The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-15


Each of the wounded was placed in blanket
and carried off by four men. The safety of
the living prccluded the idea of removing the
dead. And thus, the gallant little band quit
ted the scene of their glory, and scarnpcrcd off,
the best they could, towards the woods. The
retreat was covered by a small detachment who
remained in the Fort for an hour after their
comrades had left. Among those who re-
manned were Capt Harms, with six men, Lieut..
Mcchcrs with four mcr and Lieut.. Bischoff,
with four men. These worked three guns
until about two o'clock, when they also Quilted
the post.
The abandonment of Fort Beauregard was
equally necessity. The garrison were cxhaus-
ted and in momcntary danger of being cut off.
When Col. Dunovont ordered a retreat, tears
of modification and Indignation filed the eyes
Of Captain Elliott at the sad necessity. The
retreat was admirably conducted, and rendered
entirely successful by the prudent energy of
Capt. Hanckc, one Of Gen. Riplcys Aids, who
had got together some twelve flats at Station
Greek, by which the troops passed safely over
to st. Helena Island. From there, they passed
to Beaufort Island, and reached the train at
Pocotaligo witho the loss or injury ofonc man
In this Fort none were killed, and but five were
wounded, and two of these were wounded bv
negligence in loading cannon, by which hot
shot was driven on the powder, without the wet
wad preceding it,
EVACUATION OF BAY POINT.
The rest of the story is briefly told. Late
Thursday night the garrison of Fort Walker
had collected at the landing, in hope of being able
to reach Bluffton by water. Luckily, several
small Cofcdcratc steamers were within hail.
But here ludcrous mistake occurred. The
retreating troops imagined the little steamers
to be Yankee gun-boats; while the crews of the
steamers were convinced that the troops were:
a body of fdiscmbarEed Yankees. Acting upon
this double delusion, deal of mutual rcconnoi-
tering made, and it was only after vast
variety of strategic approaches, that they
| reached the conclusion that it was "all right
A quick trip to Bluffton ollowed-THenee'
the troops marched to Hardceville, II miles
distant. The road along which they dragged
their exhausted frames was filled with a hctero--
ScHCouS llIoHS vi luSIIlfc vi dll COHulGlOHS,
carriages, carts and conveyanccs Of every de-
scripton that could, by any possibility, be.
pressed into service. The spectacle was a sad.
one.
Thus ended the defence of Port Royal Tie.
modification of the disaster is lessened by The:
consciousness that our troops deserved success
What injury we did to the enemy. we do
not know. Our firing was, of course, less ef--
fecicnt than theirs Our troops were voun-
tcers-thcrs were picked artillcrists. Yet, it is
remarkable how few were killed or wounded.
amongst our troops. This battle, in this re-
spect, was very much like the battle of Fortt
Sumter. How so many cannon could have
been dismantled and rendered useless, and Yeti
SO few of those who worked them injured,
seems very marvellous. Our troops did their
duty faithfully and brayey and fought until
to fight longer would have been sheer folly.
Though encountering immense odds, no signs
of cowardice marked their conduct. Officers =
and soldiers exemplifed the ancient character
of the State, and deserve our profound graft
tude and admiration.
H. 1,1t l.. IL - L.