Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-11-21

in sixty days.
THE ELECTION IN THE CONFEDERATE STATES.
AS far as heard from, Davis and Stephens
have received unanimous vote for President
and Vice-Presdent of the Southern Confederacy.
Their term is for six years.
From the Charleston Mercury.
THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL.
The battle of Port Royal will be remembered
us one of the best fought, and best conducted
battles, which have signaized the war in which
we are engaged. If Gen. Ripley had been APP
pointed General in command two months
sooner, everything would have been in better
state of preparation. But these two previous
months were wastel in doing nothing for our
defence. Within the time left to him, Gen.
Ripley did all that untiring energy and skill
could accomplish to put our coast in state Of
preparation. The two islands of Hilton Head
and Bay Point with their extreme limits, con-
sttute the two points which guard the entrance
to Port Royal Sound, about three miles in width
On these two points two forts were erected
Fort Walker on Hilton Head, and Fort Beaure-
gard on Bay Point. The time we possessed,
enabled us to make them only earthworks,
without any protection from shells or bombs
| The Island of Hilton Head was commanded
| by Gen. Drayton. TIE officers Immediately
experimenting the artillery and conducting the
| fire of Fort Walker, were Col. Wagner, Major
Arthur Huger. and Capt. Yates, of the regular
service, especially detailed by Gen. Ripley to
aid in directing the artillery. COL Dunovant
commanded at Fort Beauregard, but he gener
ously allowed Capt. Elliott, of the Beaufort
! Artillery, to direct and conduct the batteries of
the Fort The day was beautiful-calm and
clear, with scarcely cloud in the heavens-just
such day as our invaders would have ordain-
ed, if they could, to carry on their operations.
In such sketch of the battle as, amid the ex
element and the thousands of baseless rumors,
we are enabled to present to our readers, a brief
review of the earlier events of this memorable
week will not be uninteresting.
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS OF THE ENEMY.
The great fleet of the enemy passed our bar
on Sunday, the Sd inst. and on the following
day was anchored off Port Royal entrance
About o'clock on Monday afternoon, Commo-
dore Tatnall, with his 'mosquito fleet" ran out
from the harbor and made the first hostile de-
monstration. The immense armada of the in
vaders, numbering, at that time, thirty-six YES
sells. was drawn up in line of battle and our
little fotilla steamed up to within mile of them
and opened its fire. the scene was an inspiriting
one, but almost ludicrous in the disparity of the
size Of the opposing fleets. The enemy replied
to our fire almost Immediately. After an ex-
change of some twenty shots, Com. Tatnall re-
tired, and was not pursued.
About o'clock on Tuesday morning, several
of the largest Yankee war steamers having come
within range, the batteries of Forts Walker and
Beauregard were opened, and the steamers threw
number of shells in over our works, inflicting
no damage on Fort Walker, and but slightly
woundng two of the garrison of Fort Beaure-
gard. This engagement lasted, with short in
tervals, for nearly two hours, when the enemy
drew off. The steamers made similar, but
shorter reconnaissance on Wednesday evening.
but without any important results. On the
next day the weather was rough, and 1.-The fleet
lay at anchor five or six miles from shore. Dur
ing the day several struggling transports came
up, swelling the number Of vessels to forty one.
An M 1ua>sa~,~->-a
Wednesday night, our men stood at their guns.
momentarily expecting an attack, and obtaining
only such scanty rest and refreshnent as chance
afforded.
THE DAY OF THE BATTLE
Thursday dawned gloriorsly upon our weared
but undaunted gunners, and all felt that the day
of trial had at last arrived Scarcely had break
fast been despatched, when the hostile fleet was
observed in commotion. The great war steam
ers formed rapidly in single file, and within sup
porting distance of each other, the frigate Wa
bash, the flagship of Com. Dupont in the van.
AS the long line of formidable looking vessels,
thirteen in number, most of them powerful pro-
pelers, with few sailing men-of-war in tow,
swept rapidly and majestcally in. with ports
open and bristling with guns Of the heaviest
calibre, the sight was grand and imposing
This was at half-past o'clock. Until the Min
nesota came within the range of and directly
opposite our batteries on Hilton Head, all was
still. Suddenly the fifteen heavy guns of Fort
Walker, which had been aimed directly at the
huge frigate, belched forth their simultaneous
fire, and the action was begun.
Almost Immediately afterwards, the batteries
of Fort Beauregard, on the other side Of the en-
trance also opened their fire. The enemy at
first did not reply. But, as the second steamer
came opposite to Fort Walker, the bulls of the
first three were suddenly wrapped in smoke,
and the shot and shell of three tremendous broad
sides, making in all seventy-6ve guns, came
crashing against our works.
From this moment the bombardment was in
cessant and terrific; one by one the propeers
bore down upon 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
OtOtIotOC W Wv DCautCeodlu do ouO iCP etooCd.
Then the battle was continued, the enemy's YES
sells sailing in an elliptical course pouring one
broadside into Bay Point, and then sweeping
around to deliver the other against Hilton Head.
This furious fire from four hundred guns, many
of them the 1 Inch Dablgren pattern, and some
even 13-inch bore (for sabot of that diameter
was found in Fort Beauregard), was maintained
necessarily, and the roar Of the cannonade seem
ed continuous.
Meanwhile our garrisons were making gal
liant defence. They kept up a vigorous and
well-directed fire against their assailants, and,
notwithstanding that their best gun was dis
mounted at the beginning of the action, they
succeeded in setting fire to several Of our ships.
Whenever this happened, however, the enemy
would haul off and soon extingush the flames.
The effect of our guns was, in many instances,
plainly visible from the Forts. Although the
sides of the Minnesota are of massive strength,
several of her ports were knocked into one
Nor was she the only vessel upon which this