Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-11-15
BEAUFORT DESERTED
4 RATTLE At PIKEYILLE.
400 REBELS KILLED AND 1000
REBELS AND TWO REBEL GEN
ERlLS TAKEN PRISONERS.
PnILADHrn1A, Nov. l2th

Ia Anticipation of tic arrival Of the Great
Expedition the rebels had been engaged in
erecting batteries upon q point at lIiIton's
Head and opposite thc neck Of Land.
The principal Notifications on Hilton's
Head was named Fort Walker. adjoining
w, r5 other batteries Of smaller size. but so
Connected as to prove a formidable bar to
the entrance Of vessels. The garrisons aIe
believed to have been South Carolina regi-
mcnJs with several additional regiments
sent from Richmond.
Inside of Port Royal entrance behind the
batteries lay the feet Of Commodore Tatnall,
consisting of small vessels carrying few
heavy guns, but principally Light ones.
On Tuesday last the United States Gect
consisting of - vessels headed by the flag
ship. approached the mouth Of Port Royal.
Several Of the transports remained off the
coast. The approach # the fleet created a
great stir in the batteries. Upon arriving at
a suitable position the guns of the feet open
ed continuous fire upon Forts Walker
and Beauregard as well as those upon a
point near. Under cover Of this
fire an effort was made to run the gauntlet
Of the batteries. The result was cmuently
satisfactory. Some were forced to run on
the shore while others were driven up iulets
until almost cut Of sight. The passage
oil vessels through the channel was
not accomplished until the firing
continued from half past nine "a the
morning to nearly in the afternoon. Dur
ing the fight one Of the Union gunboats was
believed to have been burnt and three steam
ers disabled. 1t is acknowledged by the en-
envy that they had twenty men KILLED in
Fort Walker but it is impossible to state
what their loss was at the other batteries. 1t
was doubtless very great as our fire is men
toned as very effective the guns being well
aimed and Of heavy calibTe. \ number OF
the vessels passed through the shot and shell
from the shore batteries with very triiling
injuries. At last 3 succeeded in passing
up beyond reach Of the land batteries. As
the Union feet sailed up the Mosquito fleet,
0. Tatnal opened fire but seeing the impossi
bility Of making any resistance soon dise
pcrs,d.
No sooner had the vessels passed the bat
t.ries Of Fort Royal entrance and glided into
the broad River than they made for the
mouth Of the inlets, leading to Beaufort,
Savannah and Charleston. Not one federal
vessel was sunk, and only one gun boat
burned
A dispatch from Beaufort to the Charles
ton Mercury says that the Union forces
were preparing to effect a landing evident
ly with the design of throwing up ehtrcuch-
nents and attacking the town. The Charles
ton Mercury Of the 9th says; "if the invaders
can take Charleston with $4,000 men, let
them have it. We are unworthy to
possess it, and it will be a fit memorial If
laid in ashes, Of our own imbccllity.
1t also says, in the promiscuous chase they
seem to have driven Commodore Tatnall s
mosquito feet up the creeks leading to Sa-
vannah, and cut of all water communication
with Charleston by Theoretically sealing Scull
Greek
FORTRESS MoNRoNE, Nov. l..
The steamer Bienville has Just arrived
from the great expedition. She left Port
Royal on Sunday morning. She proceeds
to New York at once Capt. Steadman,
however, left her at this place and proceeds
direct to Washington with dispatches and
trophies. , brass cannon and secession flags.
He reports the gale encountered 10y the feet
had been very severe, the Union and Oscola
went ashore and were lost, Governor found.
cred at sea but thcIsaac SSmith succeeded il
saving all her crew with the exception OF d
few marines. The feet arrived at Port RoYa
on Monday the 9Th inst On Tuesday the sinai
Ter gun boats rounded INTO the channel unde
fire from the forts which did no dlmage.-
Wednesday, the storm prevented operations
but Thursday morning, 9TH inst the mer
of war and gun boats advanced to the at
tack, The action commenced at ten II
the forenoon, and was hotly carried Oh
by both sides, lasting about hours, at the
end of which time the rebels were compelled
to abandon their works aud retreat @ ar loss il
smen and one officer, the Chief Engineer o
the Mohican, killed, and about % wounded
Rebel loss not known Gfty,two bodie
were found by our men and buried
All their wounded, except 2,were carried oh
Forts Walker on Hilton Head, mounting p
guns. and Fort Beaureglrd on Bay Point
mounting 10 guns, were captured. The Suu
we're IF heavy calibre. The forts were bot
snlen6,d earth works Of great strength
constructed m the highest style OF mliItar
sc,enca. The final retreat 9i the rebels was
perfect route. They left every thing, arm
equipments OF all kinds, even to Oihcef
sword and commissions, letters and r
pers, both public and private ; order bool
and documents Of all kinds were lei
in their lgh'. and Ill INTO our hand
afOring cur Off; Is much valuab
information. Among the Iapers was
telegram from JeG Davis - the Con
mander Of the Post, informing him Of Il
sailns Of TIE Fleet, AID that be knew the
destination u be Port Royal. The who
turr .und!rg country was seized with p.
feet ranic.
The day after the fight the Seneca al
two other gunboats proceeded up to Bea