The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-11-20

ntteen heavy guns OF Fort walker, which
had been aimed directly at the huge fri.
gate, belched forth their simultaneous
fire, and the action was begun. Almost
Immediately afterwards, the batteries Of
Fort Beauregard, on the other side Of
the entrance, also opened their FIRE The
enemy al first did not reply. But. as the
second steamer came opposite to Fort
Walker, the bulls Of the first three we're
suddenly wrapped in smoke, and the
shot and shell OF three tremendous broad.
sides, making, in all, seventy Ave guns,
came crashing against our works. From
this moment, the bombardment was ter.
rifle and incessant. One by one the pro
peilers bore down upon our Forts, deIiv.
cred their fire rs they passed, until nine
had gained the interior Of the harbor,
beyond the range Of our guns. The
Ninnesotd, still followed by the others,
then turned round and steamed slowly
out, giving n broadside to Fort Beaure
gard, as sue repassed. Thus the battle
WAS continued, the enemy's vessels sail
ing in Al ehpIicsI curve, pouring one
broadside into Bay Point, and then
sweeping around to deliver the other n
gainst Hilton Head. This furious fire
from s"me four hundred guns, many Of
them Of the ! | inch D,hlgren pattern
and some even Of l3 inch bore (fnr a
sabot Of that diameter was found in For
Beauregard), was maintained iucessan,ly.
and the roar OF the caunonale seemed
most continuous. Meanwhile, our CARR
sons were making a gallant defence
They kept up a vigorous aud we'll drec
led lire against their assalanis, and no,
wi'hstanJing that their bes, gun was dis.
mounted at the beginning of tue action.
they succeeded in setting fire TO seversi
OF tue ships. Whenever this happened
however. tne enemy would haul off and
soon extinguish the flames. Tie effec,
OF our guns was. in many instances
plainly visible from the For.s. Although
the sides Of the Minnesota are of mass
i've strength, several Of her ports were
knocked into one. Nor was she the on
ly vessel upon which this evidence Of
the power Of our fire could be seen.-
Many Of the other steamers were like.
wise badly hulled.
After some time spent in sailing round
and delivering their b!oadsides iu ro,s
ton, in the manner we have described.
the enemv's steamers adopted anotbr,
and more successful plan Of attack
One OF them took position inside the
hnrbor 80 AS TO entilade the batteries of
Fort Walker, while several opened a 81
muitaneous enfilading fire from the ou,
side. Besides this terrific cross fire, two
OF the largest steamers msinlaiL al IN.
hre IN front Of the Fort. Thus three fu
rious converging streams OF shot and
shell were rained amougs, the brave lii.
tie garrison for hours. The vessel. came
up within a halt mile of the shore, bu.
nearly all our guns had, by this time, be.
come dIsmounted, and we wore O longer
able to reply with serious effect.
soon after ! o'clock, the batteries Of
Bay Point were silenced. The fire o
Fort Walker, as far as the guns ,hs, re-
named were concerned, WAS no. a viii,
slackened. until one o'clock. By ,bs,
time the dreadful condition Of the for,
became too apparent to be longer disre
garded. The guns lay in every direction
dismantled and useless the defense.
were terribly shattered, the dead and div
ing were to be seen on every side, and
still the iron hail poured pitilessly in.
FORT WALKER ABANDONED.
In this strait, it was determined e.
abandon The fort a long waste. abou,
mile in extent and commanded by the
enemys guns. inleryenei between the
garrison and the woods. Across this
they were ordered to run for their lives,
each man for himself; the object being
70 scatter them as much as poss,bts an
as lot - afford target for the rifled
guns OF the feet. The preparation. for
running .his perilous gauntIs. was soon
made. Knapsacks were abandoned
but the men retained their mu.ks,,.
Each Of the wounded was placed in .
blanket snd carried Off BY four men =
The safety OF the living precludsd The
'dea Of removing the dead. Aud ,l,u..
tue gallant little band quilted the scene
o. Their glory, and scsrapsred of, each
one as bess be could. towards The woods.
Inc retreat was covered by = small do