Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-11-23

tspeous epilsding Gre from the outside. Be.
sides this terrific cross Ere, two OF the largest
steamers nsistsiued the FIRE in front Of the
fort. Thus three farious converging streams
Of shot and sheli we're rsined among the brave
little garrison for hours. The vessels came up
within half mile Of the shore, bot nearly all
our guns had, by this time, become dismount.
ed, aud We were no longer able to reply with
serious effect.
Shortly after II o'clock the batteries OF Bay
Poin. we're sileuced. The fire Of Fort Wal
ker, ss far as the guns that remained we're
concerned, was net o whit slackened until one
o'clock. BY that time the dreadful condition
OF the fort became too apparent to be longer
disregarded. The guss lay 10 every direction
dismantled and useless; the deieuces were
terribly shattered, the dead and dying we're to
be seen on every side, and still the iron hail
poured pitilessly 10.
FORT WALKER ABANDONED.
In this strait it was determined to abandon
the fort. A long waste, ebout mile in
extent, and commanded by the enemy's guns,
intervened between the garrison and the
woods. Across this they we're ordered to run
for their lives, each man for himself; the OBJ.
ject being to scatter them ss much as possible,
go as not to afford target for the riied guas
of the feet. The preparations for running
this perilous gauntlet we're soon made. KnsP
sacks we're abandoned but the men retained
their muskets Each Of the wounded was
placed 10 q blanket and carried off by four
men. The safety OF the living precluded the
idea Of removing the dead. Aud thus the
gallant little band quilted the scene of their
glory, and scsmpered of, each one as best he
could, towards the woods. The retreat was
covered by q small detachment, who remain.
ed for an hour after their comrades had left.
Among those who remained, we're Captain
Harms, with ak men, Lieut.. Melchors, with
| four men, and Lieut.. Bischorf, with four men.
| These worked the guns till about two o'clock,
when they also quilted the post
The abandonment of Fort Beauregard was
equally necessity The garrison we're ex.
hausted, and in momentary danger of being
cut off. When Colonel Dunovaut ordered o
retreat, tears of modification and indignation
| filed the eyes of Captain Elliott a. the sad
necessity. The retreat was admirably con
Quoted, and rendered entirely. successful by
the prudent energy Of Capt. Hanckel, one o.
General Ripley's aids, who had got together
some twelve fats ct Station creek. by which
the troops passed safely over to St. Helent
Island. From there they passed to Beaufort
Island, and reached The train at Pocataligt
without the loss or injury Of man. In thi
fort none were killed and but FIVE we're wound
ed, and two of these were wounded by negli
gence 10 loading cannon, by which hot sho
was driven on the powder, without the we
wad preceding it.
EVACUATION OF BAY POINT.
The rest of the story is briefly told. Lat
on Thursday morning the garrison Of For
Walker had collected at the landing, in tb
hope Of being able to reach Blufton by wa
ter. Luckily, several small Confederat
steamers we're within hail. But here a ludc
rous mistake occurred. The retreatiDg troop
imagined the little steamers to be Yanke
gun boats. while the crews OF :he steamer
we're convinced that the troops we're body G
disembarked Yankees. Acting upon thi
double delusion, deal OF mutual reconnoite,
ing was made, and it was only after a vss
variety of strategic approaches that the
reached the conclusion that it was "all right.
A quick trip to Bluffton followed Theme
the troops marched to Hardeeville, seventee
miles distant. The road along which the
dragged their exhausted frames was filled wit
heterogeneous throng of fugitives of a
conditions, carriages. carts and conveyance
of every description that could, by any poss
4 hjhgH hf, 1ySessad into on'ui"e The sna"tarl
Thus ended the defense of Port Roya
The modification of the dicaster is lessene
BY the consciousness that our troops deserve
success.
What injury we did to the enemy we d
not know. Our firing was, of course, les
efficient than theirs. Our troops were vo
unteers, theirs we're picked artillerists. Ye
it is very remarkable how few were killed Q
wounoed amongst our troops. This battl,
10 this respect, was very much like the bottl,
Of Fort Sumter. How so many cannon coul
have been dismantled and rendered useless
and yet so few Of those who worked the,
injured. seems marvellous. Our troops di
their duty faithfully aud brave,y. end fougt
until to fight longer would have been shee
folly. Though encountering immense odd
no signs OF cowa.dice marked their couduc
Officers and soldiers exemplifed the ancier
character of the State, and deserve our prt
found gratitude and admiration Charlesto