The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-17

The Confederates had built two forts to guard
the entrance TO the sonnd-Fort Beauregard,
with 20 guns, on the northern side and Fort
Walker, with "a guns on the southern Gen.
T. H. Drayton commanded Fort Walker A
little distance from the fort stood his mansion.
He owned a great deal of land and large
number OF slaves. He had made much money
before the war in raising the beautiful Sea
Island cotton. which commanded a high price.
He had Joined the Confederacy, but he had
truehearted, loyal brother-Pereival Drayton-
who was Captain of the Pocahontas one of the
war ships of the expedition. The Confederate
engineer who planned the forts did not think
II worth while TO build any bomb-proofs. Doubt
less be supposed no attempt would ever be made
by the Union forces 10 gain a foOthold on the
islands of South Carolina. Gen. Drayton had
I.500 men in Fort Walker and there were $40
in Fort Beanregard-2,500 in ali. There was
feet Of small vessels in the harbor, carrying
one and two guns each, under Commodore Tat
nall-a brave old man who had done good serv-
ice IN the Navy OF his country, but who now
was fighting against the old flag.
There is bar at the entrance to Port Royal,
10 miles from the fort, aud the Confederates
had removed al bHoys, but Capt. Davis and
Capt BouteIie, who knew the bar well, soon
had other hnoys in place, and before sunset
nearly al the vessels were inside the harbor.
TAE BATTLE
Commodore Dupont planned to attack both
forts at once, not by steaming IN and anchor
ing his ships, but by steaming round in q cir
Gle The harbor between the forts is two miles
wide. and his plan was 10 steam up towards
Fort Beauregard, pour in a FIRE. pass the fort,
and then turn back and rain q storm of shells
upon Fort Walker He detailed several of the
small gunboats to engage Tatnall's " Mosquito
feet" as il was called.
II Was s o'clock in the morning, Nov. 2,
when the signal lag for battle weet Gp TO the
masthead OF the Wabash. There were l3 YES
sells. The Su5qaehanna followed the Wabash
then came the Mohiean, Seminole. and the
other small vessels.
The morning was clear-not cloud fecsed
the sky. Suddenly Fort Walker seemed TO be
ahame, and every gun aimed az the Wabash
but the noble frigafe went straight on, making
no reply The batteries of Fort BeauTegard
opened. Still no response The Susquebanna
followed and then the Mohiean. both forts
thgndering upon them Then the frigates
spoke, each vessel pouring its broadside az the
same instant--75 shells screaming through the
air II once. On they came steaming slowly,
firing deliberately and with accurate aim, one
by one pouring its shells, now into one fort,
then inte the other For four hours the uproar
went on. Ia single file the steamers moved
round ina this Imaginary circle or ellipse. Then
portion Of the vessels took position in front.
A portion on the flank of Fort Walker deiiv-
ered fire which in a few moments dismounted
every gun-strewing the ground with killed
aud wounded So terrible was the fire that
Gen. DraytoB's troops fed panie-stricken to the
woods-throwIBg away their guns and KNAPP
sacks.
PROPERTY THAT VANISHED.
There was CONSERVATION among the planters
Of the Sea Islands when the thunder died
err an arf hat fhkV Van pk2szc had
taken the forts. One Of the planters on St.
Helen's Island came riding home in haste. He
had seen the batrie-seen the Stars and Stripes
1 go up on the forts-and was in q hurry TO get
/ 70 The main land.
Get the negroes together quick; we must
leave" he said 10 his oyerseer.
/ The cverseer went out to the huts Of the ne
groes. but not a negro was TO be seen-old aud
young, nlen, women, and ehiiGren-they had
| ali disappeared They had heard the thunder
4 ing down the bay Ii had set their hearts ia
beating, and they thought it the sweetest mu-
sic 10 which they had ever listened They
knew its meaning. Although ignorant and de-
/ graded, thcy knew that behind that thunder
4 there was an issue in which they were con.
cerned- The Great Day of the Lord is CON.
| ing said one of their preachers.
Sam, the planters body servant heard wbai
4 had happened. He ran 10 the cabins.
ITO the woods. To the woodsl" he said
and in an instant they wers gone.
When the ogerseer came To gather MP his
human cattle not Que was 10 be found. and
| the planter was Obliged TO leave without them
Ills wealth had not taken wings but legs and
had vanished forever. Never again would he
revcl IN the wealth they had earned for him
| The cannon of the Union war-ships were thun.
dering slavery's doom. With the raising oi
the Stars and Stripes above Forts Walker and
Beanregard, she Ses Islands of South Carolina
| with their stately mansions and thousands ol
slaves had passed from the control of the Con.
federsscy Cor All time.
ITO b es,aisusd.l