The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-11-20
Official Acc unt o fthe Glcat Sue
cess Oftle 4 lePt.

WASHINGTON, November Is.
Captain Steadman arrived here to-day, bring
ing official dispatches OF the naval expedition.
He is also bearer OF two flags-one Palmetto
flag, and the American flag first hoisted in
South Carolina over Fort Walker. Captain
Steadman reports that the captured forts are
magnificent, with covered ways and bomb proof
and that all our troops had to do was to occupy /
them. They can be held against any opposing
force.
Among the most efficient vessels were found
to be the new gunboats, and Of which the Ma
Wy Department had % constructed expressly
for such purposes, and their success both in the
gale and under the fire was per 'ect.
Commander Drayton. OF the Pocahontas, is |
the brother OF General Draytor, who comman
ded the rebel forts.
Captain Steadman who brings the dispatches
is the son ola former Mayor OF Charleston.
On the reception Of the official dispatches the
following order was issued: -
GENERAL ORDER.
"The Department announces to the Navy and
to the country its high gratlficalion at the bril-
liant success ofthe combined Navy and Army
! forces, respectively commanded ty flag officer
is. +. Dupont and Brigader General w. II
Sherman, in the capture OF Forts Walker and
Beauregard, commanding the entrance OF Port
| ROYAL harhot s. G. To commemorate this sig
nal victory, it is ordered that national salute
be fired fionl each navy yard at meii idian on
the day after the reception Of this order"
The following are the official dispatches to
the Navy Department. ..
FLAG SHIP WABASH, OFF HnToN ITEADl
Port ROYAL, November 6. {
"SIR: The Government having determined to
seize aud occupy one or more important points
upon our Southern coast, where our squadrons
might find shelter and posses depot, and af-
ford protection to loyal citizens, committed to
my discre ion the selection, from among those
places, which it thought available and desirable
for this purpose. After mature deliberaton,
aided by the pro eSsional knowledge and great
intelligence of the Assistant Secretary, Mr..
Fox, and upon taking into consideration the
magnitude to which the joint naval and militia
ry expedition had been extended, to which you
have called my attention, came to the conclu-
sion that the original intentions Of the depart
ment if carried out would fall short Of the ex-
pectstoDs of the country and Of the capabili
ties of the expedition, while Port Royal, |
thought would meet both in high degree,
there ore submitted to Brigadier General Sher
man, commanding the military part of the ex-
pedition, this modification of our earliest ma
tured plans, and had the satisfaction to receive
his full concurrence
"0n Tuesday the Goth of October, the fleet
under my command left Hampton Roads: and,
with the army Transports numbered fifty ves-
sells. On the day previous had dispatched
the coal vessels, twenty five in number, under
convoy of the Fdndalid, 20 rendezvous off Savan-
nah, not wishing to give the trne point Of the
fleet. The weather had been unsettled in
Hampton Roads though it promised well when
we sarled but off tateras it blew hard. Some
ships got into the breakers, and two struck. but
without injury. On Friday, November l, the
rough weather increased into gale" and we
had to encounter one of great violel ce. The
fleet was utterly dispersed, and op Saturday
morning one sail only was in sight from the
deck ofthe Wabash, On the following day The
weather moderated and the steamers and ships
began to reappear. The orders were opened
except those in case of separation. These laS
were furnished 10 all the men. of war by my
self, and to the transports by Brigadier Gener
al Sherman.
"As the vessels rejoined reports came in o
disasters. In re ference to the men Of war, the
Isaac Smiths most efficient and well armed yes
sci Tor the class, purchased but not intended tc
encor nter such sea and wnd had to throw hcl
formidable battery overheard to keep from loun
Ito The assistance of the steamer Gouernor, ther
in very dangerous condition, and on board Of
which was our fine lattilion Of marines, under
Major Reynolds They were finally rescued
by Captain Ringgold, in the Sabine, under d,f
icult circumstances alter which the GoverRo,
went down | believe that 7 OF the marineE
were drowned by their own imprudcnce.-
Lieutenant Commanding Nicholson's conduct
in the Isaac Smith, has met my warm commen
dation. The Peel less Oransport), in a sinking
condition, was met by the NJ hcun, Comman
der Gordon, and al the people on board, 26 il
number were saved under very peculiar cir
cumstances, in which service Lieutenant Ii. w
Miller was very .avorably noticed by his com
mander. ..
."On passing Charleston, ! sent in the Serct
Lieutenant Commanding Ammen, to drec
Captain Lardner to join me with the steamer
SusQuehanna off Port Royal, without delay. O
Monday at eight o'clock in the morning, | an
chored off the bar with some % vessels Il
company with many more heaving in sight
The Department is aware that all the aids t
navigation had been removed, and that the ba
lies ten miles to seaward, and no features o.
the shore line OF sufficient prominence to max
any bearings reliable, but to the skill Of Com
mapder Dove, the Fleet Captain, and Nj
Boulette, the able assistant of the Coast SurveN
in charge o. the steamer Fjnen, a channel wa
Immediately found By three o'clock recey
ed assurances from Captain Dove that | cou
send forward the lighter transports, those unde
Is feet, with all the gun boats, which wa
Immediately done, and before dark they wer
securely anchored in the roadstead off Por
Royal South Carolina. fa
''The gun boats almost Immediately opened
their batteries upon two or three repel steam
, ers under Commodore Tatnall, instantly chas
ing him under the shelter OF the batteries. Oh
the morning OF Tuesday the Wabash crossed
the bar followed closely by the frgate Susque
hanna. The atlantic, Vanderbilt, and othe
passports, at deep draft, running through tina
portion OF the feet. The safe passage OF thi
great ship over the Tar was hailed with graft
flying cheers from the crowed vessels. w
anchored and Immediately commenced prepar
ing the ship for action. In our anxiety to ge
the outline ofthe orts before dark we stood il
too near those shoals and the ship grounded
By 'he time she was got off, it was too late, il
my judgment to proceed, and made signal
for the squadron to anchor out Of gun shot Q
the enemy. To-day the wind blows gal
from the southwark and westward, and the
attack is nnavodably postponed.
II have the honor TO be, Sir,
IS f. DUPONT. a3
"Flag officer Com'd'g South Atlantic
"BlockadiDg Squadron.
A letter to Secretary Welles from conmo
dore Dupont says, since writing his official dis
patches be had sent gun boats 10 Beaufort t,
take possession ofthe town and protect The
Iiahahi,ants hut found the place abandoned :,