Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-11-21


aground, and were considerably dam
sged.
The rebel loss Is supposed to be two
hundred. General Drayton comman-
ded at Fort Walker. and Colonel Elliot
at Fort Besuregsrd.
The rebels retired across Skull Greek
to . village twenty Eve miles in the in
terror. It is said they intend makiag
stand. Negroes had already begun
to pillage and destroy Beaufort. E'
The white population fed to Charles
ton sud small steamers BY the inside
route.
General Sherman has hundreds Of
negro laborers.
There was 9 panic at Savannah. and
it was believed its capture would be
easy.
It's understood that General Sher-
man will improve the defenses of his
position before making any forward
movement.
In the forts was found large sup
ply Of ammunition and stores Of the
best description.
Commodore Dupont will immediate
ly survey the harbor, and place buoys
and erect lights.
The position viii be made a perms-
nent base Of operations. The feet
stood within 500 and 900 feet Of the
forts, using five second fuses, and
poured shells into them at the rate OF
1000 per hour. Not q single shell
sent by the rebels burst in the SHIPS
The Wabash was struck several times,
as was most Of the feet, but every ship
was in lighting condition, when the reb-
els took to their heels. The Surgeon
Of Fort Walker was killed.
At Charleston the next day thirteen
minute guns were 6red, indicating the
burial of a Brigadier- General. The
troops had not occupied Beaufort when
the steamer left, being better engaged
in Strengthening their position.
THE FORTS and SURROUNDINGS AFTER
THE BATTLE.
On landing. the forts were found 10
be utterly deserted, and everything
gave proof OF the headlong and utter
confusion and haste with which the
rebels had vacated their hard fought
position. As specimens Of Liili,sry
skill, both Forts Walker. and Beaure-
gard are considered by old army
officers as the most skillful and for
midable earthworks they have ever
seen. Fort Walker, on Hilton Head,
rs much the heaviest. being a gigantic
mass Of earthworks thrown up in
angular walls, the corners being pro-
tected by strong redoubts. IN front OF
the walls was a deep trench. about
ten or twelve feet in width, likewise
projected by an admirable e6evOWz de
friss Of thick posts, six or eight feet
high. firmly set in the ground, about
four inches apart. pointing outward
from the fort, and sharpened at the
end. With this encircling wall OF
sharp stakes guarding deep trench,
which in turn was covered BY tho
twenty.six monster guns and columbi-
ads Of the fort, it was doubtless i'm
pregnable to the assaults Of any land
force Of infantry. Both forts had
probably been erected for at least nine
or ten months, as the soil, where not
not rent by our terrific FIRE. was firm
and well settled, and clothed in n
luxuriant mantle Of grass. The count
ry around is one Of much beauty and
fprtility-rising from the sea gently,
the coast sloping off far into the ocean,
making a long shallow spread Of
water. A beautiful cotton field was
near by. the balls already bursted, and
the long white cotton hanging from
them in the greatest profusion. A
Northerner, unaccustomed to the sight
Of field of ripe cotton, the scene
presented me was one Of unrivaled
magni6cence and novelty. 1t seemd
as If living mantle Of snow rested up
on a square Of beautiful country, and
undilated like the yellow grain in the
gentle winds. / passed also over
fine patch of sweet potatoes, which
bore good evidence OF having grown
thrifty and well by the fertil sweat of
slaves. The ground in every direction
was plowed into furrows and ridges
by our shells and balls. The earth
works were honey-combed and torn
into unsightly heaps. trees shattered IN
every direction, and long lanes cut
through the pure white field Of cotton.
The forts, now deserted except by the
ghastly bodies Of the dead, bore wit
ness to the terrific effect of our fire, the
long and unavailing defence maintained
by the rebels, and the rapidity with
which they had quilted the works and
fed when we came, fresh and deter
mined as ever, to the third and, as it
proved final engagement. At Fort
Walker only three guns were found
dismounted. The rest remained in
their places. well aimed, and had been
we'll served. They we're OF immense
size, carrying from $50 to l8O pound
balls, and ritled. Some Of them we're
of old English manufacture, and 9TH
ers were probably cast in Richmond.
These were OF rather rough exterior,
but proved to be equal in utility TO the
others. They were already loaded
when we found them, and not one was
spiked-a fact which evidence the
| terror created hy our final broad