Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-13


A letter received from Darnestown representa-
all quiet on the. upper Potomac.
--<ns--
Particulars of tho Landing of Gus
FIeeE at Beaufort.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 12.-Tbe Inquirer has
the following from Fortress Monroe, derived
from rebel source:
In anticipation of the arrival Of the great
expedition the rebels have been engaged in
erecting batteries upon point at Hilton Head
and on the opposite neck Of land. The princi.
pal fortifcation on Hilton Head was denomi.
mated Fort Walker, and situated on the low
land and partially concealed by underbrush.
Adjoining it were other batteries of smaller
size, but so connected as to prove formidable
bar to the entrance of vessels
Fort Beaufort was of considerable import
ance, having been mounted with heavy guns.
The garrisons are supposed to have been South
Carolina regiments, assisted by additional regi-
men.s sent from Richmond.
Near the batteries at Boy Point, opposite Hill
ton Head, were equally as formidable inside of
Port ROYAL entrance, and behind the batteries
lay the feet of Com modore Tatnall, which con-
sisted only of small vessels, carrying q few
heavy guns, but principally light ones. Tugs
constituted great portion of the feet. Many
of these remained outside the mouth of the en-
trance till the arrival Of our feet, when they
formed In miniature line of battle in the posi-
tion already stated, behind the guns Of their
own forts, and across the entrance.
On the morning Of Thursday last, the U. 8.
feet, numbering forty.two vessels, headed by
the flagship, approached the mouth of Poit
Royal entrance. This was at half.past nine
O'Clock. Several of the transports remained
off the coast
Hmm nj VIM aft a anifa h1a nnniiin,n Tho oina
of the feet opened continuous fire upon Forts
Walker and Beauregard, as well as upon those
of Boy Point. Under cover of the fire an ef-
fort was made to run the gauntlet of the bate
ries, which they did, A number of the vessels
passed through the fire from the shore batteries
with very trihing Injuries. AT least fifteen OF
them succeeded in passing up beyond the reach
of the land batteries. .-
As the Union sailed up the mulquito feet of
Tatnall opened fire, but seeing the impossibility
OF making any resistance, soon dispersed. Some
were forced to run on shore, Others were driven
up the inlets out OF sight. Commodore Tat
nall went on shore with his men to assist in
working the batteries and use them against our
vessels, which were endeavoring to follow the
advance OF the others.
The passage Of the feet through the channel
was not accomplished until the firing had con-
nearly five in the evening.
One of the Union gunboats is believed to
have been burned, and three steamers disa-
bled. v ,ur r..s
IL is acknowledged by the enemy that they
had twenty men killed in Fort Walker, but it is
impossible to state what their loss was at the
other batteries--doubtless very great, as our
fire is said to have been very effective, and guns
well aimed and of heavy calibre. "a.
No sooner did our vessels 60 past the batter
les at Port Royal Entrance and slide into What
is termed Broad River than they made for the
mouths of the inlets leading to Beaufort, Sa-
vannah, and Charleston. These they immedi
ately blockaded, though not in time to prevent
the escape of small rebel vessels.
Not one of the Federal vessels was sunk, and
the only one believed to have been destroyed by
fire was the gunboat referred to above. The
crew are said to have passed through murder
GUS fire to another vessel, which they reached
with very little if any loss. r -.
The Union vessels acted under special in.
structions in blockadiDg the inlets which led to
the most important points, and which afforded
loop-holes Of escape to the enemy.
While portion of this feet entered upon this
duty, four ships made at once for Beaufort, and
at three O'Clock on Thursday these vessels were
in sight of the town.
A dispatch dated Beaufort, Nov. 7th, to the
Charleston Mercury, says that at that time the
Union forces were preparing to land, evidently
with the design of throwing up entrenchments
and attacking the town.
We have no means of knowing the exact loss
of the Union forces, but the rebels confess their
own firing was very bad, and that their artlle.
ry-men were badly In want of practice. They
declare, moreover, that the guns in the fort
were not properly mounted. When CON- Tat
nall went to assist the men in the forts, he
found that many Of their cannon were dismount-
ed by their own rebound. To this fault the
rebel journals attribute their defeat, and loudly
call upon the Confederate Government to find
out where the blame rests.
A telegram which left Richmond on Saturday
last, stated there was nothing particularly i'm
portant from the Southern coast. 1t is evident
from this that the rebel government has pro-
hibted any further information from coming
north of Richmond. This implies that they
have suffered heavy defeat.
The Charleston Mercury of the 9Th inst, aft
er summing up results, says: '
"The Yankees seem to have driven Commo-
dore Tatnal's Mosquito feet up the creeks
leading to Savannah, and cut off all water COM
munlcation with Charleston, by sealing up Skull
creek. Although the Yankees have effected as
yet no landing, 1t is certain they have made
some progress, and it behooves US to imme.
diately send such renforcements as may be
needed to check any movements they may make
toward gaining even the smallest foothold on
our soil. If the invaders can take Charleston
with twenty-five thousand men, let them, as we
would be unworthy to possess 1t; and 1t will be
fit memorial, laid in ashes, of our own South
ern imbecility." -7s4e sfll
The following Is special dispatch to the
Charleston Mercury:
"HENDERsoNvILLE, Nov. 7th--9 P. M.-Tha
practice of our artillerists at Hilton Head has
been very bad; hence the successful passage Of
seven of the enemy's men-of war. Their
transports are still outside. Our loss thus far
has been very slight, and the troops are In good
heart. The firing of the Yankee war vessels
was very accurate.
"Hilton Head and Boy Point, as at first re.
ported, received the brunt of the attack. Our
failure to sink any of the vessels which passed
our batteries, is owing to the poor practice Of
the artillerists, The enemy's ships which pass.
ed our batteries can be distinctly seen from
Beaufort. Forts Walker and Beauregard are
still firing. The enemy has lost one gunboat,
which was burned. Shells can be seen from
here bursting in the woods. Our lines of COM
munication are completely cut off unless more
troops are sent here with artillery and cavalry.
Four ships are now in sight over the land and
up as far as Skull Creek. There is reason to
believe the enemy are now making preparations
to land large force at Hilton Head either to.
night or to morrow morning
Norfolk Custom House Rurnt-FrOm
| the Fleet,