New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-11-16
The Naval Attack ON Port Royal.


From The Charleston Mercury Of the 9h.l' y . =
RESULTS OF THE ENGAGEMENT - Or Bafs7'tes
abandoned The Enemy in Fsel Possession or TIE
Hdrtor.-A mass of conflicting rumors reached US
yesterday, from Port Royal. Early in the day, it
was generally believed that the abandonment of
Fort Walker was owing to sle. powder having
been exhausted. Our latest dispatches bring us
the very different, and much less mortfyng state
ment that the Fort was held by its defenders, I'M
til twenty seven, out of its twenty-nine guns were
asmoanted and useless. zoe :. -.--r
From passenger direct frem the scene of &C.
ton we learn that each. of the snemys transports
was conveyed into the harboF BY two war stearas
ers, one either side. In this order they passed
our batteries, the two war steamers deIlVernga a
broadsde each, as they steamed rapidly by. When
number of their vessels had thus reached the in
terror of the harbor, an incessant and simntane
| Gus fire of shot and shell was opened upon Fort
| Walker, from three sides the steamers nside,,
those outside, and one jast nfront of Hilton Heaa
taking part in the attack. ri E-E = = :
| Notwithstanding the abandonment ef our bat
teries, we hear no news, thus far, OF the eneny
| attempting landing. We understand that eur
forces have placed formidable distractions in the
| river at point about four miles below Beaufort.
Gen Lee Is said to be constructing Notifications at
| Beaufort, while Gen. Ripley is erecting works at
Boyd's Landing for the defence of the railroad
| Reports were current yesterday that the )" abash
| had been burned to the waters edge and one ol
the enemy's transports was sunk in Broad rlyef
but we could find no substantial basis for these
| rumors. We give below the dispatches received
| Yesterday and last night:
| ABANDONMENT OF Our BATTERIEs.-P0 P0cataNgo
Nov. s, 3 A. M.-Our batteries at Bay Point and
| Hilton Head have been abandoned by the garr
sons. The enemy have possession of Port Roya
harbor and Broad river. All the inhabitants have
left Beaufort, taking with them such of their eft
fects as they could carry off. The town is now al
most deserted. 1t is presumed that the enemy
will effect landing to-day, either at Beaufort o.
| at some point in the immediate sneghborhood.
, SECOND DISPATcH.-Savanaah, Nov s. 3 P. NJ
The steamer Sampson.has arrived from Port Royal
bringing some of our men who were wounded il
the engagement yesterday. The principal fight
ing took place directly between Fort Walker a
Hilton Head, and the batteries on the other side
at Bay Point. When the Sampson left Port Roya
fifteen of the Yankee vessels were inside, and se'
l eral outside The garrison of Fort Walker cor
q sisted of five hundred men, and 1900 more wer
4 posted upon the island, outside the fort. IN
steamship Minnesota was the first vessel to run tn
gauntlet of our batteries. She was rapidly TO
r lowed by the others. They then attacked OF
J. forces simultaneously from three sides. Alter tn
: second round from the fleet the principal gun
- our battery was dismounted All the guns
J. Fort Walker were dsmounted, except two. II
n post, being then no longer considered tenabe, II
r two remaining guns also dsmounted, and th
n magazine was arranged so as to blow up when tn
- enemy enters. The total loss on our side WI
u ! about one hundred killed and wounded