Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-19

no vessel could possibly pass the batteries, and
the General in command had promised his men
that every ship should be sunk as It came up;
ana - 70 certainly wonderful that we escaped with
80 little damage. The rebel batteries were
served with great activity. The great fault
was IN their firing too high. An incessapt
s1ower OF SHOT and shell rained over US, but
Win little or no effect. The wounded rebel
says that on the first circuit ronud, tbe General
told them that number of tho vessels must
nave been sunk, but seeing them emerge from
the clouds OF smoke and pass on, he concluded
tnst they had been disabled and were drawing
on, The men thought the victory was theirs.
Heifeshments were served, and cheers given
LOT the Southern Confederacy. Their conster-
natlon at seeing the Wabash again wind the
column and approach them was great; but they
sprang to their guns and fought with despera-
ton. Again they congratulated themselves
the vessels had drawn of disabled; but on see
Ing the Wabash, the Bienville and the Susque-
hanna rounding up In gallant style for the third
Time, apparently unharmed, the panic was com
plete, and they broke and fed In utter dismay.
THE Forts AND SURROUNDINGS AFTER THE BATTLE.
On landing, the forts were found to be utterly
deserted, and everything gave proof of the
heediong and utter confusion and haste with
which the rebels had vacated their hard fought
positions. As specimens of military skill, both
tCrts Walker and BeauregArd are considered
BY old army officers as the most ekilfful and
formidable earthworks they have ever seen.
Fort Walker, on Hilton Head, 10 much the
heaviest, being gigantic mass of esrthworks
thrown up In angular walls, the corners being
protected by strong redoubts. In front Of the
walls was deep trench. about ten or twelve
feet Ia widsh, likewise protected by an admir-.
able cheusuz de Jyise of thick posts, six or eight
feet high, firmly set In the ground, about four
inches apart, pointing outward from the fort,
and shsrpened at the end. With this encircing
wall OF sharp stakes guarding a deep trench,
which IN turn was covered by the tWenty-six
monster guns and columbiads Of the fort, It was
doubtless impregnable to the assaults OF any
land force Of infantry. Both forts had proba-
bly, been erected for at least nine or ten months,
as the soil, where not rent by our terrific fire,
was firm and well settled, and clothed In lux
uriant mantle of graes. The country around Is
one Of much beauty and fertlity-rising from
the sea gently, the coast slopng off far into the
ocean, making long shallow spread of water.
A beautiful cotton field was near by, the balls
already bursted, and the long, white cotton hang.
ing from them in the greatest prof lsion.
A Northerner, unaccustomed to the sight OF
field Of ripe cotton, the scene presented me
was one OF unrivaled magnifcence and novelty.
It seemed as If living mantle of snow had
rested upon square of beautiful country, and
undulated like the yellow grain In the gentle
winds. | passed also over fine patch Of
sweet potatoes, which bore good evidence OF
having grown thrifty and well by the fertile
sweat of slaves. The ground in every direc.
tion was plowed into burrows and ridges by our
shells and balls. The earthworks were honey
combed and torn into unsightly heaps, trees
shattered in every direction, and long lanes cut
through the pure white cotton field. The forts,
now deserted, except by the CHASTITY bodies Of
the dead, bore witness to the terrific effect Of
our fire, the long and unavailing defense main
tained by the rebels, and tho rapidity with which
they had quilted the works and fed when we
came fresh and determined as ever, to the third,
and, as it proved, the final engagement. AT
Fort Walker only three guns were found die
mounted. The rest remained in their places,
we'll aimed, and had been we'll served They
were Of immense size, carrying from $50 to ls0
pound balls, and riasd. Some OF them we're of
old English manufacture, and others were prob
ably cast at Richmond. These were Of rather
rough exterior, but proved to be equal in utility
to the others. They were already loaded when
we found them, and not one was spiked-a fact
which evidenced the terror created by our 6nal
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