The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-14


Brigadier General Commanding,
HEADQUARTERS PoRr RoYAL, s. G. Nov. s, 1sol
OFFICIAL REPORT OF COMMODORE DUPONT.
Tho following tho Official dispatches to the Navy
ON BOARD FLAGSHIP wAnAsr,
Orr Hn1oN HEAD PoRr RoYAL HARroR Nov. q, iS6l.j
Sia-The government, having de,ermlned~1t seize and
occupy one important points upon oqc Southern
coast where squadrons might ind shelter possess
depot and afford protection to loyal citizens cammed
20 my discretion the selection from apa8ug these
Places which It thought available aIS.f desirable
Tor these purposes. After matsro ,dcliberation,
aided by the professional knowledge and great intel
xcnce OF the Assistant Secretary Mr. Fox and upon
dng into consideration tho magnitude to which the joint
naval and military expedition had been extended, to
which you have called my attention. to the con
clusion that the original intentions OF the Department "
carried out would fall short Of the expecta Of the
country and Of the capabilities Of the expedition while
Port Royal thought, would meet both high degree
I therefore submitted to Brisadier General Sherman,
commanding the military part Of the expedition, this
modification Of earliest msturAd plans and had tho
satisfaction to receive his full concurrence though he
the commanders of the brgatss very justly laid great
stress upon the necessity, il possible, OF getting this
On TuesdSy, the 2sth Of October the fleet under my
command left Hampton Roads, and, with tho army
transports, numbered fifty vesscls. On tho day
previous | had despatched the coal vessels,
twenty-five in number, under convoy Of tho vandalia
Commander Haggcrty, to rendezvous OF Savannah not
wishing TO give the true pJnt of the feet The weather
had been unsettled in Hampton Roads, though it promised
well when sailed, But of Hatteras 1t blew hard.
Some ships go, into the breakers, and two struck but
without INJURY, on Friday, November /. The rough
weather increased into gale aud had encoun
ter Of The greatest violence from the southeast a
portion Of which approached to hurricane. The
nset utterly dispersed and Saturday morning one
sail only in sight from the deck OF the Wabash. On
the following day the weather moderated and the steamers
and ships began to reappcar. Tho orders opened
except these In Of separation. These last wore
Furnished TO all the men-of-war by myself and
to tho transports by Brigader General Sherman As the
vessels reoined reports in Of disasters expected
20 hear Of many but whca the severity Of the gale and
the cl ter of the vessels considered have oay
cause for great thAnkfulness.
In reference to tho men-ofwar, tho Isaac Smith,
most efficient and well armed vessel for the class Dur
chased but not intended such and Wind
had to throw her formidable battery overheard
20 keep from laundering; but, thus relieved,
lieutenant commanding Nicholson was enabled 70 90
in very dangerous condition. and board OF which
was our fine battalion Of marines under Major
Reynolds. They were finally rescued by Captain
Ringgotd, in the Sabine, under difficult crcum
stances, soon after which the Governor went down.
believe that seven Of the marines drowned by
their own mprndepcc. Lieutenant Commanding N4chol
sons conduct in the Isaac Smith has my com.
mendssion.
Tho Peerless transport, in . sinking condition,
was met by the Mohcan, Commander Cor
don and all the people on board, txcnty-six
On number, were saved, under very peculiar circum-
stances, n which service Lieut.. Il. W: Miller very
1syorably noticed by his commander.
Opposing Charleston pseat in the Seneca Lieutenant
Commanding Ammen, to direct Capt. LArdncr 10 join
with the steamer susQuehanna OF Port Royal without
delay.
On Monday at eight O'Clock in the morning, Hanchorcd
Oh the bar with twenty-five vessels in company
with many more heavng in sight.
The Department il that all the aids navigation
had been removed, and the bar lies ten miles seward
with features the shore line with sunoent promi
TO make any bearings reliable. Bat the skin Of
Commander Davis, the Fleet Captain, and Mr.
Boutee, the able assistant OF the Coast Survey, in
charge OF the steamer Vixen. the channel mp,e-
diatoy found sounded out and huoyed BY three O'Clock
4 received assurances from Captain Davis that
under eighteen feet, with all the gunboa.s,
which Immediately DONE and before dark they were
securely anchored tho roadstead Of Port Eoyal 8 c.
The gunboas almost Immediately opened their batteries
upon two three rebel under Commodore Tat
nall! instantly chasing him under the shelter Of the bat
tories.
In the morning Com. John Rodgers, Of tho United
Staes steamer Flag, temporarily board this ship and
acting on my STAFF accompanied Bripader General Wright
in the gunboat Ottawa, Lieutenant Commanding
Stevens, aud supported by the Seneca, Lieutenant
Commanding Nicholson, made reconnaissance in force
aad drew the fire OF the batteries Hilton Head and
Bay Point sufficiently TO show that the fortca,ions were
works Of strength and scientifically constructed.
In the evening Of Monday Captain Davis and Mr. Eou
see reported water enough fr the Wabash TO venture in
Tho responsibility Of hazard ng noble frga,e was
not light one, PROLONGED bar OF over two miles
There was but foot two OF water TO spare
and the fall and rise oG the tide is such
that If she had grounded she would sustained most
sTous injury from strandng she not totally lost
100 much however, was at stake to hesitate and the
result entirely successful.
On the morning Of Tuesday the Wabafh rossed the
bar, followed closely by The frigaie sysquehanra
the Atlantic, Vanderbilt and other transports OF deer
draft running through that position Of tho feet already
IN. The safe passage Of this great ship tn.
bar was hailed with gratifying cheers from he crowded
vessels. We anchored and Immediately commenced pre-
pairing the ship for action. But tho delay Of planting thu
GEOGRAPHICALLY the Fishing Rip dangerous shoa
had to ayod-rendered tho hour late before it wa.
possible to leave with the attacking squadron.
In anxiety 10 got the outline OF the forts before
dark We stood in too these shoals, and the ship
grounded. BY the time she gotten of it was toe
late, In my Judgment, to proceed and made signals r
the squadron to anchor out Of guIshot from the enemy
To-day the wind blows gale from the southwark and
westward, and the attack is unavoidaby postponed
have the honor TO be- sir, respectfully your obedient
servant, S. F. DUPONT Flag officer
Commanding South Atlantic Blockadins SQUADRON
FLAG SfnP WABASH OFF Huron Hr1po
PoST ROYAL HARDos, Nov. 8, 1851
Hon. GIDEON WElIEs, Secretary Of tho Navy Washing
tom
SRI have the honor TO inform you that Yesterday
attacked the batteries Of the enemy on Bay Pom, and
Hilton Head and Forts Walker and Beaurerard and src
caadad In eencinv thern altar nm opuaoa,oe,. :.