The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-12
THE BATTLES OF 1851
OFFICIAL REPORTS,
REPORT or COL. y. G. u. DUNOVANT
TWELFTH REGIMENT BOUTH CARO-.
LIMA VOLUNTEERS.
HEAno'Ra l2rH RH.a,T 6 Il

HEADQ'k ks 18th RE9'T s. T., ",
CAMP LEE, PoCOTALIGO, Nov. If. 1861.
Capt II. E. Young, Assistant Adj t General
Str: On the 26th of October last, / assum cd
command of the forces stationed ON Bay
Point Island, consisting of three companies
Of tho 9Th regiment, to wit: the Bsaufor.
Artillery, Capt. Stephen Elliott, Colleton
Rifles, Capt. Anderson, and Capt. Harrison Is
company OF infantry; six companies of the
18th regiment South Carolina volunteers, to
wit: company A. Oapt. McCorkle; company '
q, Capt. Davis; company ID, Capt. Booktus;
company +, Capt. Hinson; company F, Capt.
Mc McNakin, and company /, Capt. Vallanding-
ham; and small detachment of Can't.
| Scraven's, Of Beaufort Gueriilas, uuder
Lieut.. YoumaDs. My staff consiste ed of Lieu t.
w Il. Tailey Adjutant: DR. t.. Il. Turnipseed,
Surgeon; Capt: I. J. Bell, Quartsrmastsr;
| Capt. + A. Rabb, Commissary; Nv g. Ii
Belts, Chaplain, and Mr.. Robert Chisholm,
| volunteer on staff The entire force on the
| leland, inclusive Of field, STAFF and conn pany
| officers, was six hundred and nineteen. Lieut..
| colonel Barnes, of the 18th regiment. Was
| placed in command Of the six companies OF
| that regiment, and Capt. Anderson q com d.
| pany then at the Narrows.
| Capt. Elliott was assigned to the comma nd
| Of the work known rs Fort BeaureYnrd
| with his own company and Capt. Harrisons .
The detachment OF Uapt. Screvens com.
| pany was ordered to report directly to me.
| Monday, the 4lh inst, the ensmy's feet
| and crossing the bar. came to anchor to the
| south Of and opposite the island, but made
no further dem on stration Of an attack on ouY
| position during that day.
| In the afternoon, Uom- Tatnall, with thres
| small steamers, attacked the nearest OF the
| enemr's vessels, and after sustaining heavy
| Are, and replying most gallantly, retired
| owly up the river.
Tuesday morning, in view OF the uDcer.
| tatnty of the point and mode Of attack, the
| following disposition was made of the com
paniss Of the 18th regiment: companies A
| and ID were posted in rear OF a range OF sand
hills, distant about two hundred yards from
Fort Beauregard, for the purpose Of protect
| Ing that work, in case of an attempt Of the
| enemy to land. Companies q and z took po-
| sition near Capt. Anderson's company, ut tbs
| Nar!ows, ana companies and were held
| at the camp Of the regiment, being about
| eQui distant between the deta chments, 20 a.
/ to support ei her.
Between seven and eight O'Clock. Com
Tatnall's steamers again advanced and en-
I gagged the enemy, who met the attack In such
NUN bers, and with such weight OF metal,
that the little steamers were compelled again
| to retreat above the forts. The enemy fol-
lowed, firing upon the steamers till within
range OF our guns, when Fort Beauregard
| joined in the conflict and drew q heavy nrs
OF shot and shell, principally the latter,
upon that work and the other portions OF the
island occupied by our troops. This engage
ment lasted nearly two hours, when the sn-
emy's fleet Withdrew and assumed very n ear.
ly tts former posi- ton, opposite our Island,
which 1t retained for the remainder Of the
day.
The only Casualties on our part were those
stated in Captain Elliotf's report, herewith
transmitted, as resulting from the explosion
of a caisson.
The unfavorable etate Of the weather
proven ted any further action Of the enemy
on Wednesday. Thursday morning. how.
ever, the wind luliei and the water was un-
usually smooth !; Of this the enemy avaiied
himself, and at $50 A. NJ, the q eet Of war
vessels. headed by wat u supposed to
have been the Ninnssota. bore towards
ne northwest. TIL reaebing the ma.n chan.
mel, they moved directly towards our bat.
terrier. A. sOeA - tAsy came within
range. Fort Beaursgard opened upon the
xsssas e sdvsnss,: ::.vaS TasSa ss..s seconded y
action became general. About the time Of
the 1rst movement Of the hset, M having
been reported TO Iae that bArgss 1lisd with