The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-14

TIE FIRST Gun.
At precisely Ave O'Clock was looking towards our
fleet in the distance When my surprise the 'sh
OF cannon on shore at Bay Point then another and
still n third In mont every board tho
Wabash was on the 90, cps, and at least two Of
glasses levccd the scene ~ action. In Ices then
ye minutes after the first discharge from the shore the
grrboats had opened a brisk ire upon the battery on
shr which firing rapidly as possible was 50
far removed from tho firing as 10 BIO unable
~ see anything more than our shells exploding
shore sNd tile battery Tho aripe
lasted at intervals until sundown, when II erased nj
shc moantms we went alongside Of the slsouabanna
and took on board lot Of great bars 10 be used as an
ehors TO our puoys This being completed we started
towards the bar heaving The lead progressed
arriving 1T the outer edge Of II set buoy and just
As we were setting the second little further up
were signazed to return Immediately TO the Wabash. II
was now dark, md my prospects go board of tho
Aa,anzas seemed 10 be darker still
Nevertheless those who seek knowledge must expect
TO have some difcuty in obtaining IL, and content
with my lot On arriving at the flagship hailed
by the officer Of the deck who sad " You will anchor
convenient distance from the shp.n Aye rye, sir,
was the reply, and in a few moments anchor was
quietly resting tho bottom, and fifteen fahoms Of
chan held fast for the night The officers of the Mer
curry cheered with the promise Of good supper "A
clean bed and plenty Of writing materials &C., so was
happy went on deck about mndnght found il to bea
lovely night and prospects Of q fine day tomorrow.
learn that General Sherman selected boat TO make
reconnaissance In At early hour the morning. and
that At four O'Clock alongside OF the wabash
Tor ORDERS and At five the army officers will embark from
ON boosd Of the Atlantic, and then will take trip up
she river am also informed that tomorrow all the
vessels the nag ship ncuied, will 60 tho bar pro-
v'ded there be sufficient deph Of for them do
o. The channel rs ncary buoyed out for about six or
seven miles, and think will have difficulty in
getting all the vessels in tomorrow.
THE FIRST NIGHT OFF PORT ROYAL.
Everything is M quiet lamb out here tonight and
don't any stir among the ships in shore Of U.s. Five
rebel steamers have been to-day but doubt il any
Of them be armei but should judge that they had been
employed in bringing down troops to-day to reinforce
she batteries which fred our ships last evening
and nothing OF any importance occurred During the
nisht could distinctly The enemys camp 6res and
SEQ also that they were hard at work.
On BOARD STEAAES MxcuRY, Tue sday, Nov. 5.-At FIVE
O'Clock this morning we got under weigh ard went along
side Of the flag ship for orders day light we were
ordered to take on board Brgader Generals Sherman
Wright and Stevens with their stats, and to proceed
der their direction to make thorough reconnaissance Of
clio batteries at Hilton Head and Bay Point After we
eft the Wabash the Vixen went alongside Of her. and in
doing SO lost her forcopmast We lay astern Of the flag
ship until the Generals brought ono Of tho
Atiantics boats. Then started upon our trip The
weather was beautiful and all in the best Of spirits
General Sherman, however, seemed TO be somewhat
panied to know that still short of some of our
transports While We were going up the Ericsson hove
IN sight and that had the tendency cheer him consider
ably Several other vessels after came in sight we
found gunboats well up the channel and about mid
way between Hilton Head and Pay Point, and, IRON ap
pearances, they were cndeayorng to draw the cncmys
Ere first.
THE REBEL STEAMERS MAKE THEIR APPEARANCE.
The enemy have sent down four steamers OF which
judge 70 BIO the Evergadc thc flag ship two others
tho Lady Davis and the Scrcamor the fourth am unable
70 distinguish We along fast possible 50 as to
oin the firing at its earliest stages that we can make
careful note Of positive strength, &C. On we steamed,
expecting every moment the rebels would open fire on
ships; but they evidently were waiting until they
should get into ranges which they had for their guns
At twenty minutes before O'Clock the first gun was
Cred from the rebel flag ship ho Everglade) aad in less
than one minute afterwards the Lady Davis let slip shot
ct the ships. In FIVE minutes the firing became quite
lively on both Sides the gunboat Ottawa opening the
IRE on our side. The following boats took part in
tho sklmish-Ths Ottawa, with Flag Captain
Rodgers on board; Pembna, Seneca, Curlew Penguin
and Iraac Smith, the Pawnee coming in after the firing
had well advanced. While the scrimage was gong on
General Sherman transferred to the Ottawa and
your correspondent went with him. few shots were
Aired rom the vessel afterward, from the Ottawa
Sichochetng struck the water times and then hit
the Lady Davis The rebels hit the Smith and cut
away the fore stay One shot struck the Pembna and
the forward swer Of the main rigging of the Of
tawa about six feet above your correspondents bead
shot struck under STERN throwing quite quantity of
water on deck The rebels fired well, and our boats
worked exceedingly well.
THE RETREAT OF THE REBEL GuNBoATs.
After an hours firing tho rebel fleet started up Beau
fsrt river, shot began to trouble them somewhat
As drew up toward the batteries the one on Hilton
Head opened upon us-this being the FIRST time we had
any positive knowledge Of there being any guns that
pace AS drew within range Of the Bay battery
also opened upon us. After about twenty ROUNDS We
found the Hilton Head battery to contain sixteen guns
while the Bay Point battery had only thirteen but just
below that battery which yet compile. ID.
Tie gan carriages there, but guns were TO be
seen working there yesterday but to-day
iey have Como down to fight in The main battery. After
tn boats had runaway they sought shelter behind the
point while boats threw in shell towards tho bate
ries al intervals. AS only reconnaissance it
BOT necessary for US to attempt 10 oUt the rebels
Tho recall sig al vas hosed and prepared anchor
hauling OF the Pawnee got into position
AID opened Are upon the Hilton Head battery; most OF
her shot fell short, but rcd sixty eight FOUNDER threy
Ia shell bcautifuly.
The rebels threw tie shot around her very fast bu.
al fell short As go back tho rebel
navy came down and followed us afar of. The CarIew
nr.d rounds at the battery and then hauled of and
tho little Mercury in showed them her stern and let
drive shell at them from her thirty FOUNDER it burst
ing coee into the rebel camp Thus ended the regu.
lar army reconnaissance, in VIII ~ the navy did all tho
worA and the army did one half Of the looking on.
ENTERING THE CHANNEL.
Al nine O'Clock the feet outside Of the bar consisting
q the wabash Susquelanna Bicnve and several Others
got under weigh and in, preceded by the Vixen.
This dicat and dangerous navigation accomplished
without any thing worthy Of record transpiring On ar
svin at point tho opening of the southeast chan
eel, they came to anchor to wait for proper tide
In the meantime had been transferred from
lhc ottawa 10 tho Mercury, and shortly after
the flag ship anchored went board of her. Shortly
II reaching her ecks all hof boats hcsed out
and the most hurried preparations being made 10
at the ship for action in the afternoon noticed that
gunboat3 which will cali tho advance feet had nm