Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1861-11-21
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missions, all the letters and papers
both public and private, orders, books
and documents of all kinds, affording
our officers much valuable information.
Among the papers was a telegram
from jeff Davis to the commander OF
the post, Informing him of the sailing
of the fleet, and that he knew their
destination to be Port Royal
The whole surrounding country was
seized with perfect panic.
The day after the fight, the Seneca
and two other gun-boats proceeded to
Beaufort, and found but one white
man in town, and he was drunk. All
the plantations up the river seemed to
be deserted, except by the negroes,
who were seen in great numbers, and
who came down to the wharves with
bundles in their hands, as if they ex-
pccted to be taken off. They seized
all. the letters in the Postotlice. After
the capture Of the Forts, the whole,
about Is 900 men, were safely landed,
and established on shore. The Forts
were but little injured, but the rebels
could not stand the explosion of our
big shells. .. b"
The force of the enemy as ascer-
tanned from their papers, was 1000
men, under General Drayton. The
rebels leaving everything but their
lives, which they saved by running,
only four prisoners were found, and
two of them were wounded. All
hands of the fleet are reported as ac-
ting in the most gallant manner
When our troops took possession of
the forts they found the flag on the
fort on Hilton Head. The rebels had
mined the works aud so fixed the hal
yards of the flag, that when the flag
should be drawn down the mine would
be sprung. The halyards sprung a
mine in the house when by the officers,
but did very little damage and hurt
no one. The magazine did not cx-
plode. A large quantity of powder
was found, also large amount of
English ammunition and projecti'es.
A special despatch from Fortress
Monroe says the entire feet formed in
two grand lines for the fight. The
Wabash led and the Bienvillc fanked
the movement, which was in a circle,
first delivering broadsides into Fort
Beauregard Oh the Northwest, and as
the feet came round, raking Fort
Walker on the Southwest Both Forts
responded vigorously. The Pawnee
and Mohcan got aground /; they were
considerably damaged. The rebels
retired across Scull Greek to a village
twenty-five miles in the interior,
where it is thought they intended
making a stand.
Negroes had already begun to pill
Ilage and destroy Beaufort. The white
population fed to Charleston in small
steamers by the inside route. Gene
raj Sherman has hundreds of negro
laborcrs. There was u panic at Sa-
vannah, and it was believed its cap
ture would be easy. 1t is understood
Sherman will improve defences at his
position before making any forward
movement In the forts was found a
large supply of ammunition aud stores
of the best description.
Commander Dupont will immediate
ly survey the harbor and place buoys
and erect lights. The position will
be made a permanent base of opera
tions. The fleet stood within 500 or
900 feet of the forts, using five sec
ond fuses, and poured shells into them
at the rate Of two hundred per hour
Not a single shell sent by the rebels
burst in the ships. The Wabash was
struck several times, as vast most of
the fleet, but every ship was in fight
ing condition, when the rebels took to
their heels. The Surgeon of Fort
Walker, was killed At Charleston
mex day, thirteen minute guns were
fired, indicating the burial of a Briga-
dier-General The troops had not oc-
cupied Beaufort when the steamer left,
being engaged in Strengthening their
position.