The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-15
Correspondence Of the Freeman }
From the Naval Expedition.
HEADQUARTERS WRIGnT's BRIGADE.
Steamer Baltic, off Port Royal, S. c. j.,

received orders the evening previous from
General Sherman to have eight days addition
al provisions furnished to our brigade; we
had been detained nearly week and he
was afraid we should get short before reaching
our destination. ! went ashore procured a
small steamer, and by two o'clock in the morn
| ing got my stores on board, and succeeded in
furnishing three of our regiments but the
Baltic, on which was the New Hampshire 4th
and our Headquarters, had dropped down tho
offng five miles. [ started after her, but my
small boat getting out of wood could not reach
the Baltic, so | went on board the Illinois with
my stores, and took up my quarters with Col.
Terry of the Connecticut 18th, the crack rcgi-
ment of our brigade 1t was beautiful day,
and assure you i; was magnificent sight to
see fifty vessels fiji full sail. The advance was
led by the men-of-war, followed by the steamers
and ships in their columns. We had fine wealth
cr until Wednesday night, when We reached
the vicinity of Cape llatteras, which was stormy
as usual. About O'Clock Thursday morning
heard the Captain on deck, shout /" Breakers
right in under our bow and at the same mo-
ment there was tremendous crash. isupposcd
the ship had struck, and rushing on deck found
that the ship we We're towing had run afoul of
us, just abaft the whcelhousc In the collision
it crushed one of our small boats, all of the
railing and guards, one smoke pipe, and part of
the upper cabin, on that side Of the ship. The
sailing directions were for the Baltic to follow
the Flag ship, and the Illinois to follow the
Baltic.
Both steamers had large ships in tow, aud
through the gross carelcssncss the gun-boats
led us on to the outer shoals off Cape IIatterae
The Baltic struck the shoals with such force
that every one expected disaster. but she
managed 10 back off, cast the ship she was tow
lng loose and gave tie signal to the Illinois
which managed to stop within half ships
length Of the breakers. There were $500 men
on board the two steamers, and their escape was
almost miracle. | learn that the consterua-
ton on the Baltic was greater than on the Hi
nos. Capt. Comstock said he had crossed tic
Atlantic in her los times, and had never met
with such an accident before. Thursday, 3lst,
the weather WAS pie sant. Most Of the feet
bad separated from us during the night two
gunb1ate went back to look after Il vessel we
saw in the shoals, the night previous Friday,
Nov. LIST, it commenced blowing gale from
the Southwest, which increased during the night
until it was fearful and terrific. We cav sever
al SHIPS during the night, one Of which showed
signals OF distress, fired gLns, &c, but we could
not render them any assistance. We learn since
our rendezvous that the boat was the Governor.
an! she went down the next morning. Bat the
gale bad then abatcd, and 400 marines were
taken on board another ship. Nothing OF in
tercst occurred on Saturday. We saw only
some four or FIVE Of our fleet During the night
we hove to, and at daylight, Sunday morning.
saw seven lyrgc steamers, but no Naval vessels
| was rcjoiced to see the Baltic among them
got small boat and went on board We Law
in sight Of land all day Sunday, wondering
where TIC Naval vessels were This morning
we had signal from the Vanderbilt to follow
her, aud going down the coast some Is miles
we found the fleet of gunboats, they having
rcndezvouscd there yesterday, 80 that we were
just out of sight Many Of the steamers and
ships have not arrived. Among them the Eric
son, with the Battery, two powder and ordnance
ships
The new boat Winfield Scott, Just built. WAS
obliged to cut away her mast, and several 9TH
crs threw over cargocs, and were considerably
damaged. We are now off the entrance to
Port Royal harb,r, S. c., between Charleston
and Savannah. The gunboats are taking sound
ings, and presume we may land part of our
force this afternoon. We think that batteries
arc erected on each side of the channel We
can also see the smoke from some of the Rebel
boats up this channel. which looks as though
they were prepared for us, A. K.
HEADQUARTERS !
! WRIGHT BRIGADE, SHKRMAN's DIV VISION,
! Hilton's Head, S.. c., Nov. Sth, 1861. }
! write you in great haste, to say that we
have gained glorious victory, and that the
Stars and Stripes arc now waving over South
Carolina soil. The gunboats commenced firing
upon the Rebel forts and batteries at half past
Q o'clock in the forenoon, and poured con-
slant stream of shot and shell till about half
past one p. NJ, when the Rebel batteries were
silenced, and their occupants left in greater
haste than our troops did, and made better time
than at Bull Run. The steamer Baltic and the
Transports lay about two miles off loaded with
troops, and were to land ut 2 o'clock. They
expected and were ready to 60 on shore in face
of the Rebel batteries. But the Navy has no,v
all the credit Of tho engagement, as they fin
ished the work before the army had chance
at them. Gen. Wright was quite disappoint-
cd, but presume he will have chance yet
:. to fight the Rebels | assure you that il
was exciting as well as amusing to see our men
of-war pitch into them. The Rebel forts were
well manned and the shot flew thick and fast
around the feet The frisate Wabash received
"a shots one Of which went through the maya
zinc. IL the Rebels had had shell they would
have blown us out Of water The Susquchan-
nah had seven shots fred through her, but in
the whole feet only ~ were killed. and hut one