Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-11-21
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN. SHERMAN.

HEADQUARTERS EXPEDITION CokPs,l
PoRT ROYAL, S. c.. Nov 8, 1861.
Adjutam General Z. S. Army Washing-
ton, .. G.
SIR Ihave the honor to report that
the forces under my command embarked
at Annapolis, Maryland, on the 2lst of
October, and arrived at Hampton Roads,
Virginia, on the 22d.
In consequence of the delay in the ar
rival of some of our transports, and the
unfavorabe state of the weather, the
fleet was unable to set out for the South
ern coast until the 29th, when, under
the convoy of naval squadron in com
mand of Commodore DUPONT, and alter
the most mature consideration of the OBJ
ject of the expedition by that flag -officer
and myself, it was agreed to first reduce
any works that might be found at Port
Royal, S. c., and thus open the finest
harbor on the coast that exists south of
Hatteras.
1t was calculated to reach Port Roy
al in five days at most, but in conse-
quence of adverse winds and q perilous
storm on the day and night of the 1st of
November, the feet arrived at Port Roy
al bar not until the 4th, and then but in
part, for it had been almost entirely dis
perscd by the gale, and the vessels have
been struggling in up to this date.
The transport steamers Uni0n, Bel0i-
dere, Oceola and Peerless have not arrived.
Two Of them are known to be lost, and
it is probable all are.
1t is gratifying, however, to say that
none Of the troop transports connected
with the land forces were lost, though
the Winfield Scott had to sacrifice her
whole cargo, and the Roanoke a portion
Of her cargo, to save the lives of the rcgi.
ments on board. The former will again
be unable to put to sea. The vessels
connected with the naval portion of the
fleet have also suffered much, and some
have been lost.
After a careful reconnaissance of Port
Royal Bay it was accertained that the re-
bells had three feldworks of remarkable
strength, strongly gariisoned, and cover
ed feet of the gunboats, under Capt.
TATNALL, of the United States Navy, be
sides strong land forces, which the rebels
were concentrating from Charleston and
Savannah. The troops Of the rebels were
afterwards ascertained to have been com
mandcd by Gen. BRAYToN.
One of the forts, and probably the
strongest, was situated on Hilton Head,
and the other two on Philips Island. 1t
was deemed proper to first reduce the
fort on Hilton Head, though to do this
greater or less fire might have to be me
from the batteries on Bay Point. AT the
same time our original plan of co-opera-
ton of the land forces in this attack had
to be set aside in consequence OF the loss
during the voyage of a greater portion
of our means of fdisembarkm together
with the fact that the only point where
the troops should have landed was from
5 to 6 miles measuring around the inter-
vening shoal, from the anchoring place
of our transports. altogether too great a
distance for successful debarkation with
our limited means. 1t was therefore a
greed that the place should be reduced
by the naval force alone. In conse-
quence of the shattered condition of the
fleet, and the delay OF the arrival of YES
sells that were indispensable for the at
tack. it had to be postponed until the
7th inst
Twas merely spectator OF the combat,