The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-05-19
REBEL ACCOUNTS.

The subioined account of the capture of Port
Royal is from the Charleston rs. c. Mercury:
The battle of Port Royal will be remembered
as Of the best-fought and best-conducted
battles which have signalized the war in which
we are engaged. The two islands of Hilton
Head and Bay Point, with their extreme limits,
constitute the two points which guard the en-
trance to Port Royal Sound, about three miles
in width-Fort Walker on Hilton Head aud
Fort Beauregard on Bay Point.
The island of Hilton Head was commanded
by Gen. DTaytoD The officers Immediately
experimenting the artillery and conducting
the force OF Fort Walker were Col Wagencr,
Maj. Huger, and Capt. Yates. These were
especially detailed by Gen. Ripley TO aid in
directing the artillery. Col Dunovant com
mande1 at Fort Beauregard; Capt. Elliott, of
the Beaufort Artillery, was second in command,
and conducted the batteries Of the fort. The
day was beautiful, calm and clear, with scarce
ly q cloud in the heavens-just such day as
our invaders would have ordained, if they
could, 10 carry on their operations.
The great fleet of the enemy passed our lar
on the 81 inst. and on the following day was
anchored off Port Royal entrance. About 5
o'clock on Monday afternoon Commodore Tat
nal, with his 'musketo feet ran out from
the barbor and made the
FIRST HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS.
The immense armada OF the invaders, number
ing at that time 80 vessels was drawn up in
line of battle, and as our little fotilla steamed
up TO within mile of them and opened its
FIRE the scene an inspiring one but almost
ludicreus in the disparity Of its opposing feet
The enemy replied to our Ere almost immedi-
ately, nnd after an exchange of some 20 shots,
Commodore Tatnai retired and was not pur-
sued.
About o'clock on Tuesday morning several
Of the largest Yankee war steamers came within
range the batteries Of Forts Walker and Beau
regard were opened, and the steamers threw
number Of shells in our works, inficting no
damage on Fort Walker. similar reconnois-
sance was made on Wednesday, without i'm
poTtant results. On Thursday morning all felt
that the trial had at last arrived. Scarcely
had breakfast been dispatched when the hostile
feet WIS observed in commotion. The great
war steamers formed rapidly in single file and
within supporting distance of each other, the
frigate Wabash, the flagship of Commodore
Dupont, in the van. AS the long line of for
midable-looking vessels, 13 in number, swept
rapidly aud maj jestically in, with ports open
aud bristiing with guns of the heaviest caiiber,
THE SIGHT WAS GRAND AND IMPOSING.
:" Until the Wabash came within range OF and
directly opposite our batteries on Hilton Head
ali was still. Suddenly Y tho 15 heavy guns of
Fort Walker, which bad been aimed directly
at TIC BuRS lIISasS, DtlCueu lOTIH b0ciF Ei[nul-
taneous fire and the action began. Almost
inmc6 lately afterward Fort Beauregard, on the
other side of the entrance, also opened their
Ere The enemy at first did not reply. but as
soon as the second steamer came opposite to
Fort Walker tho hulls of the first three were
suddenly wrapped in smoke, and the shot and
shell OF three tremendous broadsidcs, making
in all 75 guns, came crashing,a gainst our works.
From this moment the bombardment was in
ccssant and terrific. The Minnesota, still fol-
lowed by the others, then turnod around and
steamed slowly out giving a bro2dsdc to Fort
Beauregard rs she passed. Then the battle was
continued, the enemy's vessels sailing in All
elliptical course pouring ono broadsde into
Bay Point and tLen sweeping around TO deliver
the other against Hilton Head This furious
fire from $50 guns was maintained necessarily
! and tho roar of the cannonade seemed contiuu.
oua The effect of our guns was in many in.
stances plainly visible from the forts, though
NOT WITH APPARENT DISASTROUS CoNsK
QUEScEs.
| The vessels came up within O half mile o.
shore; nearly all of our guns became dis
mounted or severely disabled, and we were NJ
longer able to reply with serious effect.
'Soou after IL o'clock the batteries at Ba,
Point were silenced. By this time the dread