Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-08-17
From Mobile.

From participant on board of G. S. steam
er Gaines, the Mobile Tribune gathers the
following particulars of the naval engage
ment on Friday, 9TH inst:
at about half past o'clock in the morn
ing the onemy's ships approached Fort Nor
gan three abreast. The first line nearest to
the fort were Of monitors, the next smaller
vessels, and the third sill smaller.
One monitor was sunk on the first attempt,
and all On board went down, except four men,
who were saved y taking 10 small boat
and making for the fort. They represented
that she had llspersons, all told, on boarl.
Oar informant says that twenty three Oh
As soon as they were fairly inside, they were
cut loose from each other, and the fight com.
meuced-ouf vessels, Ine Tennessee, Gaines,
Selma, Morgan, ald also Fort Morgan; enter
ing spiritedly intc it. 1t was carried on most
vigorously by all Of them for at least two
hours and q. quarter, during which the Gaines
was struck seventeen times in her hull, be-
sides several times in her upper works. Be
ing in q sinking condition, the men beached
her. She lost two killed and six wounded.
The Selma fought nobly, but was overpow-
cred and captured. We are unable to ascer
tain the number lost, on her. The Morgan
received but slight injury, AMI got within
range of the fort.
After the engagement, tie Yankee ships
huddled together~some few miles up the Bay.
The Tennessee was then under the guns Of
the fort, and after pause in the battle oI
soIlc> half an hour, she steamed up, made for
tie enemy, and RECOMMENDED the contest
which is represented to have been niost ter
rilic. 1t lasted for at least an honr. During
this engagement, the smoke-stack was knock
ed away even with her deck. Her steering.
apparatus was destroyed, so that she became
unmanagable, and the Admiral was COM
peeled to surrender.
While the fighting was progressing, little
low pressure steamer, called the Phillippi,
attempted to take advantage Of the excite
ment and pass the Fort, but shot disabled
her and killed one man. The Morgan then
went out and burnt her. The crew of the
Gaines made their way TO the city last night
in small boats.
Nothing was made known in respect to the
enemys loss, but it is generally believed by
those who participated thatit was very heavy
that at least 500 or 600 were Killed and
wounded.
FROM !UiOI tDdtiOu ItCSlNcu ibiN thCLtiHo " Z
learn that two OF the enemy's vessels engaged
Fort Powell yesterday, (Friday,) on the
North side, and had done so much damage
: (there being no guns monnted to repel an at
tack from that quarler,) that the garrison
blowed up all the works and got safely oft,
except one young man (named Rchards) who
was on guard Oh the wharf They are now
on their way to the city from Cedar Point.
The Mobile Register OF the 9th contains
some particulars of the disgracetul surrender
of Fort Gaines.
We are panied and humiliated to have to
record the disgracciul capitulatou of this
strong work, proyisioned for six months and
with an effective garrison of GOO men. We
give the folloaing account, based not upon
rumors, but upon official data.
On the 7th, Col. Charles Anderson, of the
2lst Alabama, being in command OF the gar
risca, composed Of part Of his own regi-
nent. the battalion Of Palham Cadets, por.
zion of CuIpeper's Artillery, and some other
troops, numbesing GOO men, communicated
With tho enemy's leet By las of truce, with
out the sanction of his Commanding General,
Gen: Page, at Fort Morgan.
Gen. Page enquired Of him, b signal,
what his purpose was. No reply or acknowl.
edgement was returned, although his atten-
ton was called by signal guns. He was tele.
graphed repeatedly by Gen. Page, hold on
te your fort" On the same night Gen. Page
passed over to Fort G;ins in q boat and was
astonishei 10 learn that Col. Anderson was
absent to the Yanaee feet for the purpose Of
arranging terms of caF;tplation. He left
perenlptory orders for him qn His return, il
not accompanied By the enemy, that all terms
of surrender were aunulled, and himself re-
.ieved of his command. On the morning OF
the 9Th he called his attention again from
Fort Morgan hy signal guns and telegraphed
to the SEINE effect, Still. no reply.
At half-past nine o'clock the enemy's flag
was run up on the fort. His spperiors pro-
nouncc the conduct of Col. Anderson as "in.
explicable and disgraceful." And SO the
country will pronounce. Col. anderson had
previously telegraphed to Lieut.. Colonel
Williams of his regiment, at Fort Powell :" i
Soar fort is untcnable save your garrison"
The latter part Of the order was attended to
Grst, and 50 tg9 forts have been surrendered
10 the enemy.