Our captain is a hero; he is one of the most | tomac River, and teiling them to look out for quiet and active men I ever saw. our fleet at this place.

The battery on our left was a very strong one, mounting about thirty guns, three of them rifled; besides, they had a fortified camp. Their first shot took out a large piece from our mainmast, hurting it so badly that we shall have to get a new one; and the rest of their shot cutter week before last, saying that I hoped to be some of our rigging; but that can be soon repaired. Our first shells fell right in their camp, and the slaughter must have been dreadful. A shot from our ten-inch put a hole in their "stars and bars;" another took down the flag-staff; but the "Confeds" ran another up pretty quickly; but it was a doomed piece of bunting. The "Forbes" fired with her rifled gun, and the ball, catching the flag, wound it around and carried it off into the woods. About half-past four we saw the secessionists moving off in "treble-double quick." During this engagement we had a very exposed position.

The following is an extract from a letter in the hands of one of the Wabash's men, and was | read by me:

Our captain went on board of the flag-ship last night, and was immediately recognized by two contrabands, the property of his brother, who built and commanded the fort which has just fallen into our hands; and he (our captain) is the only Union man of his family; but I can assure you that he is a family of himself, and of course he makes up the loss.

After raising our flag upon the fort to the left hand, we stood over and commenced upon the one on our right, but the Commodore signalled

66

cease firing," so of course we had to range up alongside, when the following conversation took place between our captain and the Commodore: "I am very glad to see you, Captain Drayton. I knew that you would be here in good time. You have had a hard time of it, I suppose? "Yes, sir; pretty hard." The Commodore then said that our ship "got there at the right time, took the best and most exposed position, fired the best shots of any vessel in the fleet, and, in fact, fired the best shots he had ever seen." This, I think, was very complimentary.

During the night the rebels deserted the battery on our right, and consequently left us in complete possession. About half-past five o'clock the American flag was raised on the battery. At half-past seven the troop-steamers came in. They cheered us, and we cheered them, and so on, for about one hour. The Susquehanna's band struck up the "Star-Spangled Banner," and followed it with "Dixie's Land;' and I can assure you that the "Star-Spangled Banner" never sounded as beautifully to me as it did last night.

After seeing that the Stars and Stripes were floating over the enemy's fort, we proceeded up the river about ten miles on a scouting expedition.

The rebels did not even carry away their watches and letters. Among the letters was one from Josiah Tatnall, apprising them of the departure of our fleet, the number of the vessels, and even the names of them. It was founded on information received from the Po

PORT ROYAL, November 3, 1861. DEAR BROTHER: I wrote to mother and siswith them at home soon, but day before yesterday Colonel Mayfield received orders to fortify this place, as Lincoln's fleet of fifty-two vessels had sailed for this port, and would be here soon. * * * We can give shell two to one, and hot and cold shot in quantities to suit. We are all ready for them, and will give a good account of ourselves to the Yankees. I will write to you next week, and give you an account of the fight, the number of prisoners, and the list of vessels destroyed. Truly yours, HARRY.

Το

Charleston, S. C.

LETTER FROM THE "UNADILLA."

The following is an extract from a private letter of an officer of the gunboat Unadilla:

OFF HILTON HEAD, PORT ROYAL, S. C., U. S. GUNBOAT UNADILLA, Nov 9, 1861. On leaving Fortress Monroe our after engine broke down, breaking one of the valve seats, the partition between the steam and the exhaust. We were then taken in tow by the R. B. Forbes, assisting with our one engine after disconnecting, On our way down we encountered a heavy gale, and with the Forbes giving out of coal, we had to turn the tables and tow her.

The day before we came in here, through the ingenuity and skill of our highly experienced chief engineer, Mr. Marslead, who repaired the breach with a wooden partition, something, I suppose, never before heard of in engineering, we got both engines working and came in port flying.

Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. Marsland. It was a great piece of work, and if it had not been for him we would not have been able to participate in the glorious battle that has resulted in a splendid naval victory. To make a long story short, he is perfect master of his profession in my opinion, second to none, and so considered by all on board the Unadilla.

On the morning of the 7th November at nine o'clock the signal was made from the flag-ship to get under way, a signal we had been watching anxiously for some time. I never saw an anchor come up livelier in my life. We then started up the bay in the following order: Wabash, Susquehanna, Seminole, Mohican, Pawnee, Unadilla, Ottawa, Seneca, Pembina

Augusta, Bienville, Curlew, Penguin, Pocahon- | them like hail. We expected to be ordered tas, Isaac Smith, and R. B. Forbes. The two home to repair our engine, but the Commodore batteries are called Forts Beauregard and says he wants us to do a little more fighting Walker. The former on the right, on Bay Point, first. So we say we will go it with a stick of the other on the left, on Hilton Head. The wood engine, as Marsland calls it. former mounting eighteen guns, and the other twenty-two, and big ones, too-ten-inch columbiads and eighty pounders, rifled.

We commenced on Fort Beauregard and so round to Fort Walker, keeping under weigh and going round, first one fort and then the other. The ball opened at ten o'clock, and a warm ball it was. It lasted four and three-quarter hours, and I may safely say that four hours of it was a hard-fought battle. One vessel was struck seven times, but, thank God, no one hurt.

One shot knocked the mainboom to flinders, just grazing the men's heads at the wheel, and showering the splinters all over the quarterdeck. One struck the vessel right abreast of my gun, eighteen inches below water, causing her to leak. Another cut away the main-stay, and so on. The officers say that it was the cause of getting the ship peppered so, for I gave it to them so sharp with "Old Rail Splitter," that they paid particular attention to us when they got a chance. At one time there was one continual buzz over my head of shot and shell going through the air. I think I can hear them

now.

They fought well while they did fight, giving it to us on both sides at once. But it appeared to me as if every one in the fleet thought that the country depended upon him, and we piled it into them awfully. At half-past two o'clock they ceased firing, the Unadilla claiming the honor of firing the last shot at them.

At three, a boat from the Wabash, under Captain Rogers, landed and planted our glorious Stars and Stripes on the soil of the State that was the first to knock it down. As soon as it was raised I suppose you can imagine what followed. The air was rent with cheers-cheer after cheer-actually deafening.

tell you

We are ready for another brush. what it is, these 11-inch pills don't agree very well with their digestive organs. I consider this victory the forerunner of the death of secession. In other words, the country saved-our dear, beloved country.

I cannot say where we are bound to next. I cannot see any more fighting to be done here, as the whole district is whipped. Our boys are already spoiling for another fight. My opinion is the enemy is panic-stricken, and will be mighty careful how they tackle the navy again.

CHARLESTON "MERCURY'S" ACCOUNT.

The battle of Port Royal will be remembered as one of the best fought and best conducted battles which have signalized the war in which we are engaged. If Gen. Ripley had been appointed a general in command two months sooner, every thing would have been in a better state of preparation. But these two previous months were wasted in doing nothing for our defence. Within the time left to him, Gen. Ripley did all that untiring energy and skill could accomplish, to put our coast in a state of preparation. The two islands of Hilton Head and Bay Point, with their extreme limits, constitute the two points which guard the entrance to Port Royal Sound, about three miles in width. On these two points two forts were erected-Fort Walker on Hilton Head, and Fort Beauregard on Bay Point. The time we possessed enabled us to make them only earthworks, without any protection from shells or bombs.

The island of Hilton Head was commanded by Gen. Drayton. The officers immediately superintending the artillery and conducting the fire of Fort Walker, were Col. Wagoner, Major Arthur Huger, and Capt. Yates, of the regular Our insulted flag was vindicated. This is a service, especially detailed by Gen. Ripley to great victory. I don't think you will be troubled aid in directing the artillery. Col. Dunovant any more with any thing about Bull Run, for it commanded at Fort Beauregard, but he generwas not a circumstance to the stampede that ously allowed Capt. Elliott, of the Beaufort artook place here. I almost think they are run-tillery, to direct and conduct the batteries of ning yet. They left every thing-clothes, muskets, revolvers, swords, all their camp equipage, fowling pieces; never even spiked their guns. Some were loaded, but they could not even stop long enough to fire them. To-day, the large town of Beaufort, fifteen miles from here, is entirely deserted-not a white man in it, and very few blacks.

the fort. The day was beautiful-calm and clear, with scarcely a cloud in the heavensjust such a day as our invaders would have ordained, if they could, to carry on their operations. In such a sketch of the battle as, amid the excitement and the thousands of baseless rumors, we are enabled to present to our readers, a brief review of the earlier events of this memorable week will not be uninteresting.

The great fleet of the enemy passed our bar on Sunday, the 3d inst., and on the following day was anchored off Port Royal entrance. About four o'clock on Monday afternoon, Commodore Tatnall, with his "musketo fleet," ran out from the harbor and made the first hostile demonstration. The immense armada of the invaders, numbering at that time, thirty-six

vessels, was drawn up in line of battle; and as | ing a broadside to Fort Beauregard as she reour little flotilla steamed up to within a mile of passed. Then the battle was continued, the them and opened its fire, the scene was an in- enemy's vessels sailing in an elliptical course, spiriting one, but almost ludicrous in the dis-pouring one broadside into Bay Point, and then parity of the size of the opposing fleets. The sweeping around to deliver the other against enemy replied to our fire almost immediately. Hilton Head. This furious fire from four hunAfter an exchange of some twenty shots, Com- dred guns, many of them the eleven-inch Dahlmodore Tatnall retired, and was not pursued. gren pattern, and some even thirteen-inch bore, About seven o'clock on Tuesday morning, (for a sabot of that diameter was found in Fort several of the largest Yankee war steamers Beauregard,) was maintained incessantly, and having come within range, the batteries of Forts the roar of the cannonade seemed continuous. Walker and Beauregard were opened, and the steamers threw a number of shells in over our works, inflicting no damage on Fort Walker, and but slightly wounding two of the garrison of Fort Beauregard. This engagement lasted, with short intervals, for nearly two hours, when the enemy drew off. The steamers made a similar but shorter reconnoissance on Wednesday evening, but without any important results. On the next day the weather was rough, and the fleet lay at anchor five or six miles from shore. During the day several straggling transports came up, swelling the number of vessels to forty-one. All Tuesday night, and all day Wednesday and Wednesday night, our men stood at their guns, momentarily expecting an attack, and obtaining only such scanty rest and refreshment as chance afforded.

Meanwhile our garrisons were making a gallant defence. They kept up a vigorous and well-directed fire against their assailants, and, notwithstanding that their best gun was dismounted at the beginning of the action, they succeeded in setting fire to several of the ships. Whenever this happened, however, the enemy would haul off and soon extinguish the flames. The effect of our guns was, in many instances, plainly visible from the forts. Although the sides of the Minnesota are of massive strength, several of her ports were knocked into one. Nor was she the only vessel upon which this evidence of the power of our fire could be seen. Many of the other steamers were likewise badly hulled.

After some time spent in sailing round and delivering their broadsides in rotation, in the Thursday dawned gloriously upon our wea- manner we have described, the enemy's steamried, but undaunted gunners, and all felt that ers adopted another and more successful attack. the day of trial had at last arrived. Scarcely One of them took a position inside the harbor had breakfast been despatched, when the hostile so as to enfilade the batteries of Fort Walker, fleet was observed in commotion. The great while several opened a simultaneous enfilading war steamers formed rapidly in single file, and fire from the outside. Besides this terrific within supporting distance of each other, the cross-fire, two of the largest steamers mainfrigate Wabash, the flag-ship of Com. Dupont, tained the fire in front of the fort. Thus three in the van. As the long line of formidable- furious converging streams of shot and shell looking vessels, thirteen in number, most of were rained amongst the brave little garrison then powerful propellers, with a few sailing for hours. The vessels came up within a half men-of-war in tow, swept rapidly and majesti-mile of the shore, but nearly all our guns had, cally in, with ports open and bristling with guns of the heaviest calibre, the sight was grand and imposing. This was at half-past eight o'clock. Until the Minnesota came within the range of, and directly opposite our batteries on Hilton Head, all was still. Suddenly the fifteen heavy guns of Fort Walker, which had been aimed directly at the huge frigate, belched forth their simultaneous fire, and the action was begun.

by this time, become dismounted, and were no longer able to reply with serious effect.

Soon after eleven o'clock, the batteries of Bay Point were silenced. The fire of Fort Walker, as far as the guns that remained were concerned, was not a whit slackened until one o'clock. By that time the dreadful condition of the fort became too apparent to be disregarded longer. The guns lay in every direction, Almost immediately afterward, the batteries dismantled and useless; the defences were terof Fort Beauregard, on the other side of the en-ribly shattered; the dead and dying were to be trance, also opened their fire. The enemy at seen on every side, and still the iron hail poured first did not reply. But as the second steamer pitilessly in. came opposite to Fort Walker, the hulls of the first three were suddenly wrapped in smoke, and the shot and shell of three tremendous broadsides, making, in all, seventy-five guns, came crashing against our works

From this moment the bombardment was incessant and terrific; one by one the propellers bore down upon our forts, delivered their fire as they passed, until nine had gained the interior of the harbor, beyond the range of our guns. The Minnesota, still followed by the others, then turned round and steamed slowly out, giv

In this strait it was determined to abandon the fort. A long waste, about a mile in extent, and commanded by the enemy's guns, intervened between the garrison and the woods. Across this they were ordered to run for their lives, each man for himself, the object being to scatter them as much as possible, so as not to afford a target for the rifled guns of the fleet. The preparations for running this perilous gauntlet were soon made. Knapsacks were abandoned, but the men retained their muskets. Each of the wounded was placed in a blanket

and carried off by four men. The safety of the of those who worked them injured, seems very living precluded the idea of removing the dead. marvellous. Our troops did their duty faithAnd thus the gallant little band quitted the fully and bravely, and fought until to fight scene of their glory, and scampered off, each longer would have been sheer folly. Though one as best he could, toward the woods. The encountering immense odds, no signs of cowretreat was covered by a small detachment who ardice marked their conduct. Officers and solremained in the fort for an hour after their com-diers exemplified the ancient character of the rades left. Among those who remained were State, and deserve our profound gratitude and Capt. Harms, with six men; Lieut. Milchers, admiration. with four men; and Lieut. Bischoff, with four men. These worked three guns until about two o'clock, when they also quitted the post.

I thing seemed quiet upon the opposite shore. The columbiad planted upon the dock of the Navy Yard frowned upon our camp, plainly visible, now that the dock yard no longer intercepted the vision.