The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-03

used tho rebel steamers. Tho frgate Savannah
manded by J. s. Msroon steamers Florida, j. r. Colds
borough commander; Flag, J. Rodgers commander;
Pocahontas. p. Drayton commander; Augusta, Z. a..
Parrot commander, and Seneca, Daniel Ammen com
mander lying anchor or Tybee lighthouse look
ing up the river.
The smoke approached nearer and nearer, and our
glasses made first three and then four rebel
steamers and At recognized the mosquito feet
As they abreast OF Fort Pulaski made one
with broad pennant tho fore, apparently the Ever
glsde with the rebel Commodore Tatnall board. Tho
pentagonal brick Fort Pulaski Cockspur Island could
be plainly distance Of three miles, with the
rebel Nag floating dehanty from Its walls great many
people were its walls watching the approach OF the
rebel steamers towards Hota. There appeared to
be guns mounted only m two directions guarding the two
river approaches up and down The did not appear
defended
There il . shoal in the Savannah river opposite Fort
Pulaski and extending we'll into Turtle Island South
lima coast between this and the fort is the channel
which at this point obstructed by two large huks
evidently with tho intention Of OBTAINING any vessel
going the river long enough to give tho guns at the
fort good opportunity Of sinking them.
AT first We thought tho rcbels were coming to sink
these two huks below the surface; but found
such the case between two OF the rebel steam
ers observed aarge hulk in tow on which mount
cd an immense red gun. fourth steamer now came in
sight and smoke could be dscerned farther up from
q fifth.
Tho three steamers drst slowly passed the huks
and then continued their abreast with this noat
ing battery in tow When they came within about three
miles Of us the steamers turned her broadside
tho feet the big gun beiched forth its angry thundsr
but missile fell harnlessy half mile short. They
continued slowly on, and then fired second shot, which
pierced the water within hundred yards OF tho Poca
hontas.
The Seneca soon under way and rounded into posi-
tion, make of her elevcninch gun, The shell
from which ricocheted skppingly along towards the
rebels, but fell short.
Meanwhile the pocahontas Augusta aud Florida got up
their anchors and steamed slowly into tho position mark
ed out IN the accompanying CHART aud heading respect
lively as there represented.
The fourth rebel stopped under the guns
of Fort Pulaski while the others slowly continued their
course firing occasionally The Seneca shell after
shell towards them and soon got in excellent range Tie
shot skipped along the water making thirty
chefs, aud came very closely Some OF the she'll burst
right the feet Tho Seneca also fred several rife
shots some eighteen or nineteen in all as dd ,he poca
hontas, Augusta and Florida These all came very near
the vessels, and were getting at distance VIII ch
would soon give our shots chance tel when two or
fhrce rapidly succeeding warnngSpf the Senecas big
eeven-nch gun gave them hint they oIid have II
oil their own way and they ceased Gng, tgpned tail H.
nomniously and beat ptate retreat under fall head
Of The robes fred n all some nine or ten Shots
only three or four OF which from the big gum They
all fell snort, their best shot having been the second
which came within 600 feet OF the Pocahnas We fol
lowed little The Seneca and other vessels firing one
or two shots after them, but not desrous of
coming within range Of the guns Of Fort PULASKI and 20
returned to our moorings We have yet no means OF
knowing whether any damage was dom by our shot
In the afternoon party Of marines from the Savannah
and boats crews from some Of the other vessels went
ashore Tybee Island TO reconnotrs and were rcd into
once twice from Fort Pulaski OF the shells bursting
in the woods them In the afternoon General sher
man. who had heard the firing at Port Royal came I'D TO
Tybee the Genesai Whitney what was doing and
take obeervaoEs &c went ashore Al Tybse next morn
ing.