The Evansville daily journal., 1861-11-14

flag officer, S. F. Dupont and Brig. Geo. W
H. Saerman, in the capture Of Forts Walk
er and Beauregard, commanding the en-
trance to Port Royal harbor, S. G. To
4 commemorate this signal victory, it is
ordered that a national salute be fred from
each Navy Yard, at meridian, on the day
after the reception of this order.
The following are the official dispatches
to the Navy Department:
/ s5FLAG-sHIP WABAsH, OFF HILTON HEAD, /
PoRT RoYAI, November 6. !
! }SR--The government having determined
! to seize and occupy one or more important
points upon our Southern coast, where our
squadrons might find shelter and possess a
depot and afford protection to loyal citi-
/ zens, it was committed to my discretion to
| select from among those places, the points
| which might be thought available and de-
sirable for this purpose. After mature de-
liberation, aided by the professional knowl-
edge and great intelligence of the Assistant
Secretary Fox, and upon taking into con-
sideration the magnitude to which the joint
naval and military expedition had been ex-
tended, Ito which you had called my atten-
tion,) I came to the conclusion that the
original intentions of the Department, if
/ CdA1 leu QuN1 aOutA ittAA 0nOLb VI SAC PC1b0h-
tions of the country, and the capabilities Of
| the expedition, while Port Royal I thought
would meet both in a high degree.
therefore submitted to Brigadier Cen
| eral Sherman, commanding the military
part Of the expedition, this modification of
/ our earliest matured plans, and had the sat
! isfaction to receive his full concurrence.
On Tuesday, October 29th, the feet under
| my command left Hampton Roads, and with
| the army transports numbered SO vessels
! On the day previous, | had dispatched the
| coal vessels, % IN number, under convoy
OF the Eandalia, to rendezvous off Sayan-
nah, not wishing to give the true point of
the fleets destination.
The weather had been unsettled in
Hampton Roads, though it promised well
when we sailed, but off Hatteras it blew
hard. Some ships got into the breakers
and two struck, but without injury. On
Friday, Nov. lst, the rough weather in
creased into gale, and we had to encounter
one of great violence. The fleet was utter
Iy dispersed. On Thursday morning. one
sail only was in sight from the deck of the
Wabast On the following day, the wealth
er moderated, and tha steamers and ships
began to =reappear. Nc. orders were opened
except those in case of SEPARATION. These
last were furnished to all the men-of-war
by myself and to the transports by Brigade
General Sherman. As the vessels reioined,
reports came in of disaster, in reference 10
the men-of-war. TIE Isaac Smith, the
most efficient and we'll armed vessel of the
class purchased, but not intended to en-
counter such a sea aud wind, had to throw
her formidable battery overheard, to keep
from founderiHg; but thus relieved, she was
enabled TO go to the assistance of the steamer
Governor, then in very dangerous con-
dition, and on board of which, was our
fine battalion of marines. under Major
Reynolds
They were finally rescued by Capt. Ring
gold, of the Sabine, nnder difficult eircum-
stances, after which, the Governor went
down. l believe that seven of the marines
we're drowned BY their own iInprudence.--
Lieut.. Commanding Nicholson ; conduct on
the Isaac Smith, has my very warm con-
mendAtion. 7
The Peerless, [transport) in sinking
condition, was met by tie Mochigan (com-
man6er Gordon) and all the people on board,
26 in number were saved, under very pecu-
liar circumstances, in which service Lieut..
H. w. Miller was very favorabiy noticed BY
his commander.
On passing Charleston, sent IN the Sen
eca, Lieutenant Commanding, Ammen, to
direct Captain Gardner to join me with the
steamer Susquehanna, off Port Royal, with
out delay ~. -r1-r-E
On Monday at O'Clock in the morning
| anchored off the bar with some 25. vessels
in company, with many more heaving in
sight. The Department is aware that all the
aids to navigation had been removed, and
the bar lies ten miles to seaward, and no
features on the. shore line of sufficient
prominence to make any bearings, relia-
bly,, but the skill OF Commander Dove, the
feet Captain, and Mr. Roulette, the able as
sstant of the coast survey in charge of the
steamer Vixen, channel was Immediately
found.
BY O'Clock, received assurance from
Capt. Dove, that conld send forward the
lighter transports, those under eighteen feet,
with all the gunboats, which was immedi-
ately done, and before dark they were secure
ly anchored in the Roadstead of Port Royal,
South Carolina.
The gun boats almost Immediately opened
their batteries npou several rebel steamers,
under Commodor Tatnall, instantly chasing
them undeF shelter of the batteries On the
morning of Tuesday, the Wabash crossed
the bar, followed closely by the frigate Sus-
quehanna. The Atlantic, Vanderbilt and
other transports of deep draught, running
through that portion of the feet The safe
passage of this great ship over the bar was
hailed with gratifying cheers from the
crowded vessels.
We anchored Immediately, and commenc-
ed preparing the ship for action. In our
anxiety to get the outline of the forts be-
fore dark, we stood in too near those shoals
and the ship grounded, and by the time she
was got Oft it was too late, in my judg-
3 d. II.
the squadron to anchor, out of gun shot Of
the enemy. To-day the wind blows gala
from the southwark and westward, and the
| attack is uDavoidably postponed.
| have the honor TO be, sir,
H Respectfully your ob't serv't,
5. z. DUPONT,
| Flag Officer Commanding
| South Atlantic Blockadlng Squadron.