The daily Gate City., 1861-11-14

! -
Tn Tuesday, the 10Th Of October, th,
iieet under my command leit Hampton
Roads, and with the army transports mum
bered DO vessels. On the day previcu.
| had dispatched the coal vessels, % i,
number, under convey of the Nandllia
to rendezvous off Savannah, not wishing
TO give the true point OF the fleet. The
weather lad been unsettled In Hamp ptor
koads, though it promised fair when we
sailed. But off Hatteras it blew hard
Some ships got into the breakers and two
struck, bat without injury. On Friday
November lst, the rough weather iDcreas.
cd Into gale, and we had to encounter
one OF great violence The feet was ut
terly dispersed, and on Saturday morning
, one sail only was in sight from the deck
OF the Wabash. On the following day
the weather moderated and the steamers
and ships began to re-appear. The or
ders were not opened except those in
case OF separation. These last were fur
ntshed to all the men -of-war by myself.
and to the transports by Brigadier Gen
Sherman.
As the vessels rejoined. reports came
IN Oh disasters in reference to the men-oF
war. The Isaac Smith, most ELI i
cient and we'll armed vessel, for the class
| purchased, but not intended 10 encounter
such seas and wind, bad To throw her
formidable battery overheard, to keep from
laundering; but, thus relieved, she was
Enabled TO 20 TO the assistance of the
fsteamer Governor, then in very danger
Gus condition, and on board of which was
our fine battalion of marines under Major
Reynolds. They were finally rescued bv
Capt. Ringgold in the sebina, under dilh-
| cult circumstances, after which the Gov
ernor went down. | believe that seven
OF the marines were drowned bv their own
Imprudeuce. Lieut. Commencing Mich
o!sons conduct, in the Isaac Smith, has
net my warm commentator
The Peerless transport, in a sinking
condition, was met b. The Mohican, com
mander Gordon. and all the people on
board. 60 III number, were saved under
very peculiar circumstances, i'm which
service Lieut.. H-W Miller was yery "a
sorably noticed hy his commander
On passing Charleston | sent In the
Seneca, Lieut.. commanding Ammen, 10
direct Capt Larder TO join me with the
steamer Susquehanns of Port Royal
without delay On Monday at 8 clock
IN the morning | observed off the bar
some Is vessels in company with many
more heasing in sight. The department
Is aware that al the aids 10 navigation
had been removed, and the bar lies ten
miles TO seaward and no features on the
shore line of sufficient prorninenence TO
make any bearing reliable But TO the
skill OF commanded Dove, the fleet Cap
tain, and Mr.. Boulette, tie able assistant
OF the coast survey, in charge OF the
steamer Vixen. n channel was immedi-
aiely found. By 3 O'Clock received as
surances from Captain Dove that | could
send forward the lighter transports, those
under l9 feet, with all he gun boats.
which was Immediately done, and before
dark they were securely anchored in the
roadstead of Port Royal, South Carolina.
Ihe gun-boats almost Immediately open
ed their batteries upon two On three rebel
steamers under Commodore Tatnall, In |
stantly chasing him under the shelter of
the batteries.
On the morning of Tuesday the Wa
bash crossed the bar, followed closely by
the frigate Susquehanna, the Atlantic. |
Vanderbilt ard other transports of deep
draft, running through that portion OF
the fleet already in. The safe passage of /
Tins great ship over the bar was hailed
with gratifying cheers from the crowded
vessel. We anchored and immediately
commenced preparing the ship for ac-
toe. In our anxiety to get the outline
OF the forts before dark we stood /
In too near these shoals and the shin
grounded. BY the time she was got off
1t was too late, In my Judgment, to pro-
ceed, and | made signals for the squad
ron TO anchor out of gun-shot of the ene-
my. To-day the wind blows a gale from
the southwark and westward, and the con-
test is unavoidably postponed.
| have the honor to be sir,
Respectfully,
Your obedient servant.