The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-11-21
Particulars Of the Great Naval
Expedition.
pEsoRIPTIoN OF TIE BATTLE Br RRoN
rnRNr oHRIcRR.

pEsoRIPTIoN OF THE BATTLE BT A PROM
IHENr oYTIcER.
The subjOinsd letter is = private docu-
msnt addressed by Capt. Rodgers, who
wss the fret man to run up the stars and
stripes on South Carolina's rebelliOus
soil:
SrEAHER BIENvILtE, Pr ROYAL HARBoR,l
Orr FoRr WALKER, Nov. 8.
DEAR -: We took this fort, mount.
ing 21 guns, after four hours fight. II
was nobly done. The Wabash. which
led was carried along the shore by the
souDdings as close as possible. The
soundings were given regularly. as on an
ordinary occasion. Signals were made
continually. without q single mistake,
while the rain Of Ere from this ship, the
Wabash. fell upon the fort with all the
cool precision Of target practice. During
the action l looked carefully at the fort
With powerful Spy y-glass. Shell fell in
il (not 20 in a minute, as at Hatteras
but as fast as q horses feet beat the
ground on gallop.
Tho resistance was severe; but what
can flssh and blood do against such a
6rs2 watched two men particularly in
red shirts; | saw them seated at the mug
zle of gun. apparently waiting, exhaust
st, for more ammunition. They were SO
still that l doubted whether they were
men. This terrible FIRE fell around them
saw them move aud l knew they we're
men. They loaded the gum shell
burst near them, aud they disappeared.
doubtless blown to atoms.
The Wabash vas a destroying angel
hugging the shore calling the soundings
with cold indiference-showing the en-
gine to ms only to give steerage way-sig'
mailing the vessels their various evolutionf
and at the same time raining the shells
as in large! practice, too fast to count.
Commodore Dupont had kindly made
me his aid. l stood by him, and die
little things. which. I suppose, gained me
credit-sO, when boat was sent on shore
to ask whether they had surrendered,
was sent. carried the Stars and Stripes
| found the ramparts utterly de5olate, ,ant
planted the American flag upon tn,
ramparts with my own hands-frst t
take possession, in the majesty of the U
nited States, Of the rebel soil Of Soutl
Carolina.
The Confederate forces were in ute
panic. They deserted eyeryihiDg--arms
tents. personal property we're abandoned
as by men intent only on personal safety
and spurrsd by whelming fear.
was Tor an hour, with only boats crey
iu camp. A foolish maiden diffiIenc
stood 10 my way, and / did not take mucl
plunder. did take a sword, mounted il
solid silver, bill. and scabbard, whicl
proved to be blade with two colder
lines Of golden Arabic writing doubles
Damascus blade, and an heirloom pre-
sented to Commodore Dupont, for he hat
taken it. In the same tent found a new
soldiers scarf, still in its box of paste
board. y 4
Gen. Sherman said he had no idea o.
such magnifcen. fighting, for the gun,
were 10, II. 8 a d 8 inch guns. The
Wabash was awfully sublime in her des
s,roying energy, and yet SO cool and pre-
else, and SO msgnificently fearless.
The panic was wild-abject terror o
the part Of the "Southrons Not a sol
dier had been landed, because it had nc
been possible for them to get on shore
except at the batteries, and of course nc
until the batteries had been taken, yet me
thronged the road for miles with blanket
musksts. knSpsaoks; one company Of a
bout 60 horsemen abandoned their horse
and fed 70, lie, while no one pursued
so .ay the con'rabands.
X 4
l do no. think the Importance Of ou
acquisition can be exaggerated. Tn
channel is fair for any wind with south
ing 10 1.-THE only dangerous ones.
admits the largsAt class of vessels; it
easily defended. it is in the heart Of Sout
Carolina; it's 20 miles from Savannah
and 40 from Charleston; il has room q
nough for the psvios OF the world. II
. Fortess Monroe in Bouh CaI Iolina.
Negroes are pouring in: they think thei
condition 10 10 be beltered. White me
have all fed. Vessels 60 up to Bpaufol
to day. JOHN RODGERS.
DESCRIPTION or rHK ACTION ny AN OFFICE
, OF THE BIENviLLE.
The subjoined letter was written b
one oi the officers Of the man Of war B
enville, ant Is an admiralty terse, sue
cInct. compact account Of the whole a
lair.
TUESDAY, Nov. 7.
At 9 A. N. tho flag ship made the sis
nal to fall In and form in order Of BATH
the Wabash leading the main column
composed Of tho following vessels: WI
bash, Susquohanns, Mohican, Seminole
Pawnee. Unadills, Ottawa, Psmbina, an
Vandalia.
The Bisnville led the starboard colum
composed Of the following vessels: Bisr
vile, Seneca, Curlsw, Peuguin, aud Az
gusta.
The Bienville took her position on th
Susquehanua's starbOard quarter. an
maintained i, during the action.
At 10 o'clock the batteries on eac
side Of the river opened FIRE on the hsa
/ of the column from long.ranee heavy gun
which the Flagship promptly replied t,
and soon the action became general alou
the whole line as they came into range.
A. .NO kho aa, ah;u w;nJ.d kk, 4; ~