Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-22
The Great Expedition.
The BOmbardment of the Forts--The
Terrible storm of Shot and SheIl--The
Route of the Rebels. ...I .'I.H
THE ARRIVAL OFF PORT ROYAL.

harbor was the gunboat Blenvllle, which
arrived on Sunday night. Others followed
in quick succession, and 10 a. NJ. Of Mon
day, when the Atlantic came in, there were
20 Of the feet in sight, either coming in or
actually at anchor. The climate here is no
ted for its geuiality, and today it is warm
enough to make summer clothing gindespen-
sible. Even anchored as we are, many
miles from the shore, we have been visited
by numerous gaudy butterflies and pretty
BIRDS which tell US of perennial Summer
making the eyes of the soldiers stare in
wonder at what to them is such strange
November sight, ..a. .na
GETTING READY FOR ACTION.
BY Tuesday afternoon everything had
been put in readiness, and the feet fully
for action. twas about o'clock
however, before the Wabash signalized
the advance, and it was then so late that
it was thought advisable to defer the
attack until the following day. Wcdnes-
day morning opened with heavy weather,
and the attack was again deferred until it
should subside. Meantime the enemy were
very busy on shore preparing to give us
the warmest of welcomes, and exulting over
the opportunity they we're about to have to
sink our vessels as soon as we camo within
range. -
On board the Benville everything was
made in readiness. Shot and shell were
brought up from below, the magazines were
opened, and the bulls eye lit; the guuners
took their position beside the cast iron
peacemakers, and waited to obey with al
acrity the order, "Cock your lock, blow
your match, stand by, ready" The sur
geon and his assistants were busy in the
cockpit spreading out their finely tempered
instruments, opening packages of lint, and
taking those precautions so necessary, and
yet that augur such fearful things to
come. From our gallant commander,
Steedman-himself a South Carolinian by
birth, but thorough Union man for all
that-down to the power-boys who stood
in their bare feet. and with shirt sleeves
rolled up ready for their work, every heart
beat high, and waited with anxiety for the
moment of action, which was hourly expect
ed to be signalized from the flagship.
.HI THE BATTLE MORN. i-..4 '-'
On Thursday tho battle-day dawned
bright and clear, the morning being as
warm and balmy as day of our Northern
June; small singing birds from the shore
paid us an occasional visit, and hundreds o.
lovely butterflies futtered through the rig
ging, one of which, captured in the thickest
ofthe fight, is my individual memento o
the fray. The water was broken in
TO gentle ripples by the pleasant breeze
which proved fjust sufficient power in the
succeeding eventful hours to lift the battle
smoke from the water, and give to the
splendid audience of many thousands the
finest possible view of the deadly spectacle.
THE PLAN OF ATTACK. n saaa"
The plan ofour attack was equally sim.
pie, admirable, and effective, being neither
more nor less than for the ships to steam
in circle, or ellipse, running close to one
shore as they came dotUn the river, drifting
or steaming as slowly as possible past tho
batteries there, and paying their, fiery re
spects, then making their turn to 90 back
and as they went up the river, favoring the
other batteries with similar compliments
the game to be continued ad li6itaaa, or un
til the rebel flag came down.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE ENGAGEMENT.
The ships made the entrance of the Por
Royal channel. At the point between The
forts it is twenty-five hundred yards wide
AS the fleet moved up the rebel batteries
on both sides of the river opened fire on the
head of the column, with heavy guns o
long range. 8fu.ts.a.iasi rr.
At ten minutes past ten, the Wabasl
fred simultaneously on both Forts Wake
and Beauregard, sending broadside a
each. Each volley fell in front of the bal
teries, and plowed up the same furiously
The whole feet Immediately Joined j
the engagement and broadside after broad
side was in quick succession. In five mir
ules the action became general along th
whole line. The scene was ono teTribl
grand and exciting No words can de
scribe it. So many ships and gunboat
were never before employed in naval en-
gagement ON this continent. The simul
taneous booming Of the broadsides, th
quick flashing Of the blenchiug fires, th
dense curling of the masses Of smoke, az
companied by the whizzing of the enemy
balls over our heads, their splashing on th
water, aud their destructive tearing of ou
masts and sides, gave an impress Of DANCE
and the vastness Of the engagement almo;
impossible to realize, much less to adequate
ly detail. Meantime, amid the roar Of th
cannon could be heard the loud voices {
command, and as the smoke rolled upwar
on the deck of each guuboat could be see
the men arranging and sighting their gun
and everywhere tho most courageous an
exciting activity. Of course eager eye
looked toward the forts and batteries of th
enemy. 1t was known that our firing mu,
. be producing terrible effect Looking thr
the marine glasses, it was easy to discer
the havoc of our terrific eannonading. W
saw guns dismounded, and large clouds
sand swept up by our shells as they strucl
FIeHT-sPLENpIp DESCRIPTION OF THE BOZ
BARDMENT.
OF course the ships were not obliged
wait until they got abreast of the works
, commence firing, but the make Of the riy'
: permitted them to begin to throw anguli
raking shots at distance of three-quarte
Of a mile, firing do,oa the river, keeping
up as they slowly drifted past; aud final
finishing the round by pitching some par
ing shots up the river at a similar ang
with the ones first fred. This plan pc
mittad seven or ei0ht of our yessels 10 Ms