New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-14
no. .es and fed for hfe, while no o1e pursued-e,
ny The oOntrabdnds.

tended; IL iu in tie aesrt Of South Carolina; il Is 20
miles from savannah, and 30 from Charl.stog; II
has room enougu ior the nayies OF the world IL ls
"a Fortress MonI0s in South Carolina.
Negroes are pouring 10 they think their condition
is 70 be battered. White men have all fed Vessels
go up TO Beaufort to-day. JOIN Rooms.
DESCRIPTION or THE ACTION BY An OFFICER
or THE BIESyILLE.
The subjoned letter written by one OF the
ocers Of the man -of-war Bienyile, and is an sdn'
rably terse suceinct, compact account Of the whole
affairs
THURSDAY, Nov. 7, 1861.
At A. NJ the fag-ship made the ,gnal 70 Tall iu
and form IN order Of baite-ine ,Da-h le"uuls tue
main column. composed Of the following vessels:
W4bash Snsduehsnna, MohiCaD Seminole, Paw
nee. UnaGilla Ottawa, Pemblna, aud Nand5la.
lie Bienyille led the stsrboard column, conpos 20
Of tie following yessels Bienville, Seneca, Curew5
Penguin, and Augusta
lie Bienville took Der position on the Susquehsn-
mas staFOoard quarter, and maintained II during the
action.
AZ 10 a. ~ the batteries on each ride Of the river
opened fire on the head Of the column from long
range heavy guns, which the Flag Snip PROMPTLY
replied 10, and coon the action became general along
the whole line as they came into range.
At 1899 d. the flagship windet the Inc. turn.
ing 20 the soukhward, when size engaged for a few
minutes tDIee steamers, who were within long mUge,
up tie river. We put them 10 fight, aid a. ain
followed IN the order Of battle down within close
rauge o. The large battery, called by the Rebels
Fort Walker on Hilton Head when the firing be-
came very spirited on both sides after passing the
batteries tie lie was again wiuded iu q circle,
durf g which tine we kept up a steady fire.
At 1880 p. the engine stopped. close in 10
the nOitnward Of the fort, when did great eSecn.
ton by enflsdiog Ere on their battery, Tie h4g
ship again leading of, we followed in her station,
when we came in close range, open 10 point blank
range o! their whole battery, wien they cpnCeu-
tfaled their whole fire the Bienyile, striking
ia various places. one shot passed through the 81 p
Just forward Of the foremast, between the two ny
per decks; one struck on one OF tue forward boat
davits; one carried away tie cooks funnel; cut
of shroud Of the main rigging; one came through
the water ways, forward, killing two men aud
wOundng three others at the starbOard guns OF the
forward division.
At2 p. a. led US out Of the fire, leaving the gun
boats aud small steamers in the cove, where they
kept up steady fire with theirh heavy guns, and
drove the enemy from bis deenses, and concluded
well-cOntested fight by glorious victory
At 3 p. n. tho Tag ship signaled cease fiung,"
and sent boat shore with white flag, and found
the works entirely ceserted, took possession, and
hoisted the fag OF our country.
OFFICIAL DocyNESr-Fv,t ReoHaoi''aaee Of Hilton Head
Isiae9 $. O. made on Friday NSr, = 1891, BY capt o.
Connecticut Regiment o. TeUy.
OYucE OF CHiEF ENGINEER T. c.,
HuTON BRAD, ;. C., Nov g, 1901 :
BJig..Gea. WR1GHr, Commanding Force. Hilton Head.
s. O.
SIR: In obedience to your directions of tbis date,
70 proceed Oh a reconnaissance Of Hilton Head Isl
and, or 30 much thereof &c | could examine return
ing TO beadq quarters the same day. have 10 rel or
completion Of the days operations under the escort
promised for me, TO wit, the 7lh Connecticut Reg-
men $40 strong Col. Terry commanding.
TIE regiment was placed Ut my dispOtal AZ III
o'clock n NJ, when at once set ont upon the recon-
noissance, the principal object OF which TO pro-
coed across the leland 10 SeabrOok, Sh le Creek
distance OF six miles by the Iearest practicable
route and locate suitable positions for batteries 10
control the inland W ter communications by way Of
Skull Greek, between Savannah and Charleston.
40 no advance bad been made from our position on
Hilton Head since We came IN POSSESSION yesterd4y
evening, and as nothing certain was known Of the
VositiOn and movements Of the enemy slnce he was
driven from the work, deemed It proper 70 exercise
great caution against surprise, and accordingly
qucsted Col Terry 10 cover the advance Of tile main
body Of escort by skirmisLers. Over very cOnsid
cradle portion OF the route we took to Seabroo X
Point, the one running through the woods beyond
Gen. Drsyton's pautat ons, as distinguished from
the one near the shore skrn isbers could be de-
poyed as both sides of the road are lined by ian
penetrabe jungle.
| Our progress was necessarily quite slow We
reached SeaJrook Landing about , O'Clock, p. IN,
without encouuerug any Of the enemy, or any
v lite person Whatever From what l can gather
from negroes there are no Rebel troops on auy Vi
tie northern portions Of Hilton Head Island.
About 3 OF them, with ZONE wounded, passed
over the road last night, abonL the time ais
embarking. They were under the influence Of q ter
Iible panic-knapsacks, hsvefsacks, canteeus, cit
ridge boxes &c, &c, were found scattered over tie
road and on the wharf at SeabroDk where the hasty
embaikation took Place. We also found al ths land
ing number of rihed muskets aud bayones. There
H. near the wharf, iii store and rome outside
considerable quantity, say hfieen TO eighteen large
wapon-lOads of valuable cOmmissaTy supplies, such
"a bacon, hard bread sugar rice, corr, vinegar, &c
We brought back two wagOu-loads Of these articles
which Col Terry will account for.
Had nv orders admitted Of II, l would have re-
manned at SeabrOOk with bali the escort, until boats
could have been dispatched from headquarters under
convoy, % bring oil the commissary Stores At Sea-
brook an excellent position for battery elevated
some twelve or fifteen feet above the level OF the
River 10 sweep and control tie Skull Creek Chan
nell has been selected. The River at that pOinl il
about one-iouth Of a mile Inside, and is skirted on
the further side by march which enlarges the dis
lance between the firm ground on the opposite shore
to half mile, or little more.
caused soundings 10 be taken across the stream
at halt tide, finding two iatbOms at the eud OF Sea-
brook wharf; three fathoms a short distance ont,
and good five fathOm anchorage in the middle Of
the stream.
A battery of 5 or 6 heavy guns at Seabrook would
be quite sufficient to close this iuand water passage
between Charleston and Savannah; but u secure il
agsiust a emp de man | would recommend an IN
81 ed work of strong relief, and Of sufficient caua
city for 900 men, with guns on the gorge, aud with
sui able tankiDg arrangements, should be com Ienced
Immediately. Ii thould mount ID guns a. least, OF
all calibers The route over which passed Is piac
ticabs for heavy artillery and heavy Iraus OrtatiOn
generally but materials can beet be taken 10 Sea.
brook by water. The wharf there requires some re-
paiTs.
On my return increased the guard al Gen Dray-
tons plantation, a. request of the office in charge
there. 1 found public property or papeTs al Gen.
Draytons with the exception of two letters already
in your possession.