The daily Gate City., 1861-11-13
BY TELEGRAPH
Afternoon Report.
THE FLEET ENTERs PORT RoYAl
PASSES THE REBEL BATTERIES,
SEA TIERS The REBEL FLEET,
BLoCKADES THE INLETS !
CHARLESTON Is Il REATENED II !!

IA
dition, the rebels have been engaged in
erecting batteries upon a point at Hilton 3
Head and on the opposite side neck of
land The principal fortifcation on Hill
ton Head was called Fort Walker, stu
ated on low land and partially concealed
by trees and underbrush, Adjoining it
are other batteries of small size but so
connected as to prove formidable barrier
to the entrance of vessels. Fort Beaure-
gard was Of considerable Importance being
mounted with heavy guns. The garri-
sons are supposed to have been South
Carolina regiments, assisted by additional
regiments sent from Richmond The
batteries at Bay Point, opposite Hilton's
Head were equally as formidable. Inside
of Port Royal entrance and behind the
batteries lay the fleet of Commodore Tat
nall, which consisted only of small vessels
carrying few heavy guns, but principal
ly light ones; tugs constituted great
portion of the feet Many of these re-
mained outside the mouth of the entrance
until the arrival of our fleet, when they
formed in miniature line of battle in the
position already stated, behind the guns
of their own forts and across the entrance.
On the morning of Thursday last the U.
s. feet, numbering AZ vessels, headed by
the flag ship approached the mouth of
Port Royal entrance. This was at half
past nine O'Clock Several Of the trans
ports remained off the coast Upon ar
irving at a suitable position the guns of
the feet opened continuous fire upon the
forts Walker and Beauregard as well as
upon those of Bay Point. Under cover
of this fire an effort was made to run the
gauntlet of the batteries, which they did
A number of the vessels passed through
the FIRE Of the batteries with very trifing
injuries At least l5 of them passed up
beyond the reach of the land batteries
As the Union feet sailed up, the Mosqui-
to feet of Tatnall opened fire, but seeing
the impossibility of making any resist
ance soon dispersed. Some were forced
to run on shore, and others were driven
up the inlets out of sight. Com. Tatnall
went on shore with his men to assist in
working the batteries and use them
against our vessels which were endeavor-
ing to follow the adyanne of the others -
The passage. Of the fleet through the
channel was not accomplished until the
firing had continued from half past in
the morning till 5 in the evening. One
Of the Union gunboats ls believed to have
been burned and three steamers disabled.
1t is acknowledged by the enemy that
they had 20 men killed in Fort Walker;
it is impossible to state what their loss
was at the other batteries, though doubt
less very great as our fire il said to have
been effective and the guns well aimed
and Of heavy calibre No sooner did our
vessels 90 past the batteries at Port Royal
entrance and slide into what is termec
Broad River than they made for the in
let's leading to Beaufort, Savannah and
Charleston. These they immediately
bockaded, but not in time to prevent the
escape of small rebel vessels. Not one
Of the federal vessels was sunk and the
only one believed to have been destroyed
by fire was tha gunhoat referred TO above
They crew arc said to have passed through
a murderous fire to another vessel, which
they reached with very little if an, loss
The Union vessels acted under special in
structions In blockading the mouths of
the inlcts which led to the most import
tant points and which afforded loopholcs
: Of escape for the enemy. While portion Of
the feet entered upon this duty four ships
r made Immediately for Beaufort, and at 3 D
IN. On Thursday were in sight of that city
J A dispatch dated Beaufort, Nov. 7th
, to the Charleston Mercury, says at that
time the Union forces were preparing to
land, evidently with the intention OF
throwing up entertainments and attacking
: the town. We have no means of knowing
! the exact loss of the Union forces, bu,
! the rebels confess their firing was very
! bad and that their artillery men were bad
ly in want Of practice. They declare,
! moreover, that the guns in the Fort were
not properly mounted. When Commo-
I dore Tatnall went to assist the men in the
forts he found that many of the cannon
! We're dlsmounted by their. own rebound.
: To this fault the rebel journals attribute
their defeat and loudly call upon the Con
! federate Government to find out where the
blame rests. A dispatch which left
: Richmond on Saturday lest s.ys there wa IS
: nothing important from the Southern coast.
, 1t is evident from this the rebel Gov
! ernment has prohibited any further in ].
formation from coming North at Rich.
mond This implies they have suffered a
: heavy defeat.
The Charleston Mercury of the 9Th
inst, after summing up the repulse, says
The Yankees seem to have driven Com.
! Tatnall Mosquitoe feet up the creeks
leading to Savannah and cut of all the
water communication with Charleston by
sealing up Scull Creek. Although tho
Yankees have effected as yet no landing,
IT is certain they have made some pro