Doc. 137. CAPTURE OF BEAUFORT, S. C. A CORRESPONDENT of the New York Herald, gives the following account of this capture:FORT WALKER, On these facts being known to Captain Ammen, he returned, and reported them to Commodore Dupont, who immediately ordered the Unadilla, Captain Collins, the senior officer of the gunboats, to proceed to Beaufort and suppress any excesses that the negroes might commit in their efforts to retaliate against their masters, and to take particular pains to assure the white inhabitants that we had no intention to disturb them in their rights or in the enjoyment of private property, and in the spirit of these instructions, and, in accordance with these principles, to use every effort to restore homes, when order should be reestablished and personal safety and the rights of private property secured to all. We have not heard from the Unadilla as yet, but there will be no more excesses committed if Commodore Dupont and the forces under his control can prevent it; and I am sure that General Sherman is controlled by the same sense of duty. PORT ROYAL HARBOR, S. C., November 11, 1861. On Saturday noon last, in pursuance of the orders of Flag-officer Dupont, the gunboats Seneca, Lieutenant-Commanding David Ammen; Pembina, Lieutenant-Commanding John Bankhead, and the Curlew, Lieutenant Whortmough, proceeded up the Beaufort River to reconnoitre, and to take possession of two light-confidence, to bring the people back to their boats, which had been removed there early in the summer. The boats proceeded rapidly up the stream, cleared for action, and ready for any emergency; but the banks of the river were found deserted save by groups of negroes, who were observed to gaze upon the novel sight of three war vessels bearing the Stars and Stripes on South Carolina waters, with curiosity, if not with lively fear. No whites could be seen, and While the Seneca was returning a boat load no defences of any kind could be described, of negroes came aboard the vessel, and they beside a battery near Beaufort, where the guns were distinctly informed by Captain Ammen had been taken out and transferred to Bay that we had not come for the purpose of taking Point. On arriving at a point about half a mile them away from their masters, nor of obliging distant from Beaufort quite a number of per- them to continue in a state of slavery, and that sons were observed to leave the village, and they might go to Beaufort or to Hilton Head, as hastily take to the woods. Soon thereafter, on they pleased. They left, saying that they would approaching the village a little nearer, Captain return to Beaufort and make arrangements to Ammen, of the Seneca, sent Lieutenant Sprot- remove, and they thought that all the slaves son in a boat to the shore, with a flag of truce, would come down to Hilton Head. Some of to communicate to the people and to assure them have already arrived, and others will pour them of perfect safety to their persons and in here until we shall be overrun by them. property, and inviting them to return to their Nearly two hundred contrabands have already homes. On landing, Lieutenant Sprotson was arrived within our lines, and the accessions met by a number of negroes, who seemed increase daily. And these fat, sleek, well-to-do greatly rejoiced to see him, and who cheered darkies are the favorite slaves of the wealthlustily for the Stars and Stripes. They informed iest and largest slave-owners in South Caroli Lieutenant Sprotson that there were but two na, where the institution is said to assume its whites left in the village, and took him to one, mildest form, and where, consequently, the who met the Lieutenant at the door of his store slaves are more contented and happier than in waving a flag of truce, and exhibiting in his any other part of the South. The negroes here manner every indication of deep fear. This would never leave their masters, they would man, a Northerner by birth, reported that the fight and lay down their lives for them, if nenegroes were perfectly wild, and were plunder-cessary, before they would allow "Lincoln's ing stores and dwellings, wantonly destroying property of every kind, and carrying off every thing of a portable character that they could lay their hands upon. They had been worked up to a pitch of frenzy by their masters, who had shot several negroes who refused to accompany them into the woods, and away from the village, to prevent them from communicating with the United States forces; and that the negroes were retaliating in this manner, and that the lives of the remaining whites and their property were horribly insecure. A perfect saturnalia had begun. The negroes reported that the rebel force which lately occupied the fortifications on St. Philip's Island had, with the Beaufort artillery, retired in a hasty manner to Port Royal ferry, about ten miles distant, where there was a force of about a thousand men. hirelings" to land upon the sacred soil. How correct they were in their estimate of the strength of these black scoundrels' love and affection for massa, and the "little log hut," may be easily appreciated when I state that one of the first negroes that came in was the driver on Mr. Seabury's plantation, and among others were body servants of General Drayton and Coatesworth Pinckney, whose plantations are within ten miles of us. These come, and go into ecstasies of joy, when they feel that they are safe. There are a good many cooks among them, who can get up a "hoecake" in a style quite gay and festive, and who know how to give that exact turn to bacon which is arrived at only by long experience, and a peculiar talent that rises to the height of the science, and embraces within its comprehensive grasp the coördinate branches of turkey roasting and oyster-frying. Those there be among us to to-day. But to return to the expedition up the Beaufort River. | State tremble. God grant that it may forever float there! The These oleaginous darkies that come in are Hilton Head, upon which the south fort well cared for in every respect, and we expect stands, is ten feet above high water. at no distant day to see the results of their new parapet of the fort is some twenty feet higher. freedom manifested in throwing up intrench-It is protected by a deep ditch with a stockade. ments and constructing fortifications. A cou- It is constructed on approved scientific prinple of thousand negroes will be just the article ciples, with angles, traverses, a curtain, bombwe need in intrenching ourselves, and by the proofs, well-protected magazines, well supplied time we are ready every shovel, spade, and pick with ammunition and rifle-pits. Twenty-five that we have will be in contrabands' hands, as guns were found in the fort, fifteen of which they come in by fifties and hundreds. (with an equal number in the fort at Bay Point, on the north side) swept the channel of the entrance; of these the flanking guns were rifled pieces of the heaviest calibre, eighty-pounders; while an enormous ten-inch columbiad occupied the centre, with a nine-inch shell gun beside it. The remainder were forty-two-pounders and thirty-two-pounders, navy patterns, taken from the artillery park at Norfolk Navy Yard. There was a furnace for heating shot. The rifled guns were cast in the moulds of nine and ten-inch columbiads, and rifled with a six-inch bore. These and the columbiads are new, and bear the stamp of Anderson's Tredegar Iron Works at Richmond. Abundance of shot and shell, grape and canister, was left about all the guns. The scene on entering the fort was extremely interesting. Every thing bore testimony to the terrible effect of the "feu d'enfer " of the preceding four hours. The sand was strewed with fragments of exploded shells, which had perforated the wood-work and torn up the turf from parapet and traverses everywhere. Five guns, of the fifteen just named, were dismounted, the ten-inch columbiad among them. thirty-two-pounders were thrown down, with their carriages in fragments lying upon them. Twenty-four bodies were left unburied in the enclosure, while others and many wounded have been found in the groves beyond the camp. It was ascertained that both of the lightboats for which the gunboats were sent, were burned by the rebels immediately after they had received intelligence of the capture of Fort Walker and battery Beauregard, on Bay Point. So one of the objects of the expedition was not attained. Lightboats will undoubtedly be sent down from Hatteras Inlet at an early day, so that one may be placed on Martin's Industry, and the other at another important point. The surveying steamer Vixen, with Captain Boutelle, is now engaged in laying out buoys at the entrance of, and in the harbor. This work will soon be completed, and no difficulty will be experienced by masters of vessels in getting into the harbor by aid of the chart, although there will be pilots to brings all vessels in. The Ottawa, in command of Commander Stevens, is covering Scull Creek, and thus the water communication between Savannah and Charleston is effectually cut off. This will cause a great deal of trouble and annoyance to the rebels, as the railroad between the cities of Savannah and Charleston is miserable enough, and not capable of doing the business that will now be demanded of it. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. BY AN OFFICER OF THE FRIGATE PAWNEE. PORT ROYAL BAY, November 11, 1861. Two I was more than ever surprised and gratified with our success after my visit, and well appreciated the remark of a veteran officer, who exclaimed, after examining the position and force Our gunboats went up to Beaufort yesterday, of the batteries, "How did we ever survive and found the town and the river banks de- that fire and take these forts!" But the very serted by the white residents. Parties of ne- boldness of the attack assured its success. Ingroes were breaking open houses and plunder- stead of fighting the forts at anchor, and exing at leisure. The panic exceeds description.posed to their enfilading fire in the channel, We are informed that the families on the mainland as well as on this group of sea islands have fled to the interior, in some cases taking their negroes. These generally, however, remain, and some dozens have come into camp and have been set at work by the army. Truly South Carolina's day of reckoning has come. She has sown the wind; she is reaping the whirlwind. There is a singular fitness in striking the effective blow at this bold iniquity here in its birthplace. In April last our flag was, for the first time, dishonored on her soil, that the palmetto might flaunt above it. On Thursday last it was raised again upon her soil, with such pealing shouts of triumph and such thundering salvos of artillery as made the whole Flag-officer Dupont steamed the entire squadron through the passage and attacked the batteries in flank from the inside of the bay, thus preventing half their guns from being brought to bear upon us, and keeping entirely out of range of one fort, while raining shells upon the other. The vessels followed each other in slow circles, the Wabash leading, each delivering its fire as the guns would bear, and as long as within range. As the tide rose the circles swept nearer to the shore, and the most effective firing was done at one thousand or twelve hundred yards. The enemy stood gallantly to their guns, but their hopes sank when the boast of their officers, that they would sink our ships if they tried to pass their line of fire, was falsified by our bold dash through. Our near approach saved us from being struck by most of their shot and shell, which were aimed high and whistled harmlessly over our heads. A movement of two gunboats up the bay, after their fire slackened, caused them to desert the forts and flee across the islands to avoid being cut off. Had we pilots for the creeks in which their steamers were concealed, the entire force of three thousand men might have been captured. The fort on Bay Point is similar to the south fort, and as heavily armed. I have not visited it yet. The bay is magnificent; it is as accessible as Hampton Roads, with as deep water, and our squadron rides as safely as there. We have heard but little of it, but there is not a better harbor on the coast. Doc. 138. THE SHELLING OF URBANNA, VA. REBEL ACCOUNT. ONE of the most recent outrages, worthy of being classified with the outrages of some of the bloody butchers who lived in centuries gone by, was visited on the little village of Urbanna, Middlesex County, Virginia, on Friday last, by some of the chivalry who now bear commissions in the Lincoln navy. One of the steamers and a tug, that have been blockading the Rappahannock, steamed up to the quiet little town of Urbanna, which lies back a few hundred yards from the river, on the creek, and, without apprising the people in order to a removal of the women and children, commenced hurling their missiles of intended destruction in the shape of round shot and shell. After some hundred discharges of their cannon, the chicken thieves and lawless adventurers attempted a landing of their boats, but they were met by a small body of militia or volunteers stationed there, and soon sought shelter in their piratical craft, far out of the reach of the musketry of our soldiers. Having been baffled in their thieving visitation, they sought revenge in trying to destroy the little town with bombshells; but we are happy to say not a house was injured, much less destroyed, except a small free church, which, we understand, was struck three or four times. The Yankee shots were alike ineffectual in the destruction of life, as not a soldier or citizen was killed or wounded by the bombardment. Urbanna is a village containing about one hundred, so that the attack was altogether one of those fiendish, malignant affairs worthy the instigation of the devil, and worthy the execution of the braves who now figure luminously in the Lincoln navy. The attack was one most likely based upon pure piratical ideas. First, to drive out the few citizens, then rush in, spoil and plunder, and destroy what they could not carry off; but thanks to the invincible little band of soldiers there, the whole scheme was frustrated. -Fredericksburgh, Va., Herald, Nov. 12. Doc. 139. CAPTURE OF MASON AND SLIDELL. UNITED STATES STEAMER SAN JACINTO, SIR: I have written to you, relative to the movements of this ship, from Cienfuegos, on the south coast of Cuba. There I learned that Messrs. Slidell and Mason had landed on Cuba, and had reached the Havana from Charleston. I took in some sixty tons of coal and left with all despatch on the 26th of October to intercept the return of the Theodora; but on my arrival at the Havana, on the 31st, I found she had departed on her return, and that Messrs. Slidell and Mason, with their secretaries and families, were there, and would depart on the 7th of the month in the English steamer Trent for St. Thomas, on their way to England. I made up my mind to fill up with coal and leave the port as soon as possible, to await at a suitable position on the route of the steamer to St. Thomas to intercept her and take them out. On the afternoon of the 2d I left the Havana, in continuation of my cruise after the Sumter on the north side of Cuba. The next day, when about to board a French brig, she ran into us on the starboard side at the mainchains, and carried away her bowsprit and foretopmast, and suffered other damages. I enclose you herewith the reports of the officers who witnessed the accident. I do not feel that any blame is due to the officer in charge of this ship at the time the ship was run into; and the brig was so close when it was seen she would probably do so, that even with the power of steam, lying motionless as we were, we could not avoid it— it seemed as if designed. I at once took her in tow and put an officer on board, with a party to repair her damages; this was effected before night, but I kept her in tow until we were up with the Havana, and ran within about eight miles of the light, the wind blowing directly fair for her to reach port. I then went over to Key West, in hopes of finding the Powhatan or some other steamer to accompany me to the Bahama Channel, to make it impossible for the steamer in which Messrs. Slidell and Mason were to embark, to escape either in the night or day. The Powhatan had left but the day before, and I was therefore disappointed, and obliged to rely upon the vigilance of the officers and crew of this ship, and proceeded the next morning to the north side of the Island of Cuba, communicated with the Sagua la Grande on the 4th, hoping to receive a telegraphic communication from Mr. Shufelt, our Consul-General, giving me the time of the departure of the steamer. . Finding the families of Messrs. Slidell and Eustis on board, I tendered them the offer of my cabin for their accommodation to accompany their husbands; this they declined, however, and proceeded in the Trent. Before closing this despatch, I would bring to your notice the notorious action of her British Majesty's subjects, the Consul-General of Cuba, and those on board the Trent, in doing every thing to aid and abet the escape of these four persons, and endeavoring to conceal their persons on board. No passports or papers of any description were in possession of them from the Federal Government; and for this and other reasons which will readily occur to you I made them my prisoners, and shall retain them on board here until I hear from you what disposition is to be made of them. In this also I was disappointed, and ran to | Europe, who would be put to great inconventhe eastward some ninety miles, where the old ience, decided me to allow them to proceed. Bahama Channel contracts to the width of fifteen miles, some two hundred and forty miles from the Havana, and in sight of the Paredon del Grande lighthouse. There we cruised until the morning of the 8th, awaiting the steamer, believing that if she left at the usual time, she must pass us about noon of the 8th, and we could not possibly miss her. At forty minutes past eleven A. M., on the 8th, her smoke was first seen; at twelve M., our position was to the westward of the entrance into the narrowest part of the channel, and about nine miles northeast from the lighthouse of Paredon del Grande, the nearest point of Cuba to us. We were all prepared for her, beat to quarters, and orders were given to Lieutenant D. M. Fairfax to have two boats manned and armed to board her, and make Messrs. Slidell, Mason, Eustis, and McFarland prisoners, and send them immediately on board. (A copy of this order to him is herewith enclosed.) The steamer approached, and hoisted English colors, our ensign was hoisted, and a shot was fired across her bow; she maintained her speed and showed no disposition to heave-to; then a shell was fired across her bow, which brought her to. I hailed that I intended to send a boat on board, and Lieutenant Fairfax, with the second cutter of this ship, was despatched. He met with some difficulty, and remaining on board the steamer with a part of the boat's crew, sent her back to request more assistance: the captain of the steamer having declined to show his papers and passenger list, a force became necessary to search her; Lieutenant James A. Greer was at once despatched in the third cutter, also manned and armed. I cannot close this report without bearing testimony to the admirable manner in which all the officers and men of this ship performed their duties, and the cordial manner in which they carried out my orders. To Lieutenant Fairfax I beg leave to call your particular attention for the praiseworthy manner in which he executed the delicate duties with which he was intrusted; it met and has received my warmest thanks. After leaving the north side of Cuba, I ran through the Santaren passage, and up the coast from off St. Augustine to Charleston, and regretted being too late to take part in the expedition to Port Royal. I enclose herewith a communication I received from Messrs. Slidell, Mason, Eustis, and McFarland, with my answer. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHARLES WILKES, Secretary of the Navy. Messrs. Slidell, Mason, Eustis, and McFarland were recognized, and told they were required to go on board this ship. This they objected to, until an overpowering force compelled Hon. GIDEON WELLES, them much persuasion was used, and a little force, and at about two o'clock they were brought on board this ship, and received by me. Two other boats were then sent to expedite the removal of their baggage and some stores, when the steamer, which proved to be the Trent, was suffered to proceed on her route to the eastward, and at thirty minutes past three P. M., we bore away to the northward and westward. The whole time employed was two hours and thirteen minutes. I enclose you the statements of such officers who boarded the Trent, relative to the facts, and also an extract from the log-book of this ship. It was my determination to have taken possession of the Trent, and sent her to Key West as a prize, for resisting the search, and carrying these passengers, whose character and objects were well known to the captain; but the reduced number of my officers and crew, and the large number of passengers on board, bound to Captain. INSTRUCTIONS TO LIEUT. FAIRFAX. UNITED STATES STEAMER SAN JACINTO, At sea, November 8, 1861. SIR: You will have the second and third cutters of this ship fully manned and armed, and be in all respects prepared to board the steamer Trent now hove-to under our guns. On boarding her you will demand the papers of the steamer, her clearance from Havana, with the list of passengers and crew. Should Mr. Mason, Mr. Slidell, Mr. Eustis, and Mr. McFarland be on board, you will make them prisoners, and send them on board this ship immediately, and take possession of her as a prize. I do not deem it will be necessary to use force; that the prisoners will have the good sense to avoid any necessity for using it; but if they should, they must be made to understand that it is their own fault. They must be brought on board. All trunks, cases, packages, and bags belonging to them you will take possession of, | land having taken their passage at Havana in and send on board this ship. Any despatches the packet to St. Thomas, and would satisfy found on the persons of the prisoners, or in myself whether they were on board before alpossession of those on board the steamer, will lowing the steamer to proceed. Mr. Slidell, be taken possession of also, examined, and re- evidently hearing his name mentioned, came up tained, if necessary. to me and asked if I wanted to see him. Mr. Mason soon joined us, and then Mr. Eustis and Mr. McFarland, when I inade known the object of my visit. The captain of the Trent opposed any thing like the search of his vessel, nor would he consent to show papers or passenger list. The four gentlemen above mentioned protested also against my arresting and sending them to the United States steamer near by. There was considerable noise among the passengers just about this time, and that led Mr. Houston and Mr. Grace to repair on board with some six or eight men, all armed. After several unsuccessful efforts to persuade Mr. Mason and Mr. Slidell to go with me peaceably, I called to Mr. Houston and ordered him to return to the ship with the information that the four gentlemen named in your order of the 8th instant were on board, and force must be applied to take them out of the packet. I have understood that the families of these gentlemen may be with them. If so, I beg you will offer them, in my name, a passage in this ship to the United States, and that all the attention and comforts we can command are tendered them, and will be placed in their service. In the event of their acceptance, should there be any thing which the captain of the steamer can spare to increase the comforts in the way of necessaries or stores, of which a war vessel is deficient, you will please to procure them. The amount will be paid by the paymaster. Lieutenant James A. Greer will take charge of the third cutter, which accompanies you, and assist you in these duties. I trust that all those under your command, in executing this important and delicate duty, will conduct themselves with all the delicacy and kindness which become the character of our naval service, I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieutenant D. M. FAIRFAX, U.S. N., Executive Officer San Jacinto. Captain. UNITED STATES STEAMER SAN JACINTO, I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, Captain. REPORT OF LIEUT. FAIRFAX. UNITED STATES STEAMER SAN JACINTO, At sea, November 12, 1861. SIR: At one twenty P. M., on the 8th instant, I repaired alongside of the British mail packet in an armed cutter, accompanied by Mr. Houston, second assistant engineer, and Mr. Grace, the boatswain. I went on board the Trent alone, leaving the two officers in the boat with orders to await until it became necessary to show some force. I was shown up by the first officer to the quarter deck, where I met the captain and informed him who I was, asking to see the passenger list. He declined letting me see it. I then told him that I had information of Mr. Mason, Mr. Slidell, Mr. Eustis, and Mr. McFar When About three minutes after there was still greater excitement on the quarter deck, which brought Mr. Grace with his armed party. I, however, deemed the presence of any armed men unnecessary, and only calculated to alarm the ladies present, and directed Mr. Grace to return to the lower deck, where he had been since first coming on board. It must have been less than half an hour after I boarded the Trent when the second armed cutter, under Lieutenant Greer, came alongside, (only two armed boats being used.) He brought in the third cutter eight marines and four machinists, in addition to a crew of some twelve men. the marines and some armed men had been formed just outside of the main deck cabin, where these four gentlemen had gone to pack up their baggage, I renewed my efforts to induce them to accompany me on board-still refusing to accompany me unless force was applied. I called in to my assistance four or five officers, and first taking hold of Mr. Mason's shoulder, with another officer on the opposite side, I went as far as the gangway of the steamer, and delivered him over to Lieutenant Greer, to be placed in the boat. I then returned for Mr. Slidell, who insisted that I must apply considerable force to get him to go with me; calling in at last three officers, he, also, was taken in charge and handed over to Mr. Greer. Mr. McFarland and Mr. Eustis, after protesting, went quietly into the boat. They had been permitted to collect their baggage, but were sent in advance of it under charge of Lieutenant Greer. I gave my personal attention to the luggage, saw it put in a boat, and sent in charge of an officer to the San Jacinto. When Mr. Slidell was taken prisoner a great deal of noise was made by some of the passengers, which caused Lieutenant Greer to send the marines into the cabin. They were imme |