Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-11-20
From the Charleston: Mercury.
The Battle of Port Royal.

From the Charleston: Mercury.
The Battle of Port Royal.
The Battle of Port Royal will be rcrnem-
bered as one of the best fought, and best con-
Quoted battles which have signalized the war
in which we are engaged.
IfGen. Ripley had been appointed och-
eral in command two months sooner, every
thing would have been in better state OF
preparation. But thesestwo previous months
were wasted in doing nothing for Our defence
Within the time left to him, Gen. Ripley did
all that uutiriug energy and skill could ac-
complish, to put our coast III the state OF par
tial preparation ous enemies will encounter.
The two islands Of Hilton Head and bay
Point. with their extreme limits, constitute
the two points which guard the entrance 10
Por, Royal Sound, about three miles IN width.
On these two points, two Forts were erected
Fort Walker on Hilton Head-and Fort
Beauregard on Bay Point. The time we pos
sessed. enabled us TO make them only earth
works, withou. any protection from Shells or
bombs.
The Island Of Hilton Head was commanded
br Gen. Drayton The officers immediately
experimenting the artillery and conducting
the fire of Fort Walker, were Col. Wagner.
Major Arthur Huger and Capt. Yates, OF the
regular service, especially detailed hy Gen.
Ripley to aid in directing the artillery. Col.
DnnoYant commanded at Fort BeauFegard,
but he generously SLOWED Capt. Elliott OF
the Beaufort Artillery, 10 direct and conduct
the batteries Of the Fort.
The day was b=autifnl--calm aud clear,
with scarcely cloud in the heavenS-J"S'
such day as our Invaders would have Or
dained, if they could, to carry on Their ope-
rations.
The great fee. Of the enemy passed our
bar on Sunday, the &rd inst, ard on tic i"!-
lowing tlav was anchored of Port Royal cI;-
trance. About O'Clock on Monday sfte:-
noon, Com. Tatnal with his " mu$quito feet
ran out from the harbor and made the first
hostile demonstration. The immense armada
of the invaders, numbering at that time, ttlir-
tv-six vessels, was drawn up in line OF battle;
md as our little hotila steamed briskly up to
within mile of them, and opened its fire,
the scene was an inspiritiug one, bat almost
ludicrous, in the disparity of the size OF the
opposing fleets. The enemy replied to our
fire almost Immediately. After an exchange
of some twenty shots, Com. Tattnall retired,
and was not pursued.
About seven o'clock on Tuesday morning,
several of the largest Yankee war steamers
having come within range, the batteries OF
Forts Walker and Beauregard we;e opened,
ond the steamers threw n number of shells
in and over our works, inaicting no damage
upon Fort Walker, and but slightly wounding
two of the garrison of Fort Beauregard. This
engagement lasted, with short intervals, for
nearly two hours, when the enemy drew OFT
The steamers made similar, but shorter
reconnaissance, on Wednesday evening, but
without any important results. On the next
d.y "Wednesday, the weather was rough,
and the feet lay at anchor 6re or 81. miles
from shore. During the day, several stFaY-
Cling transports came up swelling the num-
bsr of vessels 10 forty-oue. All Tuesday
night, and all day Wednesday, aud Wednes-
dny night, our men stood 10 their guns, mo-
mentar;ly expecting an attack, and obtaining
only such scanty rest and retreshment as
chance afforded.
Thursday dawned gloriously upon our wca-
ried but undaunted gunuers, and all felt that
the day of trial had at last arrived. Scarcely
had breakfast been dispatched, when the hos
tile feet was observed in commo,ion. The
great war steamers formed rapidly in single
file. and within supporting distance Of each
otber the frigate Minnesota, the flag ship Of
Com. Dupont. in the van. As the long line
Of formidable looking vessels, thirteen in num-
,.r most Of them powerful propellers, with
fcw sailing mer-3:-war i'll tow. swept rapid.
II and maje,ticaly in, with ports open and
hr;stIirg with guns of the heaviest calibrc:
the sigh, was grand and imposing. This
was at 81 o'clock Until the Minnesota came
within tho range Of AID directly 'epp"si;. to
onr ba,ter.e; OH Hilton Head, all @as still
sudlealv, ,he FL EN- heavy guns Of Foct
Walker, which had been aimed directly at
the huge frigate, belched forth their stimuli