pawnee. The force left here Sunday morning aad
proceeded up the coast to the mouth Of tho North
rvcr where they expected find strong rebel battery
protecting tho entrance of tho river Upon getting noa
tho entrance rebel work discovered and several
shes were thrown into the work. No ropy being elicit
ell, couple OF boats sent ashore, and tho work
found to be deserted and partially destroyed. All tho
guns had been removed by the rcbes such portions
of the fort would burn consumed by rc The
rep0rteu at repai3 evacuated and destroy
ed the work two weeks ago. and conveyed all the guns
by small steamer to Charleston. II undoubtedly
mounted eight guns. The vessels Of
the feet laid at anchor during the night
OF Wordlaw Island, upon which the deserted
battery was found and on the following morning the
Seneca, Commander Ammen, despatched up the
river search for schooner which had been observed
the previous day up anchor, appearance
! and sal up the stream.
The Seneca eight miles up the river, and
upon the schooner which had been ashore She
was taken possession Of by forces. small quantity
of cotton and provisions found in her but nothing
] of great value. The Pawnee up the river and
shced second battery the river bank but, like the
W0rdaw Island Il had been evacuated ard destroy
cd by the rebels The guns also removed by them
Here, boats sent ashore aud while reconnoitrng
/ they saw Major Seabrook, prominent rebel OF this
State, on horseback engaged in locking at our opera
tons. He did not discover the presence Of our sailors
until they nearly uron him. He turned his horse
quickly about and led, receiving parting voley OF
muskeiry, which whstied closely 10 him to induce
/ him to throw himseif his horse the