Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-18
Description of the Forts at Port ROya

Description of the Forts at Port Royal
The FORTS AND SURROUNDINGS AFTER THE
BATTLE.
On landing the forts were found to be utterly
deserted, and every thing gave proof Of the
head long and utter confusion and haste with
which the rebels had vacated their hard fought
positions. AS specimens Of military skill both
Forts Walker and Beauregard are considered
by old army officers as the most skillful and
formidable earthworks that they have ever
seen. Fort Walker, on Hilton Head, is much
the heaviest, being a gigantic mass of earth :.
works thrown up in angular walls, the corners
being protected by strong redoubts. In front
of the walls was a deep trench, about ten or
twelve feet in width, likewise protected by an
admirable cheUauT de frise of thick posts, six
or eight feet high, firmly set in the ground,
about four inches apart, pointing outward from
the fort, and sharpened at the end. With this
eDciTcling wall of sharp stakes guarding a
deep trench, which in turn was covered by the
twenty-six monster guns and columbiads of
the fort, it was doubtless impregns able to
the assaults of any land force of in
fanty. Both forts had probably been
erected for at least nine or ten months, as the
soil, where not rent by our terrific fire, was
firm and well l.settled, and clothed in luxuri-
ant mantle Of grass. The country round is
one Of much beauty and fertility-rising from
the sea gently, the coast sloping of far into the
ocean, making a long, shallow spread of water.
A beautiful cotton field was near by, the
bolls already bursted, and the long, white cot
ton hanging from them in the greatest pro-
fusion. A Northerner, unaccustOmed to the
sight of field of ripe cotton, the scene pre-
seDted me was one of unrivAled magniheencs
and novelty. It seemed as if living Mantle
of snow rested upon square of beautiful
country, and undulated like the yellow grain
in the gentle winds. I passed also over fine
patch of sweet potatoes, which bore good evil
dence-of having grown thrifty and we'll by the
fertile sweat of slaves. The ground in every
direction was plowed into furrows and ridges
by our shells and balls. The earthworks were
honeycombed and torn into unsightly heaps
trees shattered in every direction, and long
lanes cut through the, pure white field of cot
ton. The forts, now deserted except by the
ghastly bodies Of the dead, bore witness to the
terrific effect Of our FIRE, the long and nnaVAil'
ing defense maintained by the rebels, and the
rapidity with which they had quilted the works
and fed when We came, fresh and determined
ss ever, to the third, and - it proved, the fna
engagement. At Fort Walker only three guul
were found dismOunted. The rest remained iI
their places, well aimed, and had been vel
served. They we're of immense size, carrying
from 16O to 1s0 pound balls, and riAsd., SomI
of them were Of old English manufacture, ant
others were probably cast at Richmond. Thes
| were Of rather rough exterior, but proved to b
! equal in utility to the others! They were al
ready loaded when We found them, and not ON,
spiked-a fact which evidenced the terro
created by our final broAdside. f.f J.,