Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-11-21

extreme rear of the line, had fairly got un-
der the fire, the eutire fleet, save one or
two gunboats, had passed up the bay, and
making long turn were about engaging
the Hilton Head battery. . ..- ~
THE vANDALlA ENGAGES TWO BATTERIES AT
ONCE.
The Vandalia using both sides, opened a
spirited fire on the Bay Point and Hilton
Head batteries, and received the attention
Of the Bay Point battery, but escaped With
out injury. Her batteries were well direc-
ted, and Captain Haggerty worked his ship
beautifully.
THE WABASH ENGAGEsTIIE OTHER BATTERY
Meanwhile the Wabash, slowly steamipg
down, was received by an intensely hot IRE
from tho Hilton Head battery, the rebels
using ten-ipch columbads with shells, and
having rihed guns with destructive projec-
tiles, which passed through the rigging Of
the ship, cnttiDg il up a good deal, and
killing one man. The Wabash's return fire
was hot and heavy She poured in steady
stream of shot and shell during the whole
time she was in range, and which seemed
for the time being to cause the rebel fire to
slackon considerable.
fuE OTHER VESSELS TAKE UP THE CHORUS.
The Susquehanna, Pawnee, Seminole,
Bienville, Pocahontas, Mohican, Augusta,
and the gunboats Ottawa, Senaca, Unadilla
and Penbina Joined in the fury, firing shell
with great rapidity and precision, and max
ing the battery vocal with their practice. -
The rebels fought their guns with desper-
ate coolness, and fired with a rapidity really
surprising under the circumstances.
THE REBELS FIGHT DESPERATELY.
The men in the battery had lain off coats
and were working in their red shirt sleeves,
like madmen. One large fellow in red
shirt was observed to be extremely active
on one Of the most effective guns of the bat
terry, a rifle gun on the right Of the work.
The piece was served rapidly and well, and
none aided more than he in working it. A
shell was seen to strike the parapet near
him, to throw up cloud of dust and then
explode in the very battery. When the
smoke had cleared away the large man and
the prominent red shirt were seen no more.
He had doubtless fallen with others when
the bomb exploded. The Wabash passed
slowly by the battery keeping up continual
fire from her heavy guns. and not entirely
escaping the rebel fire, and then slowly turn
ed up the right side OF the bay, again open
ing fire on the Bay Point battery. The
Susquehanna, Pawnee, Mohican, Pocahon-
tas, Bienville and others followed, passing
the battery on Hilton Head, and delivering
rapid and effective fire upon the enemy
The Seminole, Pembina and the other gun
boats got position on the left flank of the
eremys work on Hilton Head, and poured
in an uninteTupted fire upon, it,, partially
enfiadiDg it and dismounting their guns.
THE FLEET APPROACHES NEARER EACH TIMT
IT PASSES THE BATTERY.
The feet, still headed by the Wabash
sailed around before the battery three times
on each occasion approaching it closer, unit
the third time, when the Wabash took {
position six hundred yards off the work anC
poured in so searching fire ofshell that the
enemy fed the work and hastily rctreatet
out of range. In this the flagship was aidet
by all the fleet in most credltable manner
and thereby finished the affair up in mos
expeditions style.
THE REBEL WORKS EVACUATED.
At two o'clock, after four hours hare
| 6ghting--the enemy having ceased firing
the Mercury boldly but slowly steamed to
ward the works, and discovering them va
Gated, ran alongside the flagship and inform
ed the Commodore of the fact. A boat il
charge of Captain John Rodgers-who wa
acting as aid TO Commodore Dupont-wa
sent ashore in small boat, with a flag CT
truce, at half. f.past two, and, meeting no op
position, he entered the deserted work,
RAISED THE STARS AND STRIPES,
and took possession of Fort Walker, there
by gaining foothold on the soil of Soutl
Carolina for the federal arms.
THE EFFECT UPON THE TROOPS.
The appearance of the old flag on tn
Game Cock State was hailed by enthusiast
cheers from all the men-of war, and caugh
IN from the transports. Cheer after chez
went round the harbor, bands played patriot
tunes, and every one felt most gay and fes
tive. The effective on the men when tn
flag waved aloft was differently and GU
I riously manifested. Some fcheered Justify
while others We're choked with their emo
tions. Some wept with Joy, the tears rollin
down their checks as large as peas. Som
got hold Of the flag they were so proud Of
the glorious Stars and Stripes--and wrappe
themselves up in it as if they were frantic
, All were more or less intensely excited 9
once more seeing the colors of the gloriou
Union take the place of what the rebels ca
the banner of the Southern copfederaey-
the stars and bars
We were not to meet with such r,
ception as we did at Hatteras. "Sout
!. Carolina was not North Carolina, and if "
should attack any of her batteries we woul
n fine our graves open" All Of which WI
' exceedingly impressive to read, but when I'll
time came we found South Carolinians b,
E little Drawer than those of North Carolini
In four hours a formidable battery, col
e structed in the most scientific and substanti
s manner by the South's best engineer, Majt
9 Lee, and amply armed by 2l guns Of Il
Q best character, had been effectnally silence
and caused to be evacuated in the most hu
ried manner by tho ''cowardly Yankees.
n is pretty picture which the chivalry {
! South Carolina have presented to them, b
d is one they cannt wink out of sight
y 'n OCCUPATION OF THE BATTERIES.
After Captain Rogers had returned to Il
? flagship. Commodore Dupont ordereda boz
. of marines on shore to occupy and guard Il
9 work, which was speedily done. Five reh
! prisoners were taken, The armament of Il
n work, which was of the latest patterns, w
: as follows: Thirteen thirty,two ponnder
n two seige twelve inch guns, two rifed eigl
:, inch, one ten inch columbiad, two CAIRO
J, AIDES, and one eight inch coiumbiad Thr
]. of them had been dismounted, but were u
injured, and can readily be mounted on ne
+ carriages In the magazines an immen
e III ..A.x.. 20 .I,ot sha1t x>oxuJnr fvaI a,