Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-11-20
REBEL STEAMERS PUT TO FLIGHT.

shot range of the opposing forts on either
side, three rebel steamers appeared in sight
up the stream. these steamers, as after
wards proved, were part of a squadron,
numbering eight vessels, under command
of Commodore Tatnall, formerly of the
United States Navy. A few wcll-directed
shots from some Of four ships convinced them
that it was better to head their prows in
an opposite direction, which they proceeded.
in inglorious haste, to dc. 1t was not
long before the dim outline of their retreat
ing forms faded from cur view.
| may as well state in this connection,
as pertinent to the subject, that a letter
was subsequently discovered at Hilton
Head. from commodore Tatnall to the
garrison officers. declaring in very decisive
and v~dlorous terms that be would defend
them to the last or Perish in the attempt.
CIRCUIT OF TIL CANXoNADING FLEET.
The plan Of the naval attack was ar
ranged with great skill. Iirce circuits Of
the channel were taken. At each circuit
a broadside was opened upon the fort cp
pcsite. In this way TIE whole force of the
feet was brought to bear upon the enemy
with irresistible effect. Each firing met
with a prompt response. After the first
circuit the small ~gunboats took their 20.
sitions at discretion, choosing any point Of
attack which might appear to them more
effective. A number Of them congregated
in : cove, some distance up the inlet, and
commanding a range of the rear of the
| forts. As the rear of the forts were con-
uaratively unprotected. an attack in this
| direction would have L most destructive
effect uuUn the two garrisOGs.
At 8 O'Clock in the afternoon the fag
ship hois;ed the signal to cease firing
Previously there has been 4 lull III the ell
ga.cmcnt for about hltf an hour. during
which the men had been served with luucu
50 as to have tkem in proper condition for
further hard work. Alter this few Shots
were tired, and as there was 10 rcrucnse
from the crews, preparations were madc TO
send d boat 10 Tic shore with flag oftruce.
Il B DESERT THEIR FORTS
Captain Rogers, from on board the flag
slip Wabash. lowered . cutter, aud pro
C, dcd cautiously. carrying a white flag to
Fort Walker or Hilton Head. lie found
nobody there to receive him or the flag of
truce, as the rebels had entirely deserted
their forts.
Now comes the most exciting event of
the engagement-the raising aloft of the
5 ars and stripes OH the ramparts of Fort
I AN,.lar nnr Y,o, yr,r, ,our 81, G.,Tb
Carolina soil, and over their heads proudly
waved the American flag, whose folds have
not fJated on the breeze in the Palmetto
State since the fall of Fort Sumpter. The
cheers that uprose on hosting of this flag
We're deafeBiug. The stentorian ringing
OF human Voices would have drowned the
rJar of artillery. The cheer was taken ~
MN by man, ship by ship, regiment by
regiment. Such i spontaneous outburst
OF scldicrly enthusiasm never greeted the
ears Of Napoleon amid the victories at Mar
engo, Austerlitz, or the pyramids OF the
Nile. The next morning Fort Beauregard,
on Bay Point. was also occupied. and sew
eral gunbOats were sent up to Beaufort.
and the OWL was found deserted.
From one Of the wounded rebels taken
prisoner at Fort Walker, | gather some in
teresting details Of the conduct of the men
during the engagement. 1t was confident
II asserted that no vessel could possibly
pass the bait cries, and the general in COIN
mand had promised his men that every
ship should be sunk as it came up; and it
is certainly. wonderful that We escaped with
SO little damage. The rebel batteries
were served with the greatest activity
The great fault Was their firing too high.
An incessanI shower Of shot and shell rain
ed over US, but with little Or 10 effect
The wounded rebel says that on the first
circuit round, the general told them that q
number of the vessels must have been sunk.
but seeing them emerge from the clouds Of
smyke and pass On, h. concluded they had
been disabled and were drawing off. Tn,
men thought the victory was theirs. Re
freshments were served and cheers given
for the southern confederacy. their con.
sternation at seeing the Wabash again wind
the column and approach them was great
but they sprung to the guns and fought
with desperation. Again they cOugratula
ted themselves the vessels had drawn Of
disabled; but on seeing the Wabash, tn,
Bleuville, aud the Su~sluehanna rounding
up III gallant style for the third tirHe, ap
parently unframed, the panic was com.
plete, and they broke and Gsd in utter dis
may.
SCENES or THB REBEL FLIGHT.
: The rebel Tatnall, who had landed from
his musquitO feet, and who had assured
: his subordinate; that their position cculC
: not be taken, was among the garrison o
/ 1900 when they prccipitately fed from
their forts and ran hclter-skelter over thu
, South Carolina soil back to the woods il
: rear. He doubtless thought that, whetheI
. or not blood ia thicker han water it il
i bad thing TO lose. The cxodeau figh.