The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-15
From the Charleston Wercury
THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL.


IN which we are engaged
The two islands of Hilton Head and Bay
Point, with their extreme limits, constitute the
two points which guard the entrance to Port
Royal Sound, about three miles in width. On
these two points, two forts were erected
Walker on Hilton Ucad-and Fort Bcaurc-
gard on Bay Point. The time we possessed,
enabled us to make them only carthworks,
without any protection from shells or bombs.
The Island of hilton Head WAS commanded
by Gen. Drayton. The officers Immediately
supcrintcnding the artillery and conducting
vhc fire of Fort Walker, were Col. Wagner,
Major Arthur Hugcr and Capt Yates, of the
regular service, especially detailed by Gen.
Ripley to aid in directing the artillery. Col.
Dunorant commanded at Fort .Bcaurcgard,
bnt he generously allowed Capt. Elliott, of the
Beaufort Artillery, to direct and conduct the
batteries of the fort
The day was beautiful and clear with
scarcely cloud in the hcavcns-just such a
day as our invaders would have ordained, if
they could, to carry on their operations
In such sketch of the battle as, amid the
excitement and thousands of basclcss rumors,
we arc enabled to present to our rcadc.s, a
brief review Of the earlier events of this me-
morablc week will not be unintercstine.
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS OF THE ENEMY.
The great fleet of the enemy passed our
Bar on Sunday, the 4d inst, and on the fol-
lowing day was anchored off Port ROYAL en-
trance. About 4 o'clock on Monday after
noon, Com Tatnall, with his " mosquito fleet.
ran out from the harbor and made the first
hostile demonstration. The immense armada
of the invaders. numbering, at that time, thir-
ty-six vessels, was drawn up in line of battle :;
and as our little fotia steamed brisky up to
within mile of them, and opened its fire, the
scene was an Inspiring one, but almost ludc-
rous in the disparity of the size of the oppo-
sing fleets. The enemy replied to our fire al
most Immediately. After an exchange of
some twenty shots, Commodore TatnalI retired,
and was not pursued.
About seven o'clock on Tuesday morning.
several of the largest Yankee war steamers
having come within range, the batteries of
Forts Walker and Bcauregard were opened,
and the steamers threw number of shells in
and over our works, intlcting no damage up
on Fort Walker, and but slightly woundins
two of the garrison of Fort Bcaurcgard. This
engagement lasted, with short intervals, for
nearly two hours, when the enemy drew off.
The steamers made a similar, but shorter re-
on wednesday, but without any
important results. On the next day (Wcdncs-
day,) the weather was rough, and the fleet Law
at anchor five or six miles from shore During
the day, several Struggling transports came up,
swelling the number Of vessels to forty-onc.
All Tuesday night, and all day Wednesday,
and Wednesday night, our men stood to their
guns, momcntarily expecting an attack, and
obtaining only such scanty rest and refresh
mcnt as chance afforded.
THE DAY OF THE BATTLE
Thursday dawncd gloriously upon our wca-
ricd but undauntcd gunncrs, and all felt that
the day of trial had at last arrived. Scarcely
had breakfast been despatched, when the hos
tile fleet was observed in commoton. The
great war steamers formed rapidly in single
file, and within supporting distance of each
other, the trigatc Minnesota, the flag ship of
Com. Dupont, in the van. AS the long line of