Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-11-26
More Of the Capture Of Port Royal.
Graphic account Of the Engagement.

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The Northern papers are filed with
accounts of the capture of Port Royal
The correspondent of the New York Her
aid, who accompanied the feet, furnishes
the following graphic account of the en-
gagenent
On Thursday morning, about IL o'clock,
commenced an engagement with the enc
my in peculiarly we'll. constructed en-
trenched positions, on St. Phillip and
Hilton Head Islands, South Carolina
coast, (entrance to Savannah, eleven miles
from here,) and defended by upwards of
twenty nine hundred troops, artillerists
included. A more beautiful picture than
the scenery presented to our view an ar
lists eve could scarcely wish to look up
ON. About 8 o'clock, a. NJ, with the ex-
ception of now and then an odd signal
from the fleet, all was seemingly hushed
in breathless repose. Looking up in the
clear, blue sky, with the sun as hot as in
June days about New York, and reflect
ing its loneliness on all around, as well as
in the waters beneath, a person could not
avoid exclaiming, "What a pity that any
thing should so soon occur to mar the
tranquility of such a scene" CHANGING
the eye to either right or left, we could
easily discern our enemys movements on
both islands, making all necessary prep
arations to blow the Yankee ships out of
water, in which operation, as the priso-
ners we took informed us, they expressed
themselves most sanguine of success
Looking over this broad sheet of ice-like
surface, on which scarcely a ripple dis
turbs the water-yet, withal, the air, in
stead of feeling heavy, is rather invigor-
ating-the islands look beautifully pic
turesque, the tented shores on both sides,
amongst which can be easily distinguish
ed the dropping form of the Palmetto,
stretching far away out in the distance.
The fleet and troop ships in the inlet,
numbering in all about one hundred YES
sells, presented striking contrast TO the
rural scenery on shore.
We were not, however. left long TO en-
joy these peaceful pictures, for in min
ute or two more ten minutes to IL A. NJ
signal from the flagship summoned us
to participate in another scene which was
more awfully grand. Our Commodore
Dupont, with his fine ship, the Wabash,
dS lIIc LII 81 W lCdtA llIS dSSdbIt. IOI-
lowed the Bienville, Capt Steedman, Sc
cond in command. Amongst the war
vessels engaged were the following, viz:
Flagship Wabash, frigate Susquehanna,
sloops- Of war BienVille and Vandalia,
gunboats MohicaD, Pawnee, Seminole,
Unadilla, Seneca, Pembina, Augusta, Po-
and Penguin (the latter took no
part in the sction) tug gunboats r. II.
Forbes Curlew and Isaac Smith, with
other, whose names | have rot ascertain
ed These al formed and came into ac-
cI0L - TIE manner previously arranged
by the Commodore. Now came the sight
which not many live 10 see IN lifetime.
The Wabash had fred her 6rst gun
The fight had commenced: one second
more and We, too, arc Engaged, and the
fight is almost general. Here are we up
to the very centre OF their batteries
Shot, she'll, fire and smoke are now all
that can be either seen or heard.
We gradually pass, the remainder come
up and attack IL succession, and then
round again TO renew the engagement
1t was IN this manner that we kept to it
for the four hours, and each time that we
neared the centre of their batteries our
lads could be heard remarking what q
peculiar dislike they-the rebels-hayo
for the Bienville. Be this as it may, ey-
cry one allows that we were longer IN
der, and received more of their IRE than
any other ship there. In the last course
going down we layto for upwards Of 20
minutes, and that, too, 10 The very teeth
of their guns, which they had time to
prepare for US, from the interval which
elapsed between the Wabash and Susque-
hannah having passed until we had time
TO come up. I'VE had no other vessel con-
near 10 divert from us portion
of our fire, and didn't we get it? Thick
and fast did the missiles from the bate
ries envelope us. Balls taking the rig
ging and going through the ship, fore
and aft. Numbers could be seen with
impetuous velocity, skimming the surface
of the water, until, by degrees, distance
would hide them from the sight This
was their last grand effort. After we
passed. delivering broadside, they ask
ed no more. hu; retreated precipitately.
which they could not have done while
under the fire Of our guns. The Wabash
and Susquehannah rounded again to re-
new the attack, out after Cg-ng gun or
two, found they could eli no reply.
The Commodore, seeing this, ilnmedi-
ately dispatched boat, with oifleers and
men under A Pa-- If irt.Cp hUf c0rlId not