Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-11-14

|
ed Fort Monroe, Mondar, with messenger
and DISPATCHES. Commodore Dupont makes
report to the secretary of the navy, which
covers the time rom the departure of the ex
petition up TO The evening previous to The
fight 1t is as follows =
| CouMopdRE DuPoNT'S REPORT
FLAG SHIP WABASH, OFF HILTON HEAD, |
PoHr ROYAL, Nov. 6, 1861.
Sr.-The Government having determined
TO seize and octupy one or more important
points npun our southern coast, where Oul
suuadrons might find shelter, and possess a
depot and afford protection TO loyal citizens
committed to ms discretion the selection from
among those places which it thought available
and desirable for these purposes After ma
ture deliberations, aided by the professional
knowledge and great intelligence OF the assist
ant secretary, Mr.. Fox, and upon taking into
| consideration the magnitude to which the
| Joint naval and military expedition had been
| extended. to winch you have called my atten-
ton, came to the conclusion that the original
| intention of the department II carried out
| would fall short OF the expectations OF the
| country and of the capabilities OF the eXpedl'
ton, while Port Royal thought would meet
| both in II hipb degree. | Therefore submitted
,ary part of the expedition, this modification
of our earliest matured plans, and had the
satisfaction 10 receive his full concurrence,
though he and The commanders CT the brig
AIDES very Justly laid great stress ON the neces'.
stv, if possible, df getting this frigate into the
harbor o. Port Royal
On Tuesday, the 18th of October, the fleet
under my command left Hampton Roads, and
with the army transports numbered fifty yes
sells. On the day previous l had despatched
the coal vessels twenty five III number, under
convoy of the Vahdalia, commander Hagger!y,
to the rendezvous of Savannah, not wishing
to give the true point of the fleet. The
weather had been unsettled in Hampton Roads
though it promised well when we sailed; but
of Hatteras it blew hard. Some ships got
into the breakers, and two struck, but without
injury. On Friday, the first OF November,
the rough weather soon increased INTO gale,
and we had 10 encounter one of great violence
/ from the southeast, portion OF when ap
preached to a hurricane The fleet was utterly
dispersed, and on the following morning only
one sail was in sight from the deck OF the
Wabash. On the following day the weather
vas moderate, and the steamers and ships
began to reappear The orders were opened,
except those in case Of separation. These last
were furnished to all the men Of war by my
Sherman. AS the vessels rejoined, reports
came in of disasters. l expected to hear OF
many, but when tie severity of the gale and
the character of the vessels are considered,
we have only cause for great thanktulness
In reference to the men of war, the Isaac
Smith, most efficient and welarmed vessel
| for class purchased, but not intended to en-
counter such a sea, had to throw her formida-
bic battery overheard TO keep her from found
| ering and, thus relieved, lieutenant com
mauding Nicholson was enabled TO go TO the
assistance OF the Chartered steamer Governor,
| then in IA very dangerous condition, and on
| board of which YVES our fine battalion OF ma
rines, under Major Reynolds. They were
| finally rescued BY Capt. Ringgold in the Sa-
| bGe, under difficult circumstances, soon alter
! which the Governor went down. | believe
| that seven of the mariues were drowned by
their own imprudence. Lieutenant command
ing Ncholsons conduct on the Isaac Smith
has met my warm commentator. The Peer
less, transport in a sinking condition, was
met by the Mohican. Commander Gordon
and all the people ON board, twenty SIX IN
number, We're saved under very peculiar cir
cumstances, in which service Lieut. IL. w.
Miller was very iayorably noticed by his COM
mander.
On passing Charleston | seat in the Seneca.
Ammeu lieutenant commanding, 10 direct
Capt. Lardner 10 join me with the schooner
Susqueha.na, oil Port Royal, without delay.
On Monday, at 8 O'Clock in the morning,
anchored off the bar with some twenty-t five
vessels, in company with many more heaying
in sight
Tie department is aware that all the aids TO
navigation had been removed, and that the bar
lies ten miles seward, with 10 features on the
shore line of sufficient prominence to make
. Ell. -
mander Dove, the fleet captain, and MIR. Bou-
telle, the able assistant OF the coast survey in
charge OF tile steamer Vixen, the channel was
Immediately found, sounded out, and buoyed.
by O'Clock | received assurances from Capt.
Dove that | could send forward the lighter
transports, those under eighteen feet, with all
the gluboats, which was Immediately DONE
and before dark they were securely anchored
III the roadstead of Port Royal, South Carroll
ma. The gunbOa's almost Immediately opened
their batteries upon two or three rebel steam
ers under Commodore Tatnali instantly chas-
| ing him under the shelter of the batteries. In
the morning, Commander John Rogers, of the
| United States steamer Flag, temporarily On
| board this ship and acting on my staff, accom-.
| panied Brig. Gen. Wright in the gunboat Of
tawa Stevens lieutenant commanding, and
supported by the Seneca, Nicholson lieutenant
commanding, made a Reconnaissance in force,
and drew the fire OF the batteries on Hilton's
Head and Bay Point, sufficiently to show that
the fertilization were works OF strength, and
scientifcally constructed.
In the evening of Monday Capt. Dove and
| MIR. BouteIle reported water enough for the
| Wabash to venture in. The responsibility Of
! hazardlLg so noble irigate over prolonged
| bar OF over Two miles, was not light one.
there was but loot or two of water to spare,
| and tie TALL and rise of the tide is such, that
! ii she had grounded she would have sustained
most serious injury from strand!ng, II not
! been totally lost.
| Too much, however, was at stake, TO hest
| tate, and ;he result was entirely successful.
| On the morning OF Tuesday the Wabash
| crossed the bar, followed closely by the irigate
Susquehanna, the Atlantic, Vanderbilt, and
other transports OF deep draft running through
that portion of the heet already in. The sale
passage OF this great ship over the bar was
hailed with gratifying cheers from the crowded
vessels We anchored, and Immediately COM
menced preparing the ship for action, but the
/ delay OF planting tile buoys, particularly on
| the "Fishing Rip"-a dangerous shoal We
| had to avoid-rendered the hour late before
it was possible to leave with the attacking
! squadron,
In our anxiety to get the outline OF the forts
before dark we stood in too near these shoals,
aud the ship grounded. By the time she was
got off it was too late, in my Judgment, to
proceed and | made signals for the squadron
to anchor out OF gun-shot from the enemy.
TO day the wind blows gale from tie south
ward and westward, and tie attack is unavoid,
ably postponed. l have the honor to be, sir,
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
s. L DUPONT, Flag Officer.
LETTER TO CAPT. FOX.