The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-22

flagstaff Of q building few rods to the
left, where the rebel standard had waved
during the combat. and whence 1t had just
been taken down.
Commodore Tatnall and his gunboats
disappeared in the early part Of the en-
gagement. He sent few shots towards
the feet, but as usual his boats were not
near enough to do US injury. Much regret
was felt that neither of our fast steamers
pursued and captured the Commodore. He
would have been an interesting prisoner.
Among the papers found in the secession
garrison was one from DR.. Tatnall, in
which he promised emphatically to General
Drayton, who commanded the rebel forces,
that the gunboats should be brought down
from Savannah, and that they should share
the fate of the forts. The promise was
kept, and the fate was shared-the latter
much earlier than was necessary.
From the best data that could be OBJ
tanned, two thousand shot and shell were
delivered by the feet. Individual cases OF
gallantry were numerous. The men fought
with determined bravery: they worked on
coolly, and the silence was only broken by
an occasional cheer, when some marked
effect was noticed by the firing.
Every vessel engaged in the action was
more or less cut up, although none were
injured so badly as to make it necessary to
return home for repairs. The Wabash, the
largest vessel in the feet, was singled out
as the special targetl,of the enemys fire.
Thirty four shots struck her.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE BY FRONT.
NENT OFFICER.
The subjoined letter is private docu.
ment addressed by Capt. Rodgers, who was
the first man to run up the Stars and
Stripes on South Cardinals rebellious soil,
to q friend, in New York.
STEAMER BIENvILLE PORT ROYAL HARBOR,
OFF Fort WALKER, Nov. 8, 1861.
DEAR -: We took this fort, mounting
81 guns, after tours hours fight. 1t was
nobly done. The Wabash. which led, was
carried along the shore by the soundings as
close as possible. The soundings were
given regularly, as on an ordinary occasion.
Signals were made continually, without
single mistake, while the rain OF fire from
this ship, the Wabash, fell upon the fort
with all the cold precision of target practice.
During the action looked carefully at the
fort with powerful Spy glass. Shell fell
in it mot 28.in minute, a. at Hatteras)
but as fast as a horses feet beat the ground
on gallop.
The resistance was severe but what can
flesh and blood do against such fire? l
watched two men particularly in red shirt;
l saw them seated at the muzzle of gun
apparently waiting, exhausted, for more am
unition. They we're so still that l dou bted
whether they were men. This terrible fire
fell around them. saw them move, and l
knew they were men. They loaded the gun
"a shell burst near them, and they disap-
peared, doubtless, blown to atoms.
The Wabash was destroying angel
hugging the shore-calling the soundings
with cold MISUNDERSTANDING the engine
to US only to give Storage way-signaling
the vessel their various evoIutions and at the
same time raining shells, as in target
practice, too fast to count
Commodore Dupont had kindly made me
bis aid. stood by him, and did little
things, which, l suppose, gained me credit
so, when boat was sent on shore to ask
whether they had surrendered l was sent
carried the stars and stripes. found the
ramparts utterly desOlate, and l planted
the American flag upon the ramparts with
my own hands-first to take possession in
the majesty OF the United States, of the re
bel soil OF South Carolina.
The Confederate forces were in utter
panic. They deserted everythiDg-arms,
tents, personal property were abandoned as
by men intent only upon safety, and spur
red by overwhelming fear. l was for an
EOur, With onl y boats crew, in the camp.
| A foolish, maiden difidence stood in my
way, and did not take much plumber. l
did take sword mounted 10 solid silver,
hiIt and scabbard, which proved to be q
| b ade with two golden lines OF Arabic writ
ing-doubtless Damascus ade, and an
heir loom presented to Commodore Dupont,
| tor he had taken it. 10 the same tent
| found new soldiers scarf still in its box
! OF pasteboard.
Genera! Sherman eaid be bad no idea of
snch magnificent fighting, for the guns were
| IL, 10. 9 and S-inch guns. The Wabash
was awtully sublime in her destroying en-
OiSy, ouu Wv co SOVi ouo PiCCicC, ouu SO
magn6ceDtIy fearless.
The panic was wiid-ahject terror on the
| part of the " SOuthrons." Not soldier
had been landed, because it had not been
| possible for them to get 90 shore, except at
| the batteries, and of course not until the
batteries we're taken; yet men thronged the
road for miles with blankets, muskets,
knapsacks; one company of about sixty
| hOrsemen abandoned their horses and fed
for life, while no one pursued 80 say the
| cOntrabandS.
+
do not think the importance of our &C.
QUESTION can be exaggerated. The chan.
mel is fair Tor any wind with southing 10 it
the only dangerous ones. 1t admits the
largest class OF vsssels it is easily defended;
it is 10 the heart of South Carolina it is
twenty miles from Savannah, and thirty
from Charleston 1t has room enough for
the navies of the world. 1t is a Fortress
Monroe iD South Carolina.
Negroes are pouring in they think their
condition is to be bettered. White men
have all fed. Vessels 60 up to Beaufort
to day. JOHN ROGERS.