The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-11-22
WHOLE NO., GIG.

those Whlch numbered upon our bows The
whole night long, making the great ship
quiver and shake from stem 10 stern, and
there was therefore apprehension that
some Of them would founder or be blown
ashore upon The breakers.
Saturday morning rose upon q perfect
hell OF tumbling waters, upon which from
; our decks only single sail was visible
The gale had abated much Of its violence,
but the wind was still fresh from the
southeast and the sea heavy. On Sun
day sails began to break over the horizon
in every direction, and lively cross Ere
Of signals was interchanged. These lat
ter are perfectly inexplcable 10 lands
man, but they seemed sufficiently INTEL
gible 10 the officers with their glasses,
who noted the change and interchange Of
flags on distant masthesds, and drew Ger.
tain inferences therelrom, which on close
communication with the reassembling
vessels, were duly verified. Our appre.
tensions during the gale were, liz meas
uro confirmed by reports Of casually which
began TO reach US. Two Of the smaller
vessels were known to be lost, and not
more than half Of the armada was visible
from the masthead.
| THE ARRIVAL
Monday morning the Wabash cast anchor
OH tho bar, which stretches like pickles
guard off the artcrial inlets of the shoro
about dozen miles from the mainland. A
lnEg,low line lay against the western horizon
dim as cloud, and at our distance from ID
was scarcely distinguishable except to nauti-
cal eyes Only about half the feet was
visible when wo cast anchor, but throughout
the forenoon vessels kept heaving in sight,
and preparing for tho passage OF the bar,
/ Boats we're sent out Immediately on cue
arrival for the purpose of sounding the bar
and fixing buoys. q work which was COM
plefed early in the afternoon, after which
the lighter vessels were ordered inside the
bar Tho sight, as they filed past us and
swep. across the sunken shoal, was mag
ni6cent. Thoy wore no sooner over tho
bar and ranged in order than they opened
a brisk fire upon the petty little squadron
of the confederates lying far in shore and
hardly visible from our deck. The echoes
OF tho batteries rung back across the water,
and light flames Of smoke uproso from the
decks of the cOurcrs Of our feet, making
ono and all Oh board the flag ship restless
under the delay to which we we're subjected
owing to the heavy draft of our vessel and
the necessity of awaiting flood tide before
venturing upon the bar.
Early on Tuesday the report came that
the water on tho shoal would allow the
passage OF the heavy draft vessels. The
Wabash weighed anchor Immediately, aud
closely followed by the Vanderbilt, the Sus-
quehannah and the Atlantic. effected tho
crossing in safety.
Before noon the entire feet was safoly
anchored within the shoal.
i THF sKlRdIsH ON TUESDAY.
On Tuesday morning, Capt. Gilmore,
accompanied by a small party of sixteen,
among whom were your correspondent
and other newspaper gentlemen, left The
Atlantic in small boat. The intention
was TO run slowly along the sand beach
skirting Hilton Head, and thence along
the shore Of Philips Island, 70 draw, il
possible, the fire ot their batteries, and to
show to our boats the position and strength
Of the batteries they would be obliged to
engage and silence.
We started briskly on our course, fol-
lowing the channel indicated by the
buoys that had been laid down by our
gunboats the evening before. II SO hap
pened, however, that a number Of our
armed vessels had preceded us into the
channels and along the suspected shores.
We were unmoles,ed, and there was no
signs OF fighting for several hours. The
morning was beautiful one, and our
share Of the affair thus far was merely a
pleasure sail in a strange and lovely bay,
at an hour little earlier than is generally
selected for such pleasure excursions.
Nh A. NJ, however, gun fred by
one OF our gunboats at Rebel steamer,
and which was instantly returned, an
nounced that the mornings entertainment
was not to be totally Of so peaceful
character. And so, in sn hoar or less,
all our gunboats were sharply engaged.
not only with the Rebel steamers, but
with the batteries on the shore; for Tn.
able longer TO restrain themselves, a bat
terry Of 2l guns from Hilton Head opened
upon ms another battery of Is guns, and
still aLother of 4 guns opened on US from
the Bay Point side of the harbor. The en-
gagement was brisk one, lasting abont
two hours. None Of our vessels were in
jured /; though, as one of our officers re-
ported, we succeeded in dismoun,ing six
Of their guns on Hilton Head.
Whom our little skirmish had continued
ABOUT Two hours, the slgnel was made from
the flag g-ship to rotire out of gun-shot, and,
for the present. TO close tho action. when
the Rebel steamers saw us drawing Of,
which movement was mado in order that
the three Generals, Wright, Sherman and
Stevens, might consult, they evidently
thought we had got enough Of the fight,
and they accordingly followed us up in the
bolGest possible manner, aud we're only
driven back when three or four Of our gum
boats squared of, brosdside to, and sent
them in the shape of shot and shell, few
reminders that their presence was no longer
desirable.
DELAY IN ATTACK.
Toward evening We stood in shorewarc
toward tho advance ships of tho squadron.
The long, low shore seemed to rise out of
the sea as We approached, and with the aid
Of glasses the forti6catioDB upon Hilton Head
and Philips Island became distinctly. visible.
Owing TO some accident of pilotage, the
Wabash ran aground, and before she could
be relieved ID Was too late IN the day TO
commence bombardment. The squadron
was therefore tolegraphed TO anchor out of
the guns of the fort, and the attack was