The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-11-22

Port Royal, s. O., aud thus oper
the finest harbor ON the coast tha
exists south Of llattcras. 1t is calcu
lated TO reach Poit Royal in livu
days at most, but in consequence q
adverse winds and pcriluus storm
ON the day and night of the 1st O
November, the fleet did not arriv,
at Port Royal bar till the lth. an,
then but in part, for it had been nj
most entirely dispersed by the gale
and the vessels have been stiag
Cling in up to this date.
The transport steamers Union,
| Bclvidcro, Osccola, and Pccrles.
have not arrived. Two OF rthom ar,
known to be lost, and it is prubabl,
Ioll are. IL is gratifying, however
to say that none of the troop uans.
ports connected with the land forces
were lost, though tho Winfield Scott
had to sacrifice her whole cargo.
and the Roanoke a portion OF her
cargo, to save the lives of tho reg.
imcnts on board. The former will
be unable again to put TO sea. Tie
vessels connected with the naval
portion OF tho feet have also sui.
tered much, and some have been
lost.
After a careful reconnaissance OF
Port Royal Bay, it was ascortained
that the rebels had three field works
Of remarkable strength, strongly
garrisenod and covered by a fleet OF
three gunhoats. under Capt. Tat.
nall, late of the Uutcd States Navy
besides strong land forces, which
the rebels were concentrating from
Charleston and Savannah.
The troops of the rebels werc
afterwards asccrtained to have been
commanded by Gen. Drayton. One
of the forts, and probably the
strongest point, is situated on Hill
ton Head aud the other two on
Phillips Island. II was deemed
proper to first reduce tho forts on
Hilton Head, although to do this
! a greater or less fire might have to
bc met from the batteries on Bay
Point at the same time. Our origi
nal plan Of cooperation 70 land the
forces in the attack had to be set
aside, in consequence Of the loss,
during the voyage, ofa greatcrpor.
ton ofour means ofdiscmbarkmeni
together with the fact that the only
point where troops should have Ian.
dCd was from iivo to six miles,
measuring around the intervening
shoal, from the anchoring place oi
our transports; altogether too great
a distance for successive debarka.
tion with our limited means. Il was
therefor agreed that the place should
be reduced by the naval force alone
In consequence Of the shattered
condition Of the fleet and delay in
the arrival Of vessels, that were in.
dispensible for attack, il had to be
postponed until the 9TH inst.
! was mere spectator of the
combat, and it is not my province
to render any report Of this action;
but | deem it an imperative duty tc
say that the firing and maneuver.
ing Of tho war fleet against that oI
the rebels and their formidable land
batteries, was master. piece of ac,
tivity and professional skill that
must have ELECTED the applause OF
the rebels themselves. AS a tacti-
cal operation, ] think that too much
praise cannot be awarded TO the
science and skill exhibited by the
nag officer Of the naval squadron
and the officers connected with his
ships. / ldeem the performance a
masterly one, and ought to have
been seon to have been fully appre-
ciattd
Alter the works were reduced, ]
took possession of them with the
land forces. The beautifully con.
structed work on Hilton Head was
severely crippled, and many af the
guns disinountcd. Much slaughter
bad evidently been made there,
many bodies having been buried in
the fort, and some twenty or thirty
were found somo half mile dis
tant.
Tho Island for many miles was
found strewn with arms and accom-
termcnts and baggage of the rebels,
which they threw away in their
hasty retreat. We have como in
possession Of about forty pieces of
ordnance, most Of which arc ofthe
heaviest calliber and the most ap.
proved models, and a large quanti-
ty of ammunition and camp equip
age. 1t is my duty TO report the
valuable services of Mr.. Bontello,
Assistant in Coast Survey, assis-
ting mo with his accurate and ex-
tensive knowledge of the country.
His services arc invaluable to the
army as well as the navy, and ]
earnestly recomend that important
notice bo taken of this very able
an scientific officer by the War De
partmcRt- am very respectfully
your obcdicnt servant.
4. w SHERMAN,
Brig. .-Gen. Commanding.
Adjutant-Gen u. s. A.
After landing and taking posses
sion of the forts, Gen. Sherman Is
sued a proclamation 10 the people
Of South Carolina, saying: "ln obe.
dionce To tho orders OF the President