New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-14

rate OF once minute Ipt each Eu-tuIr -lfhE ''tN
immense number of 40 shells that were raumed II
upon that devoted garrison by Tho Wabash alone
every time she passed, for after the first ire she
used only the starboard guns. Let it be noted too
that the ships were within pout-blank range Of the
shore, some Of them approaching within less han
200 yards Of the battery, the Benyiile, which ran
closer IN than any other ship, was so close So plainly
to distinguish the color Of the shrts Of the men who
worked the guns and 70 hear their cries Of sncour-
spement 70 each other When il is remembered
tha, tie guns used are large enough 20 carry witt
effective pr, eson two miles and ball. a slight idea
Of their tremendous feet o; sCch short r8ge can Re
for1ed.
| Though the Rebe guns in this work were C0lu-n-
biads. Of the largest size and carrying I50-qouad
proiectile; and toe guns are heavy % require
| ~ men 20 work each one and move Il effectively On
its carriage. such was the irresistible force Of our
shot, that in 20 minutes thee Of these immense Co
lumbiads were Observation-Disclosures from their car
rages, and rendered completely useless. -~
OF coune the ships were uo iged 70 wal. until
they got abreast Of the work 10 commence firing,
but the make of the river permitted them 10 begin to
throw angular raking shots at a distance Of three
quarters Of mile firing darn the river, keeping it
up as they slowly drited past and finally finishing
the round by pitching some parting shots up The
river at similar angle with the ones fst fired.
This plan permitted or eight Of vessels 10
play on the Notifications at The same time.
As soon as the action fairly commenced, fact,
that had before been merely suspected, wac plainly
demonstrated-tbst, in the gunboft reconnaissance
of Tuesday morning. though that brisk affair before
its close assumed almost the proportions Of battle,
the rebels had, with their customary shfewdness, con
cealed or rather had not shown, the full strength Of
their batteries They now brought their full force
into play, and disclosed several guns than they
had used ia the affair Of Tuesday, but luckily, 10
more than we were fully prepared to attend TO,
! In one regard, however, rumor bad been prema-
ture, and had given our enemies the reputation Of
having an offensive machine, which in reality they
did not possess Our pilot who bad, in the exercise
Of lis duties, been up the Broad River for mile or
so beyond where the Rebel steamers had been seen,
Lad reported TO that the celebrated Floating Bat
terry, iron-cad and shoproof that bore 30 prominent
part in the taking of Fort Sumter, had been towed
round from Chareston, and lying in wait for us.
Events proved pilot to be deceived on this point
The iron-battery was nowhere to be seen, and
Charleston Hsrbor doubtless, contains this inestima-
bic treasure. When we have occasion 10 take that
traor-city, perhaps that nondescrpt floating affair
may be turned to come profitable account.
In another respect, too, the fighting was by no
means 40 severe as we bad been led to hope. The
dozen or 80 steamers or gunboas that composed the
feet of the notorious Commodore Josiah Tatnall,
though they showed their heads in the early part of
the action showed their heels after the first round
| To- #
positive promise the truthful Tatnall had made to
Gen. Drayton and other leaders in command at this
point. that lie would "stand by them till death"
This fact was ascertaned by the letter itself, which
was found, carefully read and duly preserved.
Doubtless, when the gallant Commodore saw our
gunboats in such neighborly proximity to him, be
save death so close at hand as to make him think he
had redeemed his rash promise. The disappointment
Of some of the navy officers extreme, for some Of
them have such abiding affection for Tanall as to
exceedingly desire 10 renew their former acquaint'
ance and they would have been very happy to have
provided him with a temporary position in Union
ship once more.
The peculiar make Of the river is such thFt not
more than eight of our ships could bring their guns
to bear the shore batteries at the same time; but
even then the sight was one Of the most magnificent
conceivable. Eight vessels would deliver broad
side Of not less than so guns at single fire, led by
the battery Of the Wabash of q guns; and as each
gun could be loaded and discharged once in minute
at the very lowest estimate it will be that more
than 80 bombs and other terribly destructive proec
tiles were raned into the Hilton Head fertilization
every minute that the fleet was within range.
But little attention was paid to the batteries on
ia of ba river atf and
they would have been perfectly safe from any firing
whatever, had they not provoked an occasional shot
by their persistence in pitching shell at every one
Of our ships that came within their longest range
These two batteries comparatively unimportant
at the time as they were on the opposite side Of the
river from where we desired TO land our troops and
were withal so dependent on the Hilton Head forth
Gcation that as soon as that should fall into our
hands, the others would follow their fate, and prob
ably become ours without a struggle.
Each ship was in effective range Of the fort for
about 20 minutes every time the line came round;
they moved like terrible procession Of destroying
angels and at each Of their vist which indeed
few but not far between, the combined force hailed
upon the doomed and devoted shore fiery storm Of
more than 400 fiery shells.
The spectacle was one Of the most impressive that
could be presented to the eye of man. The air was
filed with bursting bombs-each deadly prQjectile
as it hummed through the air first rose hesvenward
in graceful curve, and then swoOped down to earth
to fulfill its fatal errand leaving through the air
thin wavering line Of smoke that was frst snowy
white, then light purple, then fading to pale blue
quickly blended with the Of the clear Southern
sky. Beautiful as was the airy course Of the deadly
earthly track marked - a crffpsgu