Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-11-15

victory, it is ordered that National salute
be fired from each Navy Yard at meridian the
day after the reception of this order.
The following are the official dispatches to
the Navy Depa, tment:
"Fog Ship Wabash, off Hilton Head,
Pot Royal, Nou. 6th.-Sir: The Govern
ment having determined to seize and occupy
one or more important points on our South
ern coast where our squadrons might find a
shelter and possess depot, and afford pro-
lection to loyal citizens, committed to my
discretion the selection from among these
places which it thought available and d, SRA
BILE for these purposes. After mature DELHI
Grafton, aided by the professional knowledge
and great intelligence of the Asst Sec. Fox,
upon taking into consideration the magnitude
to which the joint naval and military cxped-
ton had been extended, to which you have
called my attention, came to the co, clusion
that the original intentions of the Depart
ment, if carried out, would fall short of the
expectations of the country and of the capa-
bilities of the expedition, which Port ROYAL. I
thought, would meet within high degree
|, therefore, submitted to Brig. Gen Sher-
man, commanding the military part of tho
expedition, this modification of our first
p ans and had the satisfaction of receiving
his full concurrence.
On Tut sday, 29tn October, the fleet, under
my command, left Hampton Roads, aud with
the army transports, numbered 50 vessels. On
the day previous | had dispatched the coal
vessels, 70 Ill number, under convoy of the
| Vandalia, to rendezvous Off Savannah-not
wishing to give the true point of the fleet.
The weather mad been unsettled in Hampton
Roads, though it promised well When We
sailed out OF Hatteras it blew ha:d Some
ships got into the breakers, and Two struck
out without injury. On Friday, Nov. LIST, the
rough weather increased into gale, and We
had to encounter one of great violence The
fleet was utterly dispersed, and on Saturday
morning one sail only was in sight from the
deck OF the Wabash On the following day.
the weather moderated and the steamers and
ships began to re-appear. The orders were
opened, except those IN case of separation.
lie last We're furnished to all the men-ofwar
10y myself, and to all the transports by Brig.
Gen. Sherman. As the vessels rejoined, re-
ports cane IN OF disaster in reference to the
men Of-war. The Chas. Smith, most eff.
Gent and well-armed vessel for the class mr.
chased, but not intended to encounter such
seas and wlnd-had to throw overheard her
formidable battery to keep from laundering.
But thus rclleve., she was enabled to 90 to
the assistance OF the steamer Governor, then
III very dangerous condition. and on board
OF which was fine b, ttalion of Marines I'M
der Maj. Reynolds. They were finally rescued
by Capt. Rnggold, in the Sabine, under diff
cult circumstances, after which the Governor
went down. believe that seven of the ma
Ri cs were drowned, by their own impru-
dence.
Lieut. Commanding N,cholson's conduct
i'll the Isaac Smith has met with my warm
commentator. The Peerless, transport, in a
sinking condition. was met by the Mohican.
Commander Gordon, and all the people on
board, ~ III number, were saved, under yery
peculiar circumstances, in which service 1t.
Il. W. Miller was very favorably noticed by
his commander.
On passing Charleston sent, in the Sene-
ca, 1t. Commanding Ammon, to direct Cant.
Larder to join me with the steamer Susoue-
hannah OIL Port Royal, without delay. At 8
o'clock in the morning, | observed off the bar.
some 20 vessels, in company with many more,
heaving in sight. The Department is aware
that all the aids to nav CATION had been re-
moved, and the bar lies 10 miles to seward.
and no features on the shore line sufficient to
make anything reliable by the skill of Com
mander Dove, of the fleet, and MIR. Boulette.
the able assis ant of the Coast Survey, in
charge of the steamer Vixen, a channel was
Immediately found. By o'clock | received
assurances from Capt Dove that could send
forward the lighter transports-those urder
Is feet-wth all the gun-boats, which was
Immediately done, and before dark they were
Sec urely anchored in the roadstead of
Port Royal. &c. The gun-boats almost i1n-
mediately opened their batteries upon two or
three rebel steamers, under Commander Tat
nail, instantly chasing him under the shelter
OF the ba teries
On Tuesday morning the Wabash crossed
the bar, followed closely by the frigate Sus-
quehanna, the Atlantic, Var derbt and other
transports of deep draft remaining. Through
that portion of the fleet already in, the safe
passage of this great ship over the bar was
hal ed with gratifying cheers from the crowd
ed vessels.
We anchored, and immediately commenced
preparing the ship for action. In our anx-
ity to engage the batteries of the forts be-
fore dark, We stood in too near the shoals,
and the ship grounded. By tie time she
was gotoff, it was too late, in my judgment, to
proceed, and | made signal to the squadron to
anchor out Of gun shot of the enemy
To-day the wind blew gale from the
southwark and westward, and the attack is
unavoidably postponed.
have the honor, Sir, to be, respectfully,
your ohedient servant,
S.P. DUPONT,
| Commanding Blockadina SIuadron.''
Com. Dupont's official report to Secretary
Wclles contains nothing of additional interest,
being merely short narrative of events
Accompanying the dispatches were several
trophies captured, flags and 2 brass cannon,
lately belonging to the State Of South Carroll
ma, among the rest.
| A list Of cas- lalties is, total killed, c.
| wounded severely, 6-slightly wounded, II
| total, 30.
a letter received by Secretary Welles,
from Com Dupont, says since writing his Of
fetal dispatches ne had sent gun boats to
Beaufort to take possession AMI protect the
inhabitants, but found the place abandoned
to negroes, who reported it in a lawless con-
diton.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.
The following is an eXtrac. from private
letter from an officer engaged in the bonn
ba, dment:
'Cur success has been complete, and ter.
ror rules over the whole country. the ne
groes are wild, and plundering their mas
ters' houses. The whites have been driving
the negroes away by force, and shooting
them down, but still they come to the gun
boats. The moment Gen. Drayton took tc.
his horse, in the panic f TIE fight, his 200
servants went immediately to the Wabash.
This is worthy of notice, as putting down
the nonsense that the slaves are ready to
fight for their masters. They surrounded
Capt. Ammon in crowds at Beaufort, calling
out in the joy of their hearts, didn't
think you could do it, nasal"
In Gen. Sherman's report to Adjt. Gen.
Thomas he says. it was agreed upon between
Com. Dupont and himself to first reduce the
army works that might be found at.Port