The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-15

within the range of and directly opposite to
Suddenly, the fifteen heavy guns of Fort
Walker, which had been aimed directly at the
huge frgatc, bclchcd forth their simultaneous
fire, and the action was began. Almost inme-
diatcly afterwards, the batteries of Fort Beau
regard, on the other side of the entrance, also
opened their fire. The enemy at first did not
reply. But, as the second steamer came op-
poste to Fort Walker, the hulls of the first
three were suddenly wrapped in smoke, and
the shot and shell of three tremendous broad
sides, making, in all, scvcnty-fvc guns, came
crashing against our works. From this mo-
mcnt the bombardmcnt terrific and in
ccssant. One by one the propcllcrs bore down
uron our FORTS delivered their fire as they
passed. until nine had gained the interior of
the harbor, beyond the range of our guns
The Minnesota, still followed by the others,
then turned round and steamed slowly out,
giving broadside to Fort Bcaurcgard, as she
repasscd. Thus the battle was continued, the
cncmy's vessels sailing in an clptica curve,
pouring one broadside into Bay Point, ana
then sweeping around to deliver the other
against Hilton Head. This furious fire from
some four hundred guns, many of them of the
ll-inch Dahlgrcn pattern and some even OF
l3-inch bore (for sabot of that diameter was
found in Fort Bcaurcgard), was maintained in
ccssantly, and the roar of the cannonadc
seemed most continuous. Meanwhile, our gar
,ico H., 10
kept up vigorous and wcll-dircctcd fire
against their assailants, and Notwithstanding
that their best gun was dslnountcd at the be-
ginning of the action, they succeeded in set
ting fire to several of the ships. Whenever
this happened, however, the enemy would haul
Oft and soon cXtnguish the flames. The ef-
feet OF our guns was, liz many instances, plainly
visible from the forts. Although the sides of
the Minnesota arc of massive strength, several
of her ports were Knocked into one. Nor
was she the only vessel upon which this evi-
dcncc Of the power of our fire could be seem.
Many of the other steamers were likewise
badly hullcd.
After sometime spent in sailing round and
delivering their broadsidcs in rotation, in the
manner we have described, the cncmy's steam
crs adopted another and raorc successful plan
of attack. One of them took position in
side the Earbor so as to cntilade the batteries
of Fort Walker, while scvc raj opened simul-
taneous cntilading fire from the outside. Be-
sides this terrific cross fire, two of the largest
steamers maintained the Fl re in front of the
fort. Thus three furious C onvcrging streams of
shot and shell were rainctl amongst the brave
little garrison for Ii ours. The vessels came up
within a half mile of the shore, but nearly all
our guns had, by this tim c, become dismount-
cd, and we were no longer able to reply with
serious effect.
Soon after l. O'clock the batteries of Bay
Point were silcnccd. Th fire of Fort Walker,
as far as the guns that remained were con-
cerncd, was not whit slackencd, until one
O'clock BY that time the dreadful condition
of the fort became too apparent to be longer
disregardcd. The guns lay in every direction,
dismantlcd and useless the defcnces were
terribly shattered, the dead and dying were to
be seen on every side, and still the iron hail
poured pitilcssly in.
FORT WALKER ABANDONED.
In this strait, it was determined to abandon