The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-11-21


officer engaged in the bom bardment!. Our
success has been complete, and terror
runs over the whole country. The ne.
groes are wild and plundering their mas
ter's houses.
The whites have been driving the ne
groea away by force and shooting them
down, but they still come to the gun.
boats.
The moment Gen. Drayton took TO his
horse in the panic of the 7th, his goo ser.
wants went directly to the Wabash. Ths
IS worthy Of notice as putting down the
nonsense that the slaves were ready to
fight for their masters. They surround
ed Capt, Amman in crowds at Beaufort,
one Of them calling out in the Joy Of his
heart, "I didn't think you could do it,
Massa."
Gen.. Shsrman's report to .Adjutent
General Thomas is received, He saws it
was agreed between Commodore Dupont
and himself. to first reduce the works
that might bs found at Port ROYAL and
thus open the finest harbOr on the coast
South Of Hattsras, He saws the squad
ron had been almost entirely dispered by
the gale. and the vessels have been strag
Cling in up to this date.
GIN. sHERMAN's OFFICIAL REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ExPEDITIoNl
CORPS. PoRT ROYAL, S. Q. Nov. 8
To The Adjntant General II. s. A. WGSh
in0ton, d. O.
SIR-I have the honor to report that
the force under my command embarked
at Annapolis on the 2lst of October, and
arrived at Hampton Roads, Va, op the
22d.
In consequence of the delay in the ar.
rival of some of our transports ard the
unfavorable state of The weather, the
fleet was unable to set out for the South.
.ern coast till the 29lh, whpo, under the
convoy OF the naval squadron in command
Of Com. Dupont. and alter the most ma.
lure consideration of the objects of the
expedition by that flag officer, and myself
it was determined to first reduce any
works that might be found at Port Royal
s., c., and thus open tie finest harbor or
the coast that exists south OF Hatteras
1t was calculated to reach Port Royal IL
five days at most, but in consequence o.
adverse winds and a perilous storm oil
the day and night Of the lst of Novem
Der, tho feet did not arrive at Port Roya
bar till the 4th, and then bat in part, iol
IL had been almost entirely dispersed by
the gale, and the vessels have been strag
Cling in up to this date
The transport steamers Union, Belvidere
0soeola. and Peerless have not arrived
Two Of them are known 10 be lost. and il
is probably all are. II is gratifying, how
ever to say that none of the transport
connected with the land forces were lost
hough the Winfield Scott had to sacr!
fee her whole cargo, and the Roanoke
portion Of her cargo, to save the lives o
the regiments on board. The former will
be unable again to put to sea. The YES
sells connected with the naval portion o.
the feet have also suffered much, aDC
some have been lost. 49,.
After careful Reconnaissance Of Port
Royal Bay. it was ascertained that the
rebels had three field works Of remarkable
strength, strongly garrisoned and covered
by fleet of gunboals, under Capt Tat
nall, late OF the United States Navy, be
sides strong land forces, whi h the reb
els were concentrating from Charleston
and Savannah.
The troops of the rebels were afer
wards asCerDsned to have been command
ed by Gen. Drayton One of the forts
and probably the strongest point, is stu
aled on Hilton Head and the other two
on Phillips Island 1t was deemed prop
er to first reduce the fort on Hilton Head
although to do this greater or less 6r'
might have TO be- met from the batteri6l
on Bay Point at the same time. Our o
rginal plan of corporation to land tn,
forces in the attack had to be set aside, il
consequence of the loss, during the voy
age, of greater portion Of our means o
disembsrkment, together with the fac
that the only point where troops shoulC
have landed was from five to six miles
measuring around the intervening shoal
from the anchoring place Of cur trans
ports; altogether too great distance fo
successive debarkation with our imitec
means. 1t was therefore agreed that tn,
place be reduced by the naval force alone
In consequence of the shattered coudi
ton Of the feet and delay 10 arrival o
vessels. that were indispensable for attack
il had to be postponed until the 7lh inst
was mere Spectator of the combat
and it's not my province to render an,
report of this action, but deem il an i'm
perative duty to say that the firing an,
maneuvering OF the war feet against tha
Of the rebels and their formida lie lao,
batteries. was master piece OF actvit
and professional skill that must have e
licited the applause of the rehels them
seves. As tactical operation. thin
that too much praise canno, be awarde
to the science and skill exhibited by tn
flag officer Of the naval squadron and III
officers connected with his ships. ] deer
the performance masterly one and ougl
to have been seen to have been fully 81
precialed t's -'fD' '..'.# J.
i After the, works were reduced. | too
possession Of them with the land force
The beautifully constructed work on Hi
ton Head was severely crippled, and man
4 Iof the guns dismounled. Much slaugll
ter had evidently been made there, man
bodies having been buried in the fort,an
some twenty or thirty were found son
loIP -, Il, l;,,..,