Litchfield enquirer., 1861-11-21
The flight at Port Royal. S. C.

AsMe aG FOfC hOy&A, 3. Cs Alter undergoing. dire perils by the assault of al on Monday morning Nov, 4, and very soon recelved the compliment of noisy attack from the |" Musketo" fleet under Comodore Tatnall forty-hve minutes sufhced, however, to disgust the Rebel commander with naval warfare. and hls contemplate squadron scattered in hasty retreat On Tuesday another attempt was made by this valiant fleet of Rebels to annihilate inc Great Expedition, and for two hours there was sharp firing. Then three or four of our punboats being tired of this folly, open broadsides in ear nest upon Tatnall, whose navy scratched away for the last time, and disappeared in any holes , which opened to them. On Wednesday there was no fighting.
 The decisive battle and consequent victory took place on Thursday, Nov. 7 At the mouth of Port Royal are two forts, Beauregard and Walker As many of our vessels as it was deem ed advisable to employ, began at 5 o'clock their bombardment Fort Walker, on Hilton Head, mounted 9 guns Fort Beauregard on Bay Point mounted 15 guns. Our vessels making maJes tic circuit, poured in their fire, broadside after broadside, upon the two forts. lne scene ,, ia described as most thrilingly magnificent; the tempest of shell was unequalcd; every gun was aimed with precision, and served with rapldlty. The shore batteries returned our fire bravely, but without effect; they had calculated on an easy victory, and fell prey to panic when they discovered that tho '' Yankees" refused to be annihilated.
 The battle began at twenty-six minutes past nine in the morning, and at half past two in the afternoon the National flag was planted on the soil of South Carolina, greeted by the shouts of | thousands of patriots, and ssluted by strains of jubilant music from the various bands of the 1 fleet.
 Soon regiment, tho 7th of Connecticut, was put on shore to take possession of Fort Walker, ! as1I,x x1, tl~a, ing. They rushed to their work with the alac- rity which has marked every movement forward of our troops; but there was little work for them to do; the Rebels, panic stricken, had fled in most admired disorder, leaving behind them food clothing, valuables, everything. The road over which they ran half dozen miles across the is- land was strewn with muskets, knapsacks, and heaps of other implements of warfare. It is said that they took boat at Seabrook for Savannah, but their movements cannot be with precision at this moment reported.
 The next morning the National flag was flying from Fort Beauregard also, and our troops were on their way to Beaufort itself Beaufort was deserted by all white men except one. He was too drunk to move. He had celebrated the an initiation of the Yankees too early, and with too free bowl The negroes had everything their own way. Their masters have informed the world that the blacks desired nothing this side the grave except Slavery and the dear priv ilege of fighting in defence of their shackles. The theory reduced to practice has failed. The negroes pillsged their masters and ran with out stretched hands to the invaders
 And 80 The Flag once more waves on the shores where it was first insulted. This splen- did success has been purchased with the loss of eight killed, six severely wounded, seventeen slightly wounded total, 3l. We have esti- mate of the rebel loss, which makes it 12G killed and 100 wounded
 II r: q or al crop of rice, cotton and corn is valued at S3, 800, OOO From this statement it is clear that it's possession by us must be terrible blow to 1 the rebels and an incalculable advantage to the National cause. We hold Q splendid harbor, strong Notifications, or Notifications which may easily be made strong, and VIC have position in Beaufort which can be successfully attacked by no force which does not strike from the sea. Our fleet will prevent any attack from that quar- ter, even if the rebels had any vessels. There is no aspect of this victory which is not bright; it is, moreover, the sure precursor of even more brilliant successes in the future, till there shall be no longer any place for either bat.lo or vic- tory.-7ribune.
 DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE BY A PROMINENT | OFFICER.
 The subjoined letter is private document ad- dressed by Capt. Rodgers, who was the first man to run up the Stars and Stripes on South Caro- | lllie 5 iCUcilipUo ool to a II ie.lG
 ] Steamer BienriHe Port Royal HarJor, | OrF FoRr WALKER, Nov. 9, 1861.
 DEAR -: We took this fort, mounting 2l guns, after four-hours fight. It was nobly donc. The Wabash, which led, was carried along the shore by the soundings close possible. The soundings were given regularly, as on an ordinary occasion. Signals were made continu- ally, without Q single mistake, while the rain of fire from this ship, the Wabash, fell upon the fort with all the cold precision oftarget practice. During the action looked carefully at ths fort with powerful glass. Shell fell in it (not 29 in 8 minute, at Hatteras) but as fast as horse' s feet beat the ground oE gallop.
 The resistance was severe; but what can flesh and blood do against such fire? 1 watched two men particularly in red shirts I saw them seated at the muzzle of Q gun, apparently wait ing, exhausted, for more ammunition. They were so still that doubted whether they wore men. This terrible fire fell around them. saw them move, and 1 knew they were mon. They loaded the gun-s shell burst near them, and they disappeared, doubtless blown to atoms.
 The Wabash was destroying angel-hugging the shore-calling the soundings with cold i'm ditference-slowing the engine to us only to give steerage way-signaling the vessels their vari- ous evolutions, and at the same time raining shells, as in target practice too fast to count.
 Commodore Dupont had kindly made me his aid. stood by him, and I did little things. which, l suppose gained me credit-so, when 8 boat was sent on shore to ask whether they had | surrendered, l was sent. 1 carried the Stars and Stripes. l found the ramparts utterly desolate, and planted the American flag upon the ram parts with my own hsnds-frst to take posses sion, in the majesty of the United States, of the rebel soil of South Carolina.
 The Confederate forces wore in utter panic. They deserted every ything-arms, tents, person al property were abandoned as by intent only upon safety, and spurred by overwhelming fear. was for an hour, with only boats crew in the camp. A foolish, maiden difidence stood in my way, and did not take much plumber. did take sword mounted in solid silver, hilt and scabbard, which proved to be blade with two golden lines of Arabic writing-doubtless a Damascus blade, and an heir loom, presented ii to Commodore Dupont, for he had taken it. h the same tent found new soldiers scarf still in its box of pasteboard.
 Gen. Sherman said he had no idea of such magnificent fighting, for the guns were H. 10, 9, and inch guns. The Wabash was awfully sub lime in her destroying energy, and yet so cool and precise, and so magnifcently fearless
 The panic was wild-abject terror on the part of the 'Southrons." Not soldier had been landed, because it had not been possible for them to get on shore, except at the batteries, and of course not until the batteries were taken, yet men thronged the road for miles with blan- kets, muskets, knapsacks; one company of about 60 horsemen abandoned their horses and fled for life, while no one pursued-so say the con trabands
 *
 do not think the importance of acquisi-