The daily Wabash express., 1861-11-13

pdIHtiO0t-I Olt< vNatkCts
fsay Point Battery aud Tatnail's
Fleet Knocked into Pi- Eight Hours
Hard Fighttng-Ome Gun Boat Re
ported Bnrnt-Thrce steamers Re
ported Disabied-Rebei LOSS Heavy
The InIets Leading to Beaufort,
Charleston aud savannah Biocka-
ded-Feserais Preparing to Land
at Beaufort-Rebei Guns Badly
Handied-Rebei Excn>e for Defeat
The Rebels Suppress The TIE e.
graph--Charle.ton MercuIy's Ac-
couut-Accurste f,ring of tho Yan-
kee Guns.
PHlLAprIrHfA, Nov l2-The Enquirer
has the following from Fort Monroe. derived
from rebel source In anticipation Of the
arrival of the Great Expedition. the rebels
have been engaged in erecting batteries up
on 4 point at Hilton's Head. and ON the op-
posite of Neck OF Sand. The principal for
tification on Hilton's Head was denominated
Fort Walker. situated on low land. and par
tally concealed by trees and underbrush.-
Adjoining il we're other batteries of smaller
size. but so concealed 10 prove formida-
ble bar 10 the entrance OF vessels.
Fort Beaufort was Of considerable impor-
tance, having been mounted with heavy guns.
The garrisons are supposed 70 have been
South Carolina regiments, assisted by addi-
tioual regiments sent from Richmond. Near
the batteries ut Bay Point, opposite Hilton
Head, were equally "a Formidable batteries.
Inside Of Port Royal entrance and behind
the batteries, lay the feet of Commodore
Tatnall, which consisted only OF small yes
sells carrying a few heavy guns, but prirci-
pally light ones. Tugs constituted great
portion of the feet, many of these remained
outside the mouth of the entrance till the ar
rival CT our feet, when they formed in line
of battle, in tho position already stated. be
hind the guns Of their own forts and across
the entrance.
On the morning OF Thursday last the u
s. feet. numbering foriy-two vessels. headed
/ By the Flag Ship. approached the mouth ol
/ Port Royal entrance. This was at half pas
9 O'Clock. Several Of the transports remain
ed off the coast. Upon arriving at suitable
position the guns OF the feet opened con
| tinuous FIRE upon Forts Walker and Beaure
| gard. a. y ell as upon those Of Bay Point
| Under cover of this fire an effort was made
TO run the gauntlet of the batteries, which
they did. A number Of the vessels passed
through the fire from the shore batteries
witt very trifing injury. At least fifteen o
them succeeded in passing up beyond th'
reach of the land batteries "A the Unior
feet sailed up, the Musquito feet of Tatnal
opened FIRE. but seeing the impossibility o
making any resistance soon dispersed--som
were forced TO run On shore, Others wer
driven UP the Inle,s out Of sight
Com. fatnall went on shore with his me-
TO assist in working the batteries aud US
them against our vessels. which were endeay
oring TO follow the advance OF the others.
4 - fkc skro.sr~k The - p
mel was not accomplished until the firing ha
continu.d from hslf past nine in the unornin
till nearly FIVE in the evening
One OF the Union gunboats j. believed :
have been burned. aud three steamers di'
abled.
It's acknowledged by the eusms th'
they had ~ enty men killed IN Port " .dke
but il is impossible 70 state wat thes 10
was NJ the other batteries. Doubtless yer
great. a. our fire Is said e. have been yer
effective. the guns well aimed and of bea'
, calibre.
No sooner dsd our vessels 20 past tae ha
teries as Fort Royal entrance aud slide in
what i termed Broad River, than they ns'
. for the mouths OF The lnlets leading tho Beai
fort Savannah and Charleston. These ia
Immediately blockaded. though not IN IN
70 prevent the escape of the small rebel 70
seis. Not one Of the Federal vs-sels "
sunk. and the only one believed 20 have he
DESTROYED BY Gre. WAS the gunqoat re'err
to above The crew are sad 20 have ? I
el through : murderous irs % nno tlier -
sol. which they reached with very little Jos
The Union vessels acted under speci /
ssructions in blockading the inlets which !
., tie most important points. and ahord
loon holes Of escape 70 the cnemy.
While portion of the feet entered cp
thi> duty. four vessels made 40 once
Beaufort, and q, three O'Clock on ihursd'
y thesc vessels were in light OF the town.
, A dispatch. Latsd Beaufort, Nov sth.
!. the Charleston Mercury. ssys that a' 9
,irc the Un,on forecs were preparing
lapd. evidently with the design of throw
IN en,renchmen,s and attacking the town
We have no means Of knowing the c1
tr,-s cf the Union forces, but the rebels g
fess their firing was very bad, snd thai th
arsilerymsn badly IN want OF practice
They declare. moreover. that the guns y
Forts we're not properly mounted.
When Commodore TAtnail went 20 sS
the men in The forts. he found that MANY
heir cannon ~ere dlsmouns~d by their G
rebound. To this fault the rebel jourr
~ attribute their defe4i and loudly cali on
Confederate government - find nat VII
the blame rests.
!. A tclegraphic dispatch which lest RI
snond On SATURDAY is-,. stated that The.
nothing particularly important from
70 southern coast Ii y evident from this |
m the rebel goverrmeu, ha- rrohibited any
a ,her information from coming north OF X
- moad. This implies they have safers
'se heavy defeat.
of The Charleston Mercury Of the sth i
- after summing up the results. says the \
kee- seem so have driven Commodore
nal's mosquito acet up the creeks leadinl
-. Savannah and cut OF all water ccnnan
er. ton with Charleston. by sealing np ,
u ~ w. -. ka~s a