Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-07-31

now plainly perceive her to be ! large tbsS listed
propeller, carrying three guns on sash side.
aud what We Afterwards ascertaiDed TO hes ritled
cannon SIX FOUNDER forward and aft WeIooksd
at esch other as this formidable stranger rounded
to, and then inquiringiy 1t the commando There
he stood, serene and impossible, fefcs suAiie Of
bitter regret his countenance, that his vessel was
90 small and in his eye determination to give the
"big steamer" warm reception. We saw that We
had before us hot work and plenty of It. As soon
as she lost her headway after rounding to- the
steamer opened the bali by sending q Hfeshell
whistling high over our hurricane deck. II was
really relief to us when the shot was fired as we
had been in momentary expectation of il for seine
time, and the suspense was horrible especially to
those of yho had never before tasted the fierce
pleasures of war" The smoke from her gun had
scarcely drifted astern of her, the echo had not
ceased vibrating over the waters around, when the
little Beaufort" the very impersonation Of 8 null
tum in paryo replied most graciously and effective
ly to this courteous Sunday salutation of huge
friend; as the smoke of our gun cleared up, and we
the water dashed up the sides of the steamer,
hearty cheer broke forth spontaneously from the
entire crew. The opinion of every one on board OF
our steamer whose position enabled them to judge
correctly, was that our first shot struck the enemy
between her main and mizzen masts. This opinion
was confirmed afterwards by parties on shore.
Tho enemy now opened on Us with her forward
riled cannon, and round shot and shell from her
side guns, and the action became general; but far
above the deafening roar of cannon, the whistling
Of shot and the bursting of SHE'LL the voice Of our
commander rang clearly and cheerfully calling on the
men to keep cool and do their work surely. Never
did men behave better or more bravely; theirwork-
ing of the gun was beautiful and as coofand steady
If going through the ordinary exercise for prac-
tice.
The enemies first shot as have said, flew far
above us; but with queer hurting, seething very
dsagreeable and tending much disorder the nerves
of one who hears it for the first time Their second
and third shcts much better; but still above.
While every time that peculiar sound Of the shot
and she'll became more disagreeable. After exchang
ing several shots with US, the enemy, apparently
satisfied with our performance, moved around and
dropped farther to the southwark of u.s. behind
large sand bank which hid all of her except portion
of her masts and completely prevented us from firing
a shot at her, as at the highest elevation we could
give gun our shot would not clear the sand bank
behind which, moreover, the soldiers before men,
toned lay and over which if we fired at all, we
should have been compelled to shoot This Was, to
say the least of it q cowardy retreat and as SUCH
victory for us-she had the advantage of position at
FIRST Ito say nothing of her superior armament be-
ing higher than we. Not content with that she
took position from which she could easily rake US
"fore and aft " without being harmed by US. From
this new position the enemy fired four shots-one
of them just missing smoke stack, another pass
ing between the smoke stack and mast very close to
the hurricane deck; third passing very near the
Boatswain's head. The fourth shot, which together
with the third were fired as we were preparing to
get out of their rakng fire passed in about two or
three feet of the neaving at the wndlass Their
first shot from the new position satisfied our CON-
mander that they had gotten our range, and aware
that we could by no possibility, return their fire,
the order to heave home the anchor was given and
slowly and sullenly the little Beaufort obeyed her
helm, "swung round" her head up stream, compel
led to retire from advantage cowardly taken; and
which she cou6 not have prevented or remedied. To
have remained longer under such circumstances
would have exposed ourselves and boat to certain
destruction. We retired with our colors floating
detiantly to the breeze. should remark here as
somewhat remarkable. that the enemy showed no
colors during the entire engagement
Thus you will perceive, that never in the annals
of naval history, were there such terrible odds to
contend with, and may safely add, never were odds
more bravey encountered.
large three 1nasted propeller, carrying six heavy
guns and rfed cannon forward and aft, and having
on board at least hundred and seventy five men,
engages from position of her own choosing, a
small steamer carrying only one smooth bored gun
and a crew of twenty.six after exchanging several
shots is compelled TO retreat from position already
advantageous to one from whic! she could complete
ly rake the small steamer without being replied to-
Just about the time had gotten well of from shore,
the enemies steamer slowly stood out to sea- tackled
stood to the soutla ard and soon was seen no more,
till afterwards discovered apparently anchored near
tho shore and off New Inlet, about eight miles to
the southland of us-leaving the impression from
this fact and the appearance Of her movements when
leaving that she was to say the least sufficiently
amused with the mornings sport Gentlemen on
shore who had the very best opportunity Of accu-
rately observing the effect of our Shots confirm our
belief that at least three of our shots took effect
her hull. We claim, at least, the honor of the first
naval engagement of the war, and to have driven
from the shores of our noble old State vessel Of
eight times strength in guns, to say nothing Of
her numerical strength.
The engagement commenced at 1915 A. NJ, and
ended at about II A.. NJ, or perhaps little after.
The enemy fired fifteen shots, five or six Of which
were from her rifed cannon. We fred eight shots,
three of which we were certain struck the enemy's
steamer. Not ore Of her shots struck our vessel
but all of them good line shots /; and her ra.
king shots from the last position taken by her. came
very near to us indeed Two or three reports were
heard at the same time, and the impression shore
is that some of the shells from the steamer exploded
just as they left the gun. am apt to believe, how
ever, that it was simply broadside from her three
guns. Altogether it was most providential escape
on our part and Of piece with many other similar
occurrences in favor during this most wicked war
Our brave and skilful commander sighted the CUR
in person every time it was fred. We fred too al
close quarters. The lookout at the encmy's mast
head could be distinctly seen noting the effect o.
their shots and directing their fire. After anchor
ing mile from the shore Lieut.. Duval sent out 8
boat after the shot which had fallen on the fats
and the men succeeded in recovering four-thre'
thirty. pound round shot and one rife bomb
Thus you see We only lost out of our eight shots
four. 81
A large vessel was signaled to us as approaching
| from the northward yesterday, which proved to b
| large man-of-war. She did not however com
near enough to ascertain much about her. Sh
| stood out to sea last afternoon and has notbeel
seen SINCE A large number Of hands have arrived
at the Fort, and hope it will be completed in
short time. Yours, respectfully,
GAN EYEWITNESS"
CoINcrDEHcEs. The battle Of Waterloo was foHgh
1 on Sunday. The battle Of New Orleans was Tough