The National tribune., 1892-05-05

One. hundred and forty-ive miles were run
during the last 81 hours. The wind has shifted
to the southeast and is rapidly increasing to
| strong gale. At 3 o'clock the Atlantic agan
turned back to assist in bringing up the fleet
| who have fallen into the rear. Only 70 vessels
! are in sight at this time. The Isaac Smith
| seemed to be in distress and the gunhoat Florida
| was sent hack to render any assistance III her
| power. The gale continued to increase very
rapidly, and the sea rising very fast the iieet IS
| gradually falling TO the rear, and one by one
! are lost to sight. At midnight the gale was
raging furiously and the vessel was tossed abont
regardless of its size, like feather.
THE STORM.
Saturday, Nov AT . a. m. the gale had
materially Increased. and every few minutes
| we were visited by terrific squalls; the sea was
lashed into a white foam, and it was so dark
| that not light from any other vessel conid be
| seen. AT daylight only six vessels were In
| sight. The wind was now veering to the west
and blowing heavily. The sky still had very
| wild look, bat the barometer gave hope OF
| better weather before n ght At noon our posi-
tion was 790 s. longitude and 320 IL latitude;
| distance sailed since last observation abont 40
miles. t,e are now 10 the sonthward OF Fort
/ Royal entrance. The barometer stood at
! % 90 up to 3 y. m. and there was no sign of
change, but after that hour the sea began 10
| subside. At this time only two vessels are IN
/ sight. Toward dark the wind and sea began
| TO fall and the weather rapidly to change Tor
| the better.
Sunday. Nov. AT daylight the sky was
still overhung with threatening clouds, but
the sea was quite smooth and the weather was
clearing up fast Only three vessels were IN
| sight, and only the masts of these were seen
| above the horizon. The gale seems to have
| completely dispersed the feet, but by night
| they will no doubt assemble because ali are
| provided with sealed orders, which are only TO
be opened in case of dispersion. There was
| little doubt felt that all the feet safe. The
| little tugboats and ferry boats would probably
! go in closer to the shore; if not great fear was
felt for their safety. Under the most favorable
! circumstances it will take "a hours for the feet
| to again get into line, TO be prepared to enter
port To-day our sealed orders were opened
and cur surmises regarding the probable des-
tnation of the feet were con affirmed, Port Royal
S. e.,
BEING ITS OBJECTIVE POINT.
We are now making toward the shore, which
| is not more than 90 miles of. During the day
we came mp with the Winfield Scott, having on
board the 4oth n. Y. She was much damaged
about the upper works, but otherwise was not
! injured to any extent Their band was play
! ing soul-stirring airs. while the troops cheered
each other Justify. At this moment the Gov
ernment Pilot, Mr.. Rogers, discovered the land
on the northwest horizon, and clump OF trees
was seen at the same time. This was supposed
/ to be the Hat of Port Royal" We are now
/ in IL fathoms of water which places us about
/ 10 miles off shore. Thirteen vessels are now
! in sight from the masthead. A noon our OBJ
servaten puts us in latitude so el", longitude
/ 500 23". SiXty-six miles were run since yester-
day. and we are now about i've miles from the
position formerly occupied by the Port Royal
I light-ship. Early this morning there were only
4 i9 vessels in sight. the Florida and Bienvllle
/ being the only war-vessels in sight. This day
passed very quietly, the sea and wind gradu-
4 ally subsiding.
Nov. This morning light westerly wind
was stirring, aud the ocean was as smooth as
mill pond. Few vessels could be on the
! horizon. As the day advanced the transports
and war-vessels loomed up in every quarter of
! the compass. At sunrise II vessels were in
/ shore of Us. Our head was now turned land
ward, and we started in to gain the feet. As we
drew near We saw that the Wabash and several
! of the gnnbeats had come in along the shore
\ during the night, and were quietly riding at
| their anchors about two miles from the bank
/ known as !" Martins Industry"
THE TROOPS WERE IN HIGH GLEE,
and cheered their companions in arms as they
/ passed them in the other ships. AT ii a. IN
! this morning soundings for an entrance were
made by the United States Coast Survey
! Steamer Vixen. With four boats in tow, the
! Curew and one of the new gunboats were
! sent in to sound the channel. Some difficulty
was experienced IL finding the entrance: ana
4 it was not until Acting Master B. g. Martin,
commanding the little Mercury, came to the
assistance of the sounding party, that they
! were enabled TO proceed with their operations
In about an hour after the vessels passed
over the bar they had sounded up to point
| near the old southeast channel. As the vessels
proceeded upon their dangerous and highly
4 important mission, thousands Of anxious eyes
watched their every movement; each uan-of-
war had men stationed at the mastheads, and
most of the transports yards and tops were
| filed with officers watching the progress of the
/ little vessels.
While looking in this direction a rebel
! steamer came down the river and went into
one Of the many creeks with which the land
/ IN this vicinity is cut up.
/ As the surveying vessels passed up the river
toward phillips'5 Point. the anxiety became
niore and more Intense fer We expected every
moment that the rebels would fre upon oar
vessels on arriving off Phillps's Point. The
1 vessels stGP ped, and the CuTlew dispatched
10 the Wabash with tho intelligence that the
channel way was al clear As soon as this was
/ made known 10 the commanding officer, orders
/ were Issued for the fleet 10 prepare to go in
over the bar. At few minutes past o'clock
TEE SIGNAL WAS MADE,
and all vessels, with the exception of those
/
cedcd by gunbOat as a file leader or pilot.
| BY this move the Atlantic, Baltic Oriental,
Vanderbilt, Illinois, and the flagship were left
outside of the bar. Up to this time there were
no prospects Of some of the vessels arriving to.
day; the Great Republic, Ocean Eagle Ocean
Express, Zcnas Coffin, and several of the gun
boats not yet to be seen, and Commodore Du-
pont ordered gunboat 10 be dispatched to hunt
them up. About .. p. N. the fash from
cannon Bay Point followed by another and
still third gave US notice that the enemy
was en- the alert, and was determined to dis
puie any further advance. In about five min
utes after the first discharge from the shore
the gunboats opened direct fire upon what was
supposed to be q battery. The distance was
far that we were unable TO see anything more
than cur shells exploding shore and near
the battery. The firing lasted at intervals
until sundown, when it ceased; meanwhile the
channel was being buoyed out and when the
work ceased for the day six or eight miles had
been buoyed. At night the campfres Of the
enemy coald be distinctly seen; they also ap-
peared TO be hard at work
Tuesday, Nov. 5-This morning the little
tug Mercury got under way and took on
board Gems. Sherman, Wright and Stevens,
with their stats, and proceeded TO make a
reconnaissance of the batteries at Hilton Head
and Bay Point. Several gunboats accompanied
the Mercury. Four steamers of the enemy
soon made their appearance; il was the inten-