Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-11-23
THE PORT ROYAL AFFAIR.

Thursday dawned gloriousy upon our wea.
ried but undaunted gunners, and all felt that
the day ot trial had at last arrived. Scarcely
had breakfast been despatched when the hos.
tile fleet was observed in commoton. The
great war steamers formed rapidly in single
file, and within supporting distance Of each
other, the frigate Minnesota" the flag shin
Of Commodore Dupont, 10 the van. As the
,long line of formidable looking vessels. tbir.
teen 10 number, most OF them powerful pro.
pellers, with few sailing men. Of war in tow,
swept rapidly and mnjestically 10, with ports
open and brlstlng with guns of the heaviest
ealli6re, the sight wac grand and imposing
This was at half past eight o'clock. Until
the Minnesota" came within range and oppo.
site to our batteries on Hilton Head, all was
still. Suddenly the fifteen heavy guns OF
Fort Walker, which bad been aimed directly
at the huge frgate, belched forth their stimuli
taneous fire, and the action was begun. AL.
most Immediately afterwards the batteries Of
Fort Beauregard, on the other side of the en-.
trance, also opened their fire.
The enemy at first did not reply. But az
Tue second steamer came opposite to Fort
Walker, the hulls Of the first three we're sud.
denly wrapped in smoke, and the shot and
shell OF three tremendous brosdsides, making
in all seventy, five guns came crushing against
our works. From this moment the lombard.
ment was terrific and incessant. One by one
the propellers bore down upon our forts, and
delivered their fire as they passed, until nine
bad gained the interior Of the harbor, beyond
the range OF our guns. The Minnesota II
still followed by the others, then turned round
and steamed slowly out, giving broadside to
Fort Beauregard as she repassed, Tins the
battle was cootinued, the enemy's vessels sail.
ing 10 en- eiliPtical curve, pouring one broad
side into Bay Point, and then sweeping around
to deliver the other against Hilton Head.
This furious fire from some four hundred
guns, many Of them of the ll.inch Dahlpren
| pattern, and some even OF a l3 inch bore fcoI
a number OF that diameter was found in For,
Deauregard was maintained ncessaptly. and
tue roar OF the cannonade seemed most contin.
nous. Meanwhile the garrisons were MAKING
gallant defence. They kept up a vigorous
and well directed lire against their assalants
and notwithstanding that their best gun was
dismounted at the beginning of the action
tney succeeded 10 setting lire to several of the
SHIPS. whenever this happened, however
the enemy would haul of and soon extinonist
the flames. The effect of our guns was If
many instances, plainly visible from the forts
Although the sides of the Minnesota wers
oil massive strength, several OF her ports were
Knocked into one. Nor was she the onl,
vessel upon which this evidence of the powe,
Oh our hre could be seen. Many of the otbe,
steamers were likewise badly hulled.
AFTER some time spent 10 sailing around aud
delivering their broadsides in rotation. in Tbs
manner we have described, the enemy's steam
ers adopted another aud more successful plar
OF attack. One Of them took a position ip
side the hsrbor, SO ss TO eD6lads the batterje,
VI Fors Walker, while several opened stimuli