The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-19
COPYRIGHT,

On the Oct. %, 1861, another anC
far stronger naval and military expedi
fion set forth from Hampton Roads, and
clearing the canes of Virginia, moved
maiesticallv southwark. Gen. L. w
Sherman commanded the land forces
consisting of IS volunteer regiments,
forming three brigades, and numbering
not less than 10000 men; while the
ieet-commanded by Com. Samuel f.
Du Pont-embraced the steam-frigate
Wabash, II gunboats, % first-class and
II smaller steamers, with 26 sailing YES
GELS.
After stormy passage, in which sew
eral transports were disabled, and four
absolutely lost, Com Du Pont, in his
flagship, came to off Port Royal, ,. C.,
during the night of Nov. 8 and 4; and,
after proper soundings and reconnols-
sances, which developed the existence of
new fort on either side of the entrance,
the Commodore brought his most effect
i've vessels into action at 8 d. M, on
Thursday, Nov Z, taking the lead in his
flagship. the Wabash-ihe gunboats to
follow at intervals in due order. Thus
the fighting portion of the fleet steamed
slowly up the bay by the forts, receiving
and returning the fire of the batteries on
Bay Point as they passed up, and ex-
changing like compliments with the
stronger fort on Hilton Head as they
came down. Thus no vessel remained
stationary under fire; so that the enemy
were at no time enabled to gain, by ex-
pertinent and observation, perfect
aim.
The day was lovely; the spectacle
magnificent; the fight spirited, but most
unequal. Despite the general presump-
ton that batteries, well manned and
served, are superior to ships when not
iron-clad, the terrible rain of shot and
shell upon the gunners in the rebel forts
soon proved beyond human endurance.
The smaller gunboats at length took
positions whence their fire was most an
noying yet could not be effectively re-
turned; while the Benville, on her
second promenade, steamed close into the
main rebel fort, and fired l.er reat guns
with such effect as almost to silence the
enemy. The Wabash, en- her third
round, came within 600 yards of the
fort, firing as calmly aud heavily as at
the outset.
CARNAGE AND DEyASTATIOH.
The battle had thus ragged nearly five
hours, with fearful carnage and deyasta-
ton on the part Of the rebels and very
little loss on ours, when the overmatched
Confederatcs. finding themselves slaugh-
tered to no purpose, suddenly and unani-
mously took to flight; their commander,
Gen. I. f. Drayton, making as good
time as the best of them
The rebel forts were fully manned by
100 South Carolinians, with field bat
terry of 500 more stationed not far distant
The negroes, save those who had been
driven off by their masters or shot while
attempting to evade them, had stub
bornly remained on the isles; and there
was genuine pathos la the prompt APP
pearance Of scores Of them, rushing down
to the waterside, with their scanty stock
Of valuables tied ) ia handkerchief,
and begging to be taken on board our
ships The idea that our occupation
might be permanent seems not to have
occurred TO them they only thought
OF escaping at all hazards from their
lifelong bitter bondage.
HAD THIS BLOW BEEN FOLLOWED UP
e it might have been, Charleston, or Sa-