Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-15


tillerists The enemys ships which passed our
batteries can be distinctly seen from Beaufort.
Forts Walker and Beauregard are still firing
The enemy has lost one gun boat which was
burned. Shells can be seen from here bursting
in the woods. Our lines Of communication are
cut off unless more troops are sent
here, with artillery and cavalry. -Four ships
are now in sight over the land and up as far as
Skull Greek. There is reason to believe the
enemy are now making preparations to land
large force at Hiltons Head either tonight or
Tomorrow morning.
FoRf MoNRoK, Nov. l2.-The steamer
RienvilIs has just arrived at Old Point from
the great expedition. She left Port Royal
on Sunday morning and bringseheering in
telligence, Capt. Steedman, however, left
her at this place and proceeds direct to
Washington with dispatches and trophies,
including two brass cannon and secession
flags. ~
Capt. s. reports that the gale encounter
cd by tho feet was very severe. The I'm
ion and Osceo went ashore and were lost,
as previously reported. The Governor
foundered at sea, but the Isaac G. Smith
succeeded in saving all her crew with the
exception of seven marines.
The feet arrived at Port Royal on Mon
day, tho 4th. On Tuesday the smaller gun
boats rounded in the channel under a fire
from the forts, which did no damage. On
Wednesday the weather prevented active
operations, but on Thursday A, NJ, the 9TH
inst, the men-of-war and the gun boats ad
vanced TO the attack
The action commenced at 10 A. NJ, and
was hotly carried forward on both sides and
lasted about four hours, at the end of which
time the rebels were compelled by the
heavy shower of she'll TO abandon their
works and beat hasty retreat.
Our loss is s men and officer, the
Chief Engineer of the Mohican killed, and
20 wounded Rebel loss unknown; So
bodies were found by our men and buried.
All their wounded except2 2, were carried off.
Two Forts we're captured, Fort Walker
on Hilton Head, mounting 80 guns, and
Fort Beauregard, on Bay Point, mounting
i9 guns and Of heavy calibre. The Forts
were both new, and splendid earthworks of
great strength, constructed in the highest
style of military science, and pronounced |
by our engineers as impregnable against
any assault by land forces. ..
The fiual retreat of the rebels was q per-
feet route. They left everything, arms and
equipments Of all kinds, even to the officers
swords and commissions, all the letters and
papers, both public and private, order books
and documents Of all kinds were left in their
flight and fell into our hands, affording our
officers much valuable information. Among
the papers was n telegram from jeff Davis !
to the commander of the post, informing
him of the sailing of the feet and that he .
knew their destination to be Port ROYAL.
Tho whole surrounding country was seiz-
cd with perfect panic. The day after the
fight the Seneca and two other gun boats
proceeded to Beaufort and found but one
whito man in the town, and he was drunk.
All the plantations up the river seemed to
De deserted except by tho negroes, who
we're seen in great numbers, and who, as
.he boats passed, came down to the shore
with bundles in their hands as il they ex-
pected TO be taken off.
They seized all the letters in the Post
Office. ra ,1- .as
After the capture of the Forts, the whole I
army, about 900 men, were safely land /
ed and established on shore.
The forts are but little injured, but the
rebels could not stand the explosion of our
big shells. The force of the enemy, as as
certained from their papers, was 1000 men,
under General Drayton of South Carolina.
Our victory is complete, the rebels leav-
ing everything but their lives, which they
saved by running. But A persons were
'ound in the fort, and two of them were
All hands of the feet are represented as
acting 10 the most gallant manner. The
who accompanied the expediti on
from New York, are on the Bienville with
full details.
BALTIMORE, Nov. l3.-From an officer
just come up we gather the following ad-
1itional particulars:
None ofour vessels were sunk The Paw
nee lost killed and wounded and suffer |
ed more injury than any other, but was not !
disabled. A round shot went through her
ward room. The Wabash had her main
mast badly hurt with round shot. The
Pocahontas had one man injured. The As
sistant Engineer of the Mohican was badly
wounded, and the Chief was killed.
When our troops took possession Of the
forts they found the flag flying on the fort
on Hilton Head. The rebels had mined
the works and fixed the haIyards of the flag
SO that when the flag should be lowered
the mine would be sprung. The halyards
sprung a mine in the house used by the
officers, but did very little damage and
hurt no one. The magazine did not ex-
plodc. A large quantity of powder was
found and large amount of English am
munition and projectiles.
New York, Nov. 13.-The Tribune's
special from Fort Monroe says the entire
Heet formed in two great lines for the fight.
The Wabash led and the Bienvlle flauked
he movement, which was in circle, first
broadsides into Fort Beauregard
on the Northwest, and as the feet came
round, raking Fort Walker on the South
west. Both forts responded vigorously
The Pawnee and Mohican got aground and
were considerably damaged
The rebel loss is supposed to be 200
Gen. Drayton commanded at Fort Walker
and Col. Elliot at Fort Beauregard.
The rebels retired across Scull creek to
a village rs miles in tho interior where il