Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-11-20
NEWS FROM THE GREAT FLEET.
The Official Dispatches.

UNITED STATES FLAG SHIP WABASH !
Orr HILTON HEAD, PORT Royal HARBoR,
November 9th, 1861.
Hon. Gideon Hides, Secretary Of the Nary
Sir-The Government having determined
to seize and occupy one or more inp pUrtant
points upon our Southern coast, where our
squadron might find shelter. possess depot
and afford pFotaltIpp to loyal citizens, com
mitted to my discretion the selection from
among those places which it thought most
available and desirable for these purposes
After mature deliberatiou, aided by the pro-
fessIonal knowledge and great intelligence of
the Assistant Secretary, Mr., Fox, and upon
taking into cUnsiderau N the magnitude to
which the joint naval and military expedition
bad been extended, to which you have called
my attention, | came to the conclusion that
the original intentions Of the department, if
first carried out, would fall short of the ex-
pectatlons of the country and of the capabih
ties Uf the expedition, while Port Royal,
thought, would meet both in high degree.
l therefore submitted to Brgadier General
Sherman. commanding the military part of
the expedition, this modification Of our earli
est matured plans and had the satisfaction to
receive his full concurrence, though he and
the commanders of the brigades very justly
laid great stress upon the necessity, if posi-
ble, of getting this frigate into the harbor of
Port Royal.
On Tuesday, Doth October. the fleet under
! my command left Hampton Roads, and with
the army transports numbered fifty vessels.
On the day previous had despatched the
coal vessels, twenty FIVE in all, under convoy
of the Vandalia, Commander Haggerty, to
rendezvous off Savannah, not wishing to give
! the true points. The weather had been un.
! settled in Hampton Roads, though it promis
| ed well when We sailed, but off Hatteras it
blew hard. Some ships got into the breakers,
! and two struck, bpt without injury.
On Friday, lst November, the rough wealth
er soon increased into gale, and we had to
encounter one of great violence from the
southeast, portion of which approached to
! a hurricane. The fleet was utterly dispersed,
and on Saturday morning one sail only was
in sight from the deck of the Wabash.
On the following day the weather. modera
ted, and the steamers and ships began to re
| appear. Orders, not to be opened except in
case of separation, were furnished to all the
men-of war by myself, end to the transports
! by Brigadier General Sherman.
! As the vessels rejoined reports came of dis
asters. / expected to hear of many, but when
the severity of the gale and the character of
| the vessels are considered, we have oply cause
| for great thankfulness.
! In reference to the men of war, the Isaac
| Smith, most efficient and we'll armed vessel
for the class purchased. but not intended to
! encounter such sel and wind, had to throw
! her formidable battery overheard to keep from
| laundering, but thus relieved, Lieut. Comman
ding Nicholson was enabled TO go to the as
! slstapce Of the chartered steamer Governor,
then IN very dangerous condition, and on
! board of which was our fine battalion Of ma
rines, under Major Reynolds. They were
| finally rescued by Capt. Ringgold in the Sa
! bihe under difficult circumstances, soon after
| which the Governor gent down, and believe
seven of the marines were drowned by their
| own imprudence.
Lieut.. Commanding Smiths conduct in the
Isaac Smith has met with my warul eommen-
daton.
The Peerless, transport, in sinkipg con
dition, was met by the Mohican, Commander
Gordon, and all the people On board, twenty.
| six in number, were saved under very perilous
| circumstances, in which Lieut.. Ii. w. Miller
was very favorably noticed by his commander.
On passing Charleston | sent in the Seneca
| Llelt. Commanding Amman, to direct Capt
| Lardner to join me with the steamer SusGue
| hanna off Port Royal without delay.
! On Monday. at eight o'clock in the morn.
ing, | anchored off the bar with some twenty
! five vessels in company, many more being in
| sight.
The department is aware that all the aids
| to navigation had been removed, and the bar
| lies ten miles seaward with no features on
| the shore line with sufficient prominence to
make any bearings reliable. But, to the skill
| of Commander Davis, the Fleet Captain, and
Mr.. Boutelle. the able assistant Of the coast
survey, in charge of the steamer Vixen, the
| ~ II IL
and buoyed.
By three O'Clock received assurances from
! Capt. Davis that | could send forward the
! lighter transports. those under eighteen feet
with all the gunboats, which was Immediately
| done. and before dark they were securely
anchored in the roadstead of Port Royal
| South Carolina.
! The gunboats almost Immediately opened
! their batteries upon two or three Rebel steam
ers, under Commodore Tatnall, instantly cbas-
! ing him under the shelter of their batteries
| In the morning Commander John Rogers
| of the United States steamer Flag, temporar-
lily on board this ship, and acting on my STAFF,
| accompanied Brigadier Gen. Wright, in the
! gunboat Ottowa, Lieutenant Commanding
| Nicholson, made reconnaissance in force,
and drew the ire of the batteries on Hilton
| Head and Bay Point sufficiently to show that
the Notifications were works of strength and
scientifically constructed. In the evening of
Monday Capt. Davis and Mr.. Boutelle report
ed water enough for the Wabash to enter in.
/ The responsibility of hazarding so noble a
frigate was not light one. Over prolOng-
ed bar of over two miles there was but foot
or two of water to spare, and the fall and rise
of the tide is such that if she had grounded
she would have sustained most serious injury
from straining. if not probably lost. Too
much, however, was at stake TO hesitate, and
the result was entirely successful.
On the morning Of Tuesday the Wabash
crossed the bar, followed closely by the frigate
Susouehanna, the Atlantic, Vanderbilt and
other transports of deep draft, and on run.