The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-08
PORT ROYAL AND THE IRON -cLADs.

MEssRs. ED1roRs Agreeable to your re-
quest, l shall attempt to give you a short
sketch of our flying visit to Port Royal from
Charleston and what we saw.
Accompanied by my better half and Col.
]. w. Norris and daughter, We left the "City
by the Sea" about o'clock a. m. on Mon
day, the Goth ult., on the Charleston and
Savannah Railroad, having been favored by
Col. Fisher with free passes over said Road
to Yemasee and return. At Yemasee we
took the Port Royal Railroad and arrived at
Port Royal about three o'clock p. M. Port
Royal is beautifully situated on the Port
Royal harbor, and, although small now,
bids fair at no very distant day to become
place of some note. 1t has one of the finest
harbors on the coast of the United States,
and this of itself will give it prominence
to the commercial world. Shoulda railroad
ever be built from Anderson to Port Royal,
in accordance with charter now existing
in this State it will tend to build up both
Anderson and Port Royal. AS our meeting
in Charleston did not seem to accomplish
much good, would it not do well to give
some of our attention to the Anderson and
Port Royal Road?
On arriving at Port Royal, we stopped at
the only hotel in the place, and for the sum
of $3.50 per day received the worst fare that I
ever received at hotel. This, though, may
in part be attributed to the water there, it
being very bad. Cisterns are not used there.
Other accommodations did very well.
On the next day after our arrival, we took
flying visit on steam launch up to Beau
fort, were we remained about an hour and o
half Beaufort is beautifully situated on a
wing of Port Royal harbor, and has indica-
tions of having at one time been beautiful
and prosperous town, but is very much
dilapidated now. After returning to Port
Royal, we ran down to the fleet on the same
launch. The feet is stationed about four
miles out in the harbor. There were nine
vessels there, eight of them being monitors.
We were honored by being the first visitors
who were permitted to go on board the Die
tator, the largest monitor owned by the
United StatesI was told that it cost three
million dollars, and is built of solid iron.
It seems almost incredible that so much
iron can float. 1t draws twenty-five feet of
water, only eighteen inches of its body being
above the surface of the water. In the CEN
tire is constructed the turret, made of solid
iron also, in which are two guns of the
largest dimensions. These guns, was told,
are operated by machinery, the manager
having communication with the chief en-
gineer below by means of wire and bell to
indicate what he desired done. While in
action the men are not exposed to the mis-
siles Of an enemy, but nearly all being safe
below. The Dictator was constructed during
our late war, and never was in action. There
are several others there, though, that bear
upon them marks of having been engaged.
One of them, I was told, received several
blows while around Charleston. The engine
room of the Dictator is sight worth behold
ing of itself, but having a short time to ex-
anime it could give your readers no just con-
ception of it. The officers were very kind,
and took great pleasure in showing us all
parts of this huge monster of the sea, and
extended to US and our party the most cor
dial invitations to come again when we de-
sired. But I must desist from attempting
any further description of this man-of-war,
knowing myself to be inadequate to the
task.
We left Port Royal on the 31st, having
been there two nights and day, with very
pleasant recollections, and arrived in Charles
ton the afternoon of the same day, where,
after procuring an early supper, we turned
our course homeward, where we all arrived
safely on the 1st instant.
Hoping that this meagre account of our
flying visit to Port Royal will be acceptable
to you,
am, very respectfully,
JOHN E. BREAzEALE.