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CHAPTER XV.
OPERATIONS ON THE COASTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND MIDDLE AND EAST FLORIDA.
August 21, 1861-April 11, 1862.
(Fort Pulaski)
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EVENTS, ETC.

SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.

Aug.	21, 1861.–	Brig. Gen. Roswell S. Ripley, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Department of South Carolina.* Brig. Gen. John B. Grayson, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Department of Middle and East Florida.
Oct.	10, 1861.–	Brig. Gen. E. Kirby Smith, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Department of Middle and East Florida. (Revoked.)
	21, 1861.–	The expedition under command of Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Sherman, U. S. Army, sails from Annapolis, Md., for the South Carolina coast.
	22, 1861.–	Brig. Gen. James H. Trapier, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Department of Middle and East Florida.
	26, 1861.–	Brig. Gen. Alexander R. Lawton, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Department of Georgia.**
	29, 1861.–	The Sherman expedition sails from Hampton Roads, Va.
Nov.	5, 1861.–	The coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida, constituted a department, under command of General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army.
	7, 1861.–	Forts Beauregard and Walker, Port Royal Bay, S. C., captured by U. S. Navy.
	8, 1861.–	General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army, assumes command of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida. Reconnaissance on Hilton Head Island, S. C.
	10-11, 1861.–	Expedition from Hilton Head to Braddock’s Point, S. C.
	16, 1861.–	Capt. D. N. Ingraham, C. S. Navy, assigned to duty in Charleston Harbor, S. C.
	24, 1861.–	Union forces occupy Tybee Island, Ga.
Dec.	6-7, 1861.–	Expedition to Port Royal Ferry and Beaufort, S. C.
	17, 1861.–	Evacuation of Rockville, S. C., by the Confederate forces. Skirmish on Chisolm’s Island, S. C.
	20, 1861.–	Stone fleet sunk at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, S. C.
Jan.	1, 1862.–	Engagement at Port Royal Ferry, Coosaw River, S. C.
	11, 1862.–	The Department of Key West, Fla., constituted, under command of Brig. Gen. John M. Brannan, U. S. Army. {p.2}
	16, 1862.–	Naval descent upon Cedar Keys, Fla.
	20, 1862.–	Second stone fleet sunk at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, S.C.
	22-25, 1862.–	Expedition to Edisto Island, S.C.
	26-28, 1862.–	Reconnaissance to Wilmington Narrows, Ga.; naval engagement.
Feb.	6, 1862.–	Reconnaissance to Wright River, S. C.
	10, 1862.–	Skirmish on Barnwell’s Island, S. C.
	11, 1862.–	Edisto Island, S. C., occupied by Union forces.
	15, 1862.–	Action at Venus Point, Ga.
	23-26, 1862.–	Reconnaissance on Bull River and Schooner Channel, S. C.
	28, 1862.–	Florida expedition sails from Warsaw Sound.
Mar.	3, 1862.–	General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army, called to Richmond, Va.
	3, 1862.–	Amelia Island, Fla., evacuated by the Confederate forces.
	4, 1862.–	Amelia Island, Fla., occupied by the Union forces.
	4, 1862.–	Maj. Gen. John C. Pemberton, C. S. Army, assumes command of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida.
	7-11, 1862.–	Reconnaissance up the Savannah River and to Elba Island.
	12, 1862.–	Jacksonville, Fla., occupied by the Union forces.
	13, 1862.–	General Robert E. Lee charged with the conduct of military operations in the armies of the Confederacy.
	14, 1862.–	Maj. Gen. John C. Pemberton, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Department of South Carolina and Georgia. Brig. Gen. James H. Trapier, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Department of Middle and East Florida.
	16, 1862.–	The States of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida constituted the Department of the South, to be commanded by Maj. Gen. David Hunter, U. S. Army.
	19, 1862.–	Col. W. S. Dilworth, Florida, assigned to the command of the Department of Florida, vice Trapier, ordered to Alabama.
	19-24, 1862.–	Reconnaissance on May River, S. C.
	20-24, 1862.–	Operations near Bluffton, S. C., including affairs at Buckingham and Hunting Island.
	23, 1862.–	Affair at Smyrna, Fla.
	28, 1862.–	Reconnaissance near the mouth of Saint Augustine Creek, Ga.
	29, 1862.–	Affair on Edisto Island, S. C.
	30-31, 1862.–	Affairs on Wilmington and Wbitemarsh Islands, Ga.
	31, 1862.–	Maj. Gen. David Hunter, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Department of the South.
April	5, 1862.–	Occupation of Edisto Island, S. C., by the Union forces.
	7, 1862.–	Major-General Pemberton’s command extended over Middle and Eastern Florida.
	5, 1862.–	Brig. Gen. Joseph Finegan, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the Department of Middle and Eastern Florida.
	9, 1862.–	Jacksonville, Fla., evacuated by the Union forces.
	10, 1862.–	Skirmish near Fernandina, Fla.
	10-11, 1862.–	Bombardment and capture of Fort Pulaski, Ga.

* On the 27th of May, 1861, Brig. Gen. G. T. Beauregard, being relieved from duty in the State of South Carolina, relinquished to Governor Pickens the command of the State volunteer forces, and transferred to Col. R. H. Anderson the command of the Confederate forces in Charleston Harbor and its vicinity. See Beauregard to Pickens, May 27, 1861, Vol. I, Series IV.

** He had been commanding the District of Savannah, Ga., since April 17, 1861.

NOVEMBER 7, 1861.– Capture of Forts Beauregard and Walker, Port Royal Bay, S. C., by the United States Navy.

REPORTS, ETC.

No. 1.–	Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Sherman, U. S. Army, with proclamation.
No. 2.–	Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Drayton, C. S. Army, of the bombardment of Forts Walker and Beauregard.
No. 3.–	Col. John A. Wagener, First Artillery, South Carolina Militia, of the bombardment of Fort Walker. {p.3}
No. 4.–	Col. William C. Heyward, Eleventh South Carolina Infantry, of the bombardment of Fort Walker.
No. 5.–	Col. W. D. De Saussure, Fifteenth South Carolina Infantry, of the bombardment of Fort Walker.
No. 6.–	Maj. Francis D. Lee, South Carolina Engineers.
No. 7.–	Capt. Josiah Bedon, Eleventh South Carolina Infantry, of the bombardment of Fort Walker.
No. 8.–	Capt. D. S. Canaday, Eleventh South Carolina Infantry, of the bombardment of Fort Walker.
No. 9.–	Capt. C. D. Owens, Assistant Commissary of Subsistence C. S. Army.
No. 10.–	Mr. H. T. Baya, clerk in Confederate Subsistence Department.
No. 11.–	Col. R. G. M. Dunovant, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, of the bombardment of Fort Beauregard.
No. 12.–	Capt. Stephen Elliott, Jr., Beaufort Artillery, of the bombardment of Fort Beauregard. No. 13- Statement of Messrs. John Tuomey and Henry C. Robertson of occurrences at Beaufort, S. C., November 7 and 8, 1861.

No. 1.

Reports of Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Sherman, U. S. A., with proclamation.

HEADQUARTERS EXPEDITIONARY CORPS, Port Royal, S. C., November 8, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor to report that the force under my command embarked at Annapolis, Md., on the 21st October, and arrived at Hampton Roads, Va., on the 22d. In consequence of the delay in the arrival of some of our transports and the unfavorable state of the weather the fleet was unable to set out for the Southern coast until the 29th, when, under convoy of a naval squadron, in command of Commodore DuPont, and after the most mature consideration of the objects of the expedition by that flag-officer and myself, it was agreed to first reduce any works that might be found at Port Royal, S. C., and thus open the finest harbor on the coast that exists south of Hatteras. It was calculated to reach Port Royal in five days at most, but in consequence of adverse winds and a perilous storm on the day and night of the 1st November the fleet arrived at Port Royal bar not till the 4th, and then but in part, for it had been almost entirely dispersed by the gale, and the vessels have been straggling in up to this date. The transport steamers Union, Belvidere, Osceola, and Peerless have not arrived. Two of them are known to be lost, and it is probable that all are. It is gratifying, however, to say that none of the troop transports connected with the land forces were lost, though the Winfield Scott had to sacrifice her whole cargo and the Roanoke a portion of her cargo to save the lives of the regiments on board. The former will be unable to again put to sea. The vessels connected with the naval portion of the fleet have also suffered much and some have been lost.

After a careful reconnaissance of Port Royal Bay it was ascertained that the rebels had three field works of remarkable strength, strongly garrisoned, and covered by a fleet of three gunboats, under Captain Tatnall, late of the U. S. Navy, besides strong land forces, which the rebels were concentrating from Charleston and Savannah. The troops of the rebels were afterwards ascertained to have been commanded by General Drayton. One of the forts, and probably the strongest, was {p.4} situated on Hilton Head, and the other two on Phillip’s Island. It was deemed proper to first reduce the fort on Hilton Head, though to do this a greater or less fire might have to be met from the batteries on Bay Point at the same time. Our original plan of co-operation of the land forces in this attack had to be set aside, in consequence of the loss, during the voyage, of a greater portion of our means of disembarkment, together with the fact that the only point where the troops should have landed was from 5 to 6 miles (measuring around the intervening shoal) from the anchoring place of our transports-altogether too great a distance for successful debarkation with our limited means. It was therefore agreed that the place should be reduced by the naval force alone.

In consequence of the shattered condition of the fleet and the delay in the arrival of vessels that were indispensable for the attack it had to be postponed until the 7th instant. I was a mere spectator of the combat, and it is not my province to render any report of this action, but I deem it an imperative duty to say that the firing and maneuvering of our fleet against that of the rebels and their formidable land batteries was a master-piece of activity and professional skill that must have elicited the applause of the rebels themselves as a tactical operation. I think that too much praise cannot be awarded to the science and skill exhibited by the flag-officer of the naval squadron and the officers connected with his ships. I deem the performance a masterly one, and ought to have been seen to be fully appreciated. After the works were reduced I took possession of them with the land forces. The beautifully constructed work on Hilton Head was severely crippled and many of the guns dismounted. Much slaughter had evidently been made there, many bodies having been buried in the fort, and some 20 or 30 were found some half a mile distant.

The island for many miles was found strewed with arms and accouterments and baggage of the rebels, which they threw away in theft hasty retreat. We have also come into possession of about forty pieces of ordnance, most of which is of the heaviest caliber and the most approved models, and a large quantity of ammunition and camp equipage.

It is my duty to report the valuable services of Mr. Boutelle, [C. A.] assistant in the Coast Survey, assisting me with his accurate and extensive knowledge of this country. His services are invaluable to the Army as well as to the Navy, and I earnestly recommend that important notice be taken of this very able and scientific officer by the War Department.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. W. SHERMAN. Brigadier-General, Commanding.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL U. S. ARMY, Washington, D. C.

[Inclosure.]

PROCLAMATION.

To the People of South Carolina:

In obedience to the orders of the President of these United States of America I have landed on your shores with a small force of national troops. The dictates of a duty which, under these circumstances, I owe to a great sovereign State, and to a proud and hospitable people, among whom I have passed some of the pleasantest days of my life, prompt me to proclaim that we have come amongst you with no feelings {p.5} of personal animosity; no desire to harm your citizens, destroy your property, or interfere with any of your lawful rights or your social and local institutions, beyond what the causes herein briefly alluded to may render unavoidable.

Citizens of South Carolina, the civilized world stands appalled at the course you are pursuing; appalled at the crime you are committing against your own mother-the best, the most enlightened, and heretofore the most prosperous of nations. You are in a state of active rebellion against the laws of your country. You have lawlessly seized upon the forts, arsenals, and other property belonging to our common country and within your borders. With this property you are in arms and waging a ruthless war against your constitutional Government, and thus threatening the existence of a Government which you are bound by the terms of a solemn compact to live under and faithfully support. In doing this you are not only undermining and preparing the way for totally ignoring your own political and social existence, but you are threatening the civilized world with the odious sentiment that self-government is impossible with civilized man.

Fellow-citizens, I implore you to pause and reflect upon the tenor and the consequences of your acts. If the awful sacrifices made by the devastation of our property the shedding of fraternal blood in battle, the mourning and wailing of widows and orphans throughout our land, are insufficient to deter you from further pursuing this unholy war, then ponder, I beseech you, upon the ultimate but not less certain results which its much further progress must necessarily and naturally entail upon your once happy and prosperous State. Indeed, can you pursue this fratricidal war and continue to imbrue your hands in the loyal blood of your countrymen, your friends, your kinsmen, for no other object than to unlawfully disrupt the confederacy of a great people-a confederacy established by your own hands-in order to set up, were it possible, an independent government, under which you can never live in peace, prosperity, or quietness?

Carolinians, we have come among you as loyal men, fully impressed with our constitutional obligations to the citizens of your State. Those obligations shall be performed as far as in our power. But be not deceived. The obligation of suppressing armed combinations against the constitutional authorities is paramount to all others. If in the performance of this duty other minor but important obligations should be in any way neglected, it must be attributed to necessities of the case, because rights dependent on the laws of the State must be necessarily subordinate to military exigencies created by insurrection and rebellion.

T. W. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS EXPEDITIONARY CORPS, Port Royal, S. C., November 8, 1861.

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HEADQUARTERS EXPEDITIONARY CORPS, Hilton Head, S. C., November 11, 1861.

SIR: In addition to my report of the 8th instant, and after a more perfect examination into details, I have to state that the number of pieces of ordnance which have fallen into our hands is fifty-two, the bulk of which is of the largest caliber, all with fine carriages, &c., except eight or nine, that were ruined by our fire, which dismounted their pieces. A {p.6} complete inventory of the amount of public property captured is being prepared and will be duly furnished. Besides the wreck of small-arms. &c., thrown away by the rebels in their hasty retreat, as stated in my last, a light battery of two fine 12-pounder howitzers has been found to have been abandoned near the ferry, about 6 miles distant. I have also ascertained by examination that the flight of the rebels extended to Braddock’s Point, at the south end of the island, and about 15 miles distant, the fort at that point being deserted and its guns spiked. It has one 10-inch columbiad and two 5 1/2-inch guns.

On clearing out the fort at Hilton Head the dead body of Dr. Buist, formerly an assistant surgeon in the Army, was found in one of the galleries leading from the terre-plein to a caponiere, he having been killed by the explosion of a shell and buried by the falling in of a parapet. He was the principal surgeon of this fort.

The effect of this victory is startling. Every white inhabitant has left the island. The wealthy islands of Saint Helena, Ladies, and most of Port Royal are abandoned by the whites, and the beautiful estates of the planters, with all their immense property, left to the pillage of hordes of apparently disaffected blacks, and the indications are that the panic has extended to the fort on the north end of Reynolds’ Island, commanding the fine anchorage of Saint Helena Sound. Of this, however, I shall have satisfactory information in a few days. I am now in the occupation of the forts at Hilton Head, the two on Philip’s Island, and the one at Braddock’s Point. The task of unloading our vessels will be a very slow and difficult operation, in consequence of the extended shallow shores, until wharves can be constructed; nevertheless it is expected to be able to leave here with a large force as soon as our defenses are fully under way, to further carry out the grand objects of the expedition.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. W. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

The ADJUTANT-GENERAL U. S. ARMY, Washington, D. C.

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No. 2.

Report of Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Drayton, C. S. Army, of the bombardment of Forts Walker and Beauregard.

HDQRS. PROV. FORCES, THIRD MIL. DIST., DEPT. S. C., Camp Lee, Hardeeville, November 24, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor of presenting my official report of the engagement on the 7th instant between the Federal fleet, numbering fifteen war steamers and gunboats, and Forts Walker and Beauregard, upon Hilton Head and Bay Point, at the entrance of Port Royal Sound. The fleet was commanded by Capt. S. F. DuPont, flag-officer of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and the troops on board the transports by Brigadier-General [T. W.] Sherman. The distance between the forts is by Coast Survey two and five-eighths miles.

The enemy’s fleet had been collecting in our waters since the morning of the 4th instant, and had increased in the afternoon to thirty-two war steamers and transports. On receiving a dispatch to this effect from Col. William C. Heyward, commanding the troops at Camp Walker, I {p.7} left my headquarters in Beaufort and repaired by steamer to Bay Point, which I reached at 6 p.m., passing on the way the ever-watchful little fleet of Flag-Officer [Josiah] Tatnall, C. S. Navy.

After remaining in consultation until 1.30 a.m. with Col. R. G. M. Dunovant, commandant of the post, I took my departure, leaving him such general instruction as the uncertain mode and direction from which an attack might be expected would permit. I then visited Commodore Tatnall, and after an interchange of views took leave, crossed over to Hilton Head Island, landed there at daylight on the 5th, and immediately dispatched a courier to Braddock’s Point, south end of the island, ordering Captain Stuart’s company, of Ninth Regiment, to march on Fort Walker, and embark thence to strengthen Captain Elliott’s gunners in Fort Beauregard. This company did not leave on the 6th, as proposed, as Captain Sapard, of the steamer Edith, failed to comply with his orders to carry it across early in the morning. They were dispatched, however, by the first steamer at my disposal on the 7th, and before they had reached half way across the bay they were cut off from Bay Point by the advancing fleet of the enemy, and obliged to seek shelter in Skull Creek, where Captain Stuart disembarked his whole command in safety.

On inspecting Fort Walker shortly after my arrival I found twenty guns, of various caliber, mounted upon the ramparts, thirteen of which were on the channel battery, viz, one 10-inch columbiad in the center flanked to the right by five 32-pounders and one 9-inch Dahlgren rifled cannon, and to the left by six other cannon in the following order: One 32-pounder, one 8-inch columbiad, three 42-pounders, and one rifled 24-pounder; north bastion, one 32-pounder; south bastion, one 32-pounder, one 8-inch howitzer, and one long 12-pounder; south flank of bastion, one navy 32-pounder; demi-lune, two 24-pounders; redan, one navy 8-inch howitzer. Of these eight guns one in the north bastion and two in the south flank could occasionally be used against the ships of war. The rest were for the land defense.

To man the guns within the fort and for an infantry reserve outside we had, until re-enforcements came from Savannah on the afternoon of the 6th, two companies of Colonel Wagener’s First Regiment Artillery, South Carolina Militia, numbering 152 men; three companies of Colonel Heyward’s Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, 210 men; four companies of Col. R. G. M. Dunovant’s Twelfth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, under Major Jones, 260 men. Total, 622 men.

There were stationed on the beach at Camp Lookout, 6 miles off, Capt. I. H. Screven’s Mounted Guerrillas, numbering 65, who acted as scouts and couriers.

About 9 o’clock a.m. of the 5th, Commodore Tatnall, who had boldly attacked the enemy’s gunboats on the previous day, again gallantly steamed out to exchange shots with them, but he was met by too large a force, and therefore retired slowly behind our forts. The enemy followed, and engaged both batteries for about forty-five minutes, with no other injury than 3 men slightly burned in Fort Beauregard from the explosion of a caisson struck by a rifle shell.

On the 6th instant the fleet and transports, which had increased to about forty-five sail, would probably have attacked us had not the weather been very boisterous. In the afternoon about 4 o’clock we received our first re-enforcements from Georgia, 450 infantry, under command of Captain Berry, C. S. Army, and Captain Read’s battery of two 12-pounder howitzers and 50 men.

{p.8}

I have reason for supposing that this assistance would have arrived sooner, for General A. R. Lawton, commanding provisional forces in Georgia, wrote from Savannah to Col. W. C. Heyward on the 4th instant, 8.30 p.m., as follows: “From a dispatch received to-day from General Ripley I infer that you (Col. W. C. Heyward) have been sufficiently reinforced from his command until the plans of the enemy shall be more fully developed.”

Two hours after the gallant Georgians came to the rescue I received the welcome intelligence that Colonel De Saussure’s Fifteenth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, 650 strong, had landed at Seabrook’s Wharf upon Skull Creek, and were close at hand.

At last the memorable 7th dawned upon us bright and serene, not a ripple upon the broad expanse of water to disturb the accuracy of fire from the broad decks of that magnificent armada about advancing in battle array to vomit forth its iron hail with all the spiteful energy of long-suppressed rage and conscious strength. At 9.25 a.m. one 9-inch Dahlgren gun opened fire upon the gun steamship Wabash, flag-ship of Capt. S. F. DuPont, which led the van, closely succeeded by fourteen other large steamers and gunboats.

The shell from the Dahlgren exploded near the muzzle, and was harmless. Other shots followed from both forts, and soon the fire became general on land and water. In spite of our fire, directed with deliberation and coolness, the fleet soon passed both batteries apparently unharmed, and then returning delivered in their changing rounds a terrific shower of shot and shell in flank and front.

Besides this moving battery, the fort was enfiladed by two gunboats anchored to the north off the mouth of Fish Hall Creek, and another at a point on the edge of the shoals to the south. This enfilading fire on so still a sea annoyed and damaged us excessively, particularly as we had no gun on either flank of the bastion to reply with, for the 32-pounder on the right flank was shattered very early by around shot, and on the north flank for want of a carriage no gun had been mounted. After the fourth fire the 10-inch columbiad bounded over the limber and became useless. The 24-pounder rifled cannon was choked while ramming down a shell, and lay idle during nearly the whole engagement. The shells for the 9-inch Dahlgren were also too large. The fourth shell attempted to be rammed home could not be driven below the trunnions, and was then at great risk discharged.

Thus far the fire of the enemy had been endured and replied to with the unruffled courage of veterans. At 10.30 our gunners became so fatigued that I left the fort, accompanied by one of my volunteer aides, Capt. H. Rose, and went back to Captain Read’s battery (one and three-quarter miles in the rear of the fort) and brought the greater pact of his men back to take the places of our exhausted men inside the fort. It was while thus engaged with Captain Read’s company that Col. W. H. Stiles rode up and reported his regiment about 2 miles off. I instantly directed my aide, Lieutenant Drayton, to accompany Colonel Stiles to the road along which his regiment was advancing, and to station it in position by the side of the other Georgia troops. On entering the fort with Captain Read’s company they were cordially greeted by both officers and men.

The vigorous attack from the fleet continued unabated, with still no decided damage to any of their ships. About 12.30 p.m. I again went out of the fort with my assistant adjutant-general, Captain Young, for the purpose of mustering together the infantry and reserves, and have them in readiness for any eventuality. Before leaving, however, I turned {p.9} over the command to Colonel Heyward, with directions to hold out as long as any effective fire could be returned.

Having mounted our horses, we rejoined the troops near Hospital No. 2. I received information through one of the vedettes that a steamer and small boats were sounding close to the beach. I detached Captain Berry, with three companies of his battalion, under the guidance of Capt. Ephraim Barnard, volunteer aide, to watch the enemy, beat them back if they attempted to land, and give notice if he wanted support. I then, with some of my staff, rode to collect together the other troops, who, through ignorance of our island roads, had lost their way and had not yet come up.

On the road leading to wharf on Skull Creek, about one and one-fourth miles from Fort Walker I unexpectedly met General Ripley and staff. Saluting him, I inquired if he visited the island to assume command, and whether he wished to go back with me into the fort. He said no, but that he would return to Coosawhatchie to collect and bring back two or three regiments to my support. We then moved from under the fire of the ships to the shelter of some myrtles, where we could not be seen. I then stated to him the incidents of the morning; how the men had fought, that the day was going against us, and I was then collecting my forces for any emergency that might arise; and, if compelled to defend the island, it should by retained to the last extremity. We then parted, he taking the road toward the ferry and I in pursuit of the purposes which brought me out of the fort.

On reaching my reserves at Hospital No. 2 I learned that the enemy had ceased making soundings and had gone back to sea, whereupon I dispatched Captain Read to order Captain Berry to return from the beach.

Two o’clock had now arrived, when I noticed our men coming out of the fort, which they had bravely defended for four and a half hours against fearful odds, and then only retiring when all but three of the guns on the water front had been disabled, and only 500 pounds of powder in the magazine, commencing the action with 220 men inside the fort, afterwards increased to 255 by the accession from Read’s battery. These heroic men retired slowly and sadly from their well-fought guns, which to have defended longer would have exhibited the energy of despair rather than the manly pluck of the true soldier.

The defense of this post involved a twofold preparation: first to repel the attack from the fleet, and secondly an assault by the beach from the troops upon the transports. By the beach we had to provide against an attack from the north under cover of the bluff south of Fish Hall Creek, and from the south by the beach under cover of the woods, between where a picket of 25 men were posted, under Capt. Paul H. Seabrook, and lastly by the road leading from the beach to the second hospital. To guard against surprise either by Fish Hall Creek or by the beach, when I was returning to the fort with a portion of Captain Read’s company, I at the same time led up Colonel De Saussure’s regiment to the hollow west of the road and directed them to lie down. They were perfectly masked from the fire of the fort, but not from that of the fleet, for the watchmen at the mast-heads gave notice of their position, compelling Colonel De Saussure after a short time to fall back under a heavy fire to a less dangerous locality.

Had the intrenched camp, with store-houses and magazines, been made in time several lives and large quantities of public property might have been saved; but it was impossible to have made this within the short time and with the diminutive force at my disposal, for on my {p.10} arrival at headquarters in Beaufort, on the night of the 17th October, the number of troops at Camp Walker was but 362, afterward increased on the 24th to 622 by the accession of four companies under Major Jones, of Twelfth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers. To this may be added the engineer force of some 60 men, who, with the soldiers, worked incessantly day and night. As for evidence of what they accomplished: The 8-inch columbiad on the water front was only mounted on the 1st November, one 8-inch howitzer in the salient of the south bastion, mounted on the 4th; one 32-pounder on the right flank of bastion, mounted on the 5th; one 8-inch howitzer mounted on a ship carriage; embrasure cut through parapet of demi-lune on the night of the 5th; covered way and hot-shot furnace for 42-pounders, constructed of earth and dry masonry, on the morning of the 6th, together with wads of moss and hay for same; splinter-proof, occupying only one-half terreplein behind the principal traverse, was finished on the morning of the engagement (7th instant), the material not having arrived before the 4th instant.

The retreat was commenced about 3 p.m. toward Ferry Point, about 6 miles off, Colonel De Saussure’s regiment and Capt. I. Read’s company of artillery bringing up the rear. At 1.30 a.m., by the aid of Commodore Tatnall’s fleet, the steamers St. Johns and Edisto, and three large flats, capable of holding 150 men each, the troops were all safely embarked without provisions, no ammunition but what was contained in the cartridge-boxes (the 100,000 cartridges I had made requisition for, and been anxiously expecting, not having reached us until after the battle), and fearing that our retreat would be cut off by the enemy’s gunboats at Skull Creek, no other alternative was left but to leave the island and concentrate upon the main-land, where we would be enabled to fight the enemy on more equal terms should he venture beyond the protection of his fleet and attack us there.

The muskets captured by the enemy, with the exception of some ten or fifteen, were those left in the fort, shattered by shot and shell, others left in camp belonging to men on sick leave, or to those engaged in heating hot-shot furnaces two days before the fight, and some boxes of arms which had been left on the wharf the night before the battle, belonging to the sick men of Colonel De Saussure’s regiment, who had been left behind at Lightwood Knot, and which could have been saved, with a box of swords, if the captains of the steamers Edisto and St. Johns had not refused to take them on board when directed to do so.

To Captain Tatnall, flag-officer C. S. Navy, and the officers and men of his little fleet, I cannot too highly express my admiration of their intrepidity and hardihood in attacking the enemy’s gunboats on the 4th and 5th instants. These encounters, by interrupting their soundings and the location of their buoys, no doubt prevented our being attacked on Tuesday, the 5th instant, before our re-enforcements reached us. I must also acknowledge the assistance extended to us by the gallant commodore with his boats on the night of our retreat from the island.

FORT BEAUREGARD.

The attack upon the fort, though not so concentrated and heavy as that upon Walker, was nevertheless very severe. Its armament was nineteen guns, of which the following, viz, one 8-inch Rodman, bored to 24-pounder and rifled; two 42-pounders; one 10-inch columbiad; two 42-pounders, reamed to eight inches, and one 32-pounder in hot-shot battery, were the only guns capable of being used against the fleet.

The force on Bay Point was 640 men, commanded by Col. R. G. M. {p.11} Dunovant, Twelfth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers. Of the above, 149 garrisoned Fort Beauregard, under the immediate command of Capt. Stephen Elliott, jr., Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, Company A, Ninth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers. The infantry force of Colonel Dunovant’s regiment was intrusted with the protection of the eastern part of the island, and of the defense of the bastion line at the Island Narrows, where an attack was expected from the enemy.

Knowing how small a force Captain Elliott had to command his batteries, I ordered, as soon as I reached Hilton Head, on the 5th instant, Captain Stuart’s company (Hamilton Guards), Ninth [Company E., Eleventh] Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, to march upon Fort Walker from Braddock’s Point and take thence the steamer Edith for Bay Point, but the failure of Captain Sapard, of the Edith, to fulfill his appointment at the hour designated, prevented me from supporting Captain Elliott as I desired. But on Thursday morning, 7th instant, having obtained the steamer Emma, I dispatched Captain Stuart’s company in her to Fort Beauregard. The rapid advance of the enemy’s fleet, however, to the attack on the batteries cut off and compelled her, at the risk of being intercepted, to turn back and seek shelter in Skull Creek, on the shores of which Captain Stuart’s company safely disembarked and joined me in the afternoon; and here again was exhibited another act of heroism on the part of our veteran commodore, who to save the Emma interposed his own frail flag-steamer between her and the advancing flag-ship of Commodore DuPont, drawing upon himself her entire broadside, and thus diverting this huge leviathan temporarily from her course, secured the safety of the Emma at the peril of his own vessel.

The non-arrival of any re-enforcements at Camp Walker until the night of the 6th instant also prevented me from sending the four companies of the Twelfth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, under Major Jones, to the support of the other six companies of the regiment at Bay Point.

For the details of the engagement at this post, the notable examples of bravery, the general good conduct, their well-timed retreat in the direction indicated by the dotted red lines on the map appended,* I beg leave to refer you to the official reports of Colonel Dunovant and Captain Elliott. But among the many officers and men honorably noticed on this occasion in the official report of Colonel Dunovant, none of them are so justly entitled to well-merited encomium as Capt. Stephen Elliott, the commander of the fort. Others may have exhibited an equal amount of cool bravery in front of the foe, but his opportunities enabled him to surpass all his brother officers in the skillful arrangement of his defenses, superb condition of his batteries, and in the high discipline which he had imparted to his model company, the creature of his own indefatigable exertions.

The delays and dangers incident to the manner in which troops and supplies of all kinds were landed at the forts of Port Royal and the absence of all means of retreat in case of disaster had attracted my most serious attention immediately after I assumed command at Beaufort, on the evening of the 7th instant. I immediately took steps for remedying the first and providing for the last.

With the double object of landing supplies in all weather at Bay Point, and at the same time of furnishing the means of retreat beyond the range of the enemy’s guns, I directed one of my volunteer aides, Capt. T. R. S. Elliott, to make an examination of the adjacent creeks {p.12} to the north of the fort. He reported that about 3 miles from the mouth of Moss Creek there was a depth of water sufficient for steamers drawing 7 feet at low water, and that from thence a causeway of 300 yards over the marsh might easily be made, and furnish a sure means of transportation, and thus avoid the losses and delays which had previously occurred in landing from the steamers into flats upon the beach.

From the point above indicated in Moss Creek flats were to have been provided and stationed to convey the soldiers in case of emergency across the creek, thence by land to Station Creek, where other flats were to be placed for the same object as at Moss Creek. Landing at Saint Helena the transit to White Hall Ferry opposite Beaufort was comparatively safe.

On Hilton Head I also commenced repairing the wharf at Seabrook’s Landing, on Skull Creek, with a view of transporting stores to Fort Walker when the weather was too boisterous to land them in the surf. The completion of the wharf was prevented, however, by the unexpected attack of the enemy, though in its incomplete state it had already been put to successful use.

I succeeded, however, in obtaining from Charleston two flats and two troop boats, and from Savannah three large flats, capable of containing 150 men each, which reached Jenkins’ Island Ferry in time to assist in embarking our troops on the night of the retreat. Three other smaller ones were sent at the same time to White Hall Ferry, which assisted in performing the same good offices for Colonel Dunovant’s command. The rest of the scheme, for want of time and flats, could not be carried out in the manner I intended.

For the purpose of sending messages between Forts Walker and Beauregard, and thence to my headquarters at Beaufort, I had prepared, by the assistance of Captain Lynah, another of my aides, a number of signal flags, the designs of which had already been prepared and painted, and only needed a few more days to have been put into operation.

In alluding as I have to these matters I do not mean to reflect upon any person, or to say these pressing wants could have been supplied anterior to the period when I entered upon my new duties. My design has been to exhibit the condition in which I found my command, and to show that I have left no effort untried to improve it.

Notwithstanding the prompt measures adopted by Colonel Dunovant to effect his retreat in the direction of the Narrows, it is surprising that, with the knowledge possessed by the enemy (through Mr. Boutelle and others connected with the Coast Survey), his retreat had not been intercepted by gunboats passing up towards Beaufort, and mine by other steamers taking the passage through Skull Creek towards the ferry landing. Why they did not adopt this course must be left to time to explain.

Casualties.-The following is a correct list of killed, wounded, missing, and prisoners:

Command.	Killed.	Wounded.	Captured.	Missing.	Aggregate.
Fort walker	10	20			30
Fort Beauregard		13			13
15th South Carolina	1	15			16
Sick in hospital			3		3
Command not stated				4	4
Total	11	48	3	4	66

{p.13}

The heads of the quartermaster’s end commissary’s departments, Maj. E. Willis and Capt. C. D. Owens, have discharged their several duties with economy and fidelity. The reports hereunto appended of these officers and of their assistants show how unwearied and earnest were their efforts to save the public property left at the headquarters in Beaufort. I must likewise make honorable mention of Col. W. C. Heyward, Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, who commanded in Fort Walker and its vicinity, and who during the battle made the best use of the means at his disposal. Col. John A. Wagener, First Regiment Artillery South Carolina Militia, supported by Maj. Arthur M. Huger, of the same regiment, was placed in the immediate command of all the batteries, nine of which, upon the water front, were manned by the German Artillery, Companies A and B, Capts. H. Harms and D. Werner, First Regiment Artillery South Carolina Militia, all of whom fought under the flag of their adopted country with an enthusiasm which could not have been surpassed had they been fighting in defense of their own fatherland.

The remaining four batteries on the left flank of the water front were under the direction of Capt. Josiah Bedon, Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment South Carolina Volunteers. The flanking and rear guns of the fort were manned by detachments from Captain Bedon’s, Canaday’s, and White’s companies, Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment South Carolina Volunteers. Maj. F. D. Lee, South Carolina Engineers and constructing engineer of Fort Walker, not only fought gallantly at the batteries, but afforded valuable assistance at other points in the work during the contest.

Capt. Joseph A. Yates, Battalion South Carolina Artillery, and acting ordnance officer, was zealous in the execution of all the duties assigned to him. Toward the close of the fight he was severely wounded, but has since recovered, and is again ready in another field to resist all marauders that may approach our shores. Dr. Ogier and his able assistants, Drs. W. C. Ravenel, and William Elliott, a volunteer from Savannah, Ga., were present, and rendered efficient service in the hospitals. I cannot but regret the painful wound which has been the cause of the resignation of Dr. Ogier as medical director in my military district.

In conclusion, I cannot but express my high appreciation of the gallant behavior of my aides, Capt. Henry E. Young and Lieut. J. E. Drayton, as also that of the gentlemen comprising my volunteer staff, Capts. L. Cheves, H. Rose, E. Lynah, J. E. Eddings, J. I. Middleton, jr., and Joseph A. Huger. The names of the officers and men not mentioned in my report will be found deservedly mentioned in the official reports of the colonels of regiments, commandants of batteries, and chiefs of the general staff.

I have the honor to be, respectfully, yours,

THOS. F. DRAYTON, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Capt. L. D. WALKER, Assistant Adjutant-General, Charleston, S. C.

[Indorsement.]

HDQRS. PROV. FORCES, DEPT. SOUTH CAROLINA, Charleston, November 19, 1861.

It might be proper to remark upon the within report and some probably inadvertent inaccuracies, or to give a report of movements and orders from these headquarters and instructions given after news was {p.14} received that the enemy’s fleet was intended for Port Royal and how they were carried out and followed. I deem, however, that no good would result to the service from a discussion of these points at this time; and requesting that, should it be thought proper to publish this report, it should be published with this indorsement, it is respectfully forwarded.

R. S. RIPLEY, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

* Not found.

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No. 3.

Report of Col. John A. Wagener, First Artillery, South Carolina Militia, of the bombardment of Fort Walker.

CHARLESTON, November 11, 1861.

SIR: In consequence of our fatiguing retreat from the island of Hilton Head I am only now able to render you my official report of that disastrous day, together with the returns, in part only, as I have not been able to obtain the reports of Captains Bedon, Canaday, and White, of Colonel Heyward’s regiment, which I would beg you to receive through Colonel Heyward.

On Thursday morning, the 7th instant, the fleet which had been watching us for days began to move in such a manner that I had the long roll beat immediately, and in one and a half minutes every cannoneer was at his post. The armament of the fort was divided into batteries and served as follows, viz:

Right channel battery: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, German Artillery, Company B, Capt. H. Harms. Center channel battery: Nos. 6, 7, 8, and 9, German Artillery, Company A, Capt. D. Werner. Left channel battery:

Nos. 10, 11, 12, and 13, Company C, Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, Capt. Josiah Bedon. These were the front batteries, all under command of Maj. A. M. Huger, First Artillery, South Carolina Militia.

The flanking and rear guns were manned by detachments from Captains Bedon’s, Canaday’s, and White’s companies, Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment, under the command of Captain Canaday. The reserve was under charge of Captain White. The first gun (32-pounder rifle), which was loaded with a percussion shell, I directed myself, but unfortunately the shell exploded directly in front of the muzzle.

The battle opened, I think, a few minutes before 9 o’clock a.m. The enemy had chosen a day which was entirely propitious to him. The water was as smooth as glass. The air was just sufficient to blow the smoke of his guns into our faces, where it would meet the column of our own smoke and prevent our sight, excepting by glimpses. The sailing vessels of our opponents were towed by his steamers, and thus could maneuver on the broad expanse of Port Royal with the accuracy of well-trained battalions. No sooner did we obtain his range than it would be changed, and time after time rechanged, while the deep water permitted him to choose his own position, and fire shot after shot and shell after shell with the precision of target practice. Most unfortunate for us was the mistake of the engineers, which I had pointed out before the battle, of having failed to establish a battery on the bluff which commanded our flank. The enemy having taken position in the month of the creek exposed us to a raking fire, which did us the greatest damage, dismounting our guns and killing and wounding numbers of our men.

{p.15}

Major Huger reports to me as follows, viz:

Our guns were fought, nevertheless, with determination and skill, and did a great deal of damage to the enemy. About 11 o’clock it was reported to me that the Bay Point batteries had been silenced, whereupon we determined that we would have to fight so much harder, and I am proud to say our men were equal to the exigencies of the occasion. Between 12 and 1 o’clock I was knocked down by a piece of shell, and a good deal stunned. I sent for Major Huger and transferred the command of the fort to him, to enable me to get a few moments’ rest. By a little after 1 o’clock Major Huger informed Colonel Heyward, commanding the island, that the ammunition was nearly gone. It was thereupon determined by the order of the general commanding to evacuate the works. Three sections of the German Artillery, under Captain Harms, Lieut. F. Melchers, and Orderly Bischoff, were detailed to continue a slow fire while the wounded were removed, and the garrison was ordered to retreat by dispersion. Near 2 o’clock Major Huger ordered the last detachment from their guns.

By this time the field in our rear was covered with the shells of the enemy, and it is by the intervention of God’s providence only that not more were lost. The fort was gone, but our honor was saved. Of the channel battery only three guns were in condition to have continued the fight, which would have been hopeless under any circumstances. A retreat was consequently ordered. On reaching Bluffton, the general commanding was kind enough to order our battalion here with expressions of approval, for which I respectfully tender him my thanks.

I beg leave to inclose you a return of our killed and severely wounded. The slightly wounded have not been mentioned, for they are very numerous. The general commanding will concur with me that this has been one of the hardest-fought fields on record, and I would be very grateful to him for the public expression of his opinion, to set the tongue of slander at rest and encourage our citizen soldiery. I beg leave also respectfully to bring to his notice the names of the following officers and men who have particularly distinguished themselves by acts of heroism, viz:

Major Huger, the bravest of the brave; Lieut. [J. E.] Heape, of Captain Bedon’s company, whom I saw myself save a poor, severely-wounded soldier in the terrible shell-fire of the enemy while crossing the field in retreat; Mr. Carlsen, of the German Artillery, who replaced the Confederate flag on the rampart in a storm of shot and shell; Private Julius Wagener, a boy only fifteen years of age, who replanted our noble Palmetto banner on the ramparts, whence it had been shot down-I would not have mentioned his name, he being my own son, but for the opinion that he may hereafter become very useful to his country; Private Geilfuss, German Artillery, who brought away the Palmetto flag, and was otherwise heroically attentive to his duties.

I deem, besides, specially deserving the notice of the general commanding {p.16} Major Barnwell and Captains Yates and Read, of the Regular Army; Major Lee, of the engineers; Col. Gaston Allen, who kindly acted as my special aide, and my entire staff, who did their duty well.

I may further mention as deserving of great praise Captain Bedon and his officers and Captain Harms and his officers, Captain Werner and his officers, especially Lieutenant Melchers, who fired the last gun. Private Heidenreich and Corporals Petersen and Stelljes, of the German Artillery, deserve to be praisefully mentioned, likewise several members of the Ninth Eleventh Regiment, whose names I have not been able to remember. Captains Canaday and White and their officers, Lieutenant Scanlan, of the ordnance, and Sergeants Cameron and Bruggermaun, have also done well. Indeed, where all were heroes, with very few exceptions, it is the voice of our country only which is strong enough to proclaim their “well done.”

The entire force in the works consisted of 220 men, as detailed by my special alarm regulations, and these had to resist an overpowering array of seventeen war vessels, with nearly 400 guns of the best and heaviest caliber. All the guns, as is usual in sand batteries, worked hard, adding much to the labor of the men, who had already worked hard and enjoyed little or no rest for several days preceding. I had great reason to be grateful to Captain Read’s regulars for their brave and valuable aid.

Under the circumstances of our retreat nothing whatever could be saved by the men. They had been working at the guns in most cases in shirt sleeves; the sand had covered their knapsacks and muskets, sometimes two or three feet deep, and very few arms were therefore brought off and very few knapsacks and clothing saved. They are entirely destitute, and should be cared for by the State. The officers have also lost all, in some cases even their swords. The Confederate flag was rent into so many shreds that no piece could be found. The Palmetto flag, however, has been brought home, decorated with many a token of the enemy’s wrath.

The battle of Port Royal, it is true, has been lost, but the enemy, I sincerely believe, have paid very dear for their success, and we may console ourselves with the conviction that we have not only done our duty manfully under the most terrific circumstances, but that we have for five hours defended a position against the most scientific and bravest seamen which one of our best generals and engineers had pronounced untenable.

I am, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN A. WAGENER, Colonel First Artillery, S. C. M., late Comdt. Fort Walker.

Capt. H. E. YOUNG, Assistant Adjutant-General.

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No. 4.

Report of Col. William C. Heyward, Eleventh South Carolina Infantry, of the bombardment of Fort Walker.

HDQRS. NINTH REGIMENT S. C. VOLS.,* THIRD MIL. DIST., DEPT. SOUTH CAROLINA, Camp Lee, November 16, 1861.

SIR: On the morning of Thursday, the 7th November, I was placed in command of Fort Walker, Cot J. A. Wagener and Maj. A. M. Ruger {p.17} having the immediate command of the batteries, assisted by Captain Yates and Maj. John Barnwell. The enemy opened fire upon us about 9 a.m., which was briskly returned by us until many of our guns were either disabled by them or rendered useless by various accidents. The two rifled guns failed, in consequence of it being found impossible to force down the shells, after two or three discharges. The 10-inch gun at the fourth or fifth discharge was rendered useless. Two of the 42-pounders were also rendered useless.

About 2 p.m., finding the fire of our batteries had nearly ceased, I inquired of Major Huger where Colonel Wagener was. He informed me that the colonel had been stunned by the bursting of a shell, and that he (Major Huger) was then in command of the battery. On consulting with him it was determined that Mr. L. Cheves and myself (Mr. Cheves acting as aide to General Drayton) should proceed to the magazine and inquire into the state of the ammunition. On reaching the door we were met by Lieutenant Scanlan, who reported that there were about ten or eleven rounds for 32-pounders left. On returning and reporting this to Major Huger it was decided that, as we could fight no longer with any hope of success, one or two guns should still be served slowly until all the wounded could be removed, and then to evacuate the fort. This was fortunately accomplished with but little additional loss, and the retreat to Buckingham Ferry commenced.

For particulars respecting the officers and men of my own regiment on duty in the fort I refer you to the reports of Capt. Josiah Bedon and Capt. D. S. Canaday. The list of killed and wounded has already been sent in by my adjutant. Colonel Wagener’s report, I presume, will furnish all the necessary information respecting his regiment. I regret that my report should be so short, but without a room for myself, with very little convenience for writing, constant applications for leave of absence, noise and confusion about me, I find it impossible to write more.

Yours, respectfully,

WM. C. HEYWARD, Colonel Ninth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers.

Capt. H. E. YOUNG, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Captain Bedon and Lieuts. J. E. Heape, J. J. Guerard, and W. A. Boyle behaved with distinguished bravery during the whole action. Mr. Joseph A. Huger and Mr. Hugh Rose, aides to General Drayton, rendered great assistance and displayed great coolness.

* This organization is borne on the Confederate registers as the Eleventh Regiment.

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No. 5.

Report of Col. W. D. De Saussure, Fifteenth South Carolina infantry, of the bombardment of Fort Walker.

CAMP LEE, November 17, 1861.

SIR: In compliance with instructions from the general commanding, I beg leave to make the following report of casualties in the Fifteenth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers at the battle of Fort Walker, on Hilton Head Island, on the 7th of November, 1861.* {p.18}

As the command was all day under the eye of the general I deem it unnecessary to report its operations during the engagement, but cannot close without bringing to the notice of the general commanding that Col. Randolph Spaulding, of Georgia, attached himself to Company B of this regiment, and fought throughout the day as a private in the ranks.

Respectfully submitted.

W. D. DE SAUSSURE, Colonel Fifteenth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers.

Capt. H. E. YOUNG, Assistant Adjutant-General.

* Nominal list, omitted, shows 2 officers (Lieuts. Z. E. Suggart and James Norris) killed, and 2 officers and 12 enlisted men wounded, but see statement of casualties on p. 12.

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No. 6.

Report of Maj. Francis D. Lee, South Carolina Engineers.

NEW RIVER BRIDGE, December 4, 1861.

SIR: In obedience to instructions I have the honor of submitting the following report of the defenses of Hilton Head up to the time of the bombardment of Fort Walker, November 7, 1861:

As Chief of Engineers S. C. A., I received instructions during the month of May, 1861, from General Beauregard, then commanding provisional forces in South Carolina, to carry into execution the defensive works on this coast. The general location of these defenses, together with the number and character of guns to be employed, was designated by General Beauregard, and the immediate necessity of the early completion of the proposed works was urged upon those in authority.

In the month of June I received an appropriation of $15,000, and with this limited means at my disposal commenced the works at Port Royal, Captain Gregorie, S. C. A., being charged with the construction of Fort Beauregard at Bay Point. Shortly after the commencement of this work Maj. J. H. Trapier, C. S. Engineers, having been charged with the engineering work in this State, and by order of the governor having transferred to Major Trapier the corps then under my command, I was instructed to proceed to Hilton Head and carry into execution the defensive work at that point.

I immediately on the receipt of this order organized a party of artisans, and leaving Charleston July 1, 1861, reached Hilton Head on the 3d of the same month. The labor necessary for the conduct of the work was to be immediately furnished by the planters of the vicinity, but owing to some delays in the issuing of the order no laboring force was put at my disposal for three weeks after my arrival at Hilton Head.

In the mean time I designed and laid out the proposed work, a sketch* of which accompanies this report. The armament of the water front, as ordered by General Beauregard, consisted of seven 10-inch columbiads, and my plans were arranged for such a battery. The interior slopes of the water battery were consequently intended for seven circular traverses against enfilading fire. The labor having arrived, the work was rapidly pressed forward, and by September 1, 1861, was ready to receive its armament. In place of receiving seven 10-inch guns, but one could be procured, together with one 10-inch columbiad, model bored to a 32-pounder and rifled; one 8-inch columbiad, model bored to a 24-pounder and rifled; one 8-inch columbiad; nine navy 32-pounders; three navy {p.19} 42-pounders; three navy 8-inch howitzers; two 24-pounders; two 42-pounder carronades, and two long English 12-pounders. Thirteen of these, viz, one 10-inch columbiad; one 10-inch columbiad, pattern bored to a 32-pounder and rifled; one 8-inch columbiad, pattern bored to a 24-pounder and rifled; one 8-inch columbiad; six navy 32-pounders, and three navy 42-pounders, being in all 13 guns, were ordered to be placed on the water front.

This involved the necessity of subdividing the spaces allotted to the guns in this battery, and consequently placing them in such near proximity as effectually to prevent the construction of traverses against enfilading fire. The salient of the bastions of the fort on the land side, and also of the demi-lune, were arranged for circular traverses, some of which were sent me; but, the necessary chassis and carriages never having arrived, I was forced to make use of two spare carriages, viz, one low navy carriage-to suit which an embrasure had to be cut through the salient of the demi-lune on the eve of the engagement-and one barbette carriage, the latter of which was placed in the salient of the south bastion, but with a limited traverse segment.

Two 8-inch navy howitzers were mounted on these carriages. The third 8-inch howitzer, intended for the salient of the north bastion, was never mounted, no carriage having arrived for it. Besides these, one navy 32-pounder was mounted on the exterior angle of each bastion, and one long English 12-pounder, en embrasure, was placed in the shoulders, to enfilade the curtain face of the work. One of these last was afterwards removed for beach defense. Besides the 8-inch howitzer two 24-pounders, en barbette, were mounted in the demi-lune.

For beach defense two heavy shell guns were designated to occupy the two exterior flanking works, which commanded the beach approaches on both sides, and to give a cross-fire on the front of the glacis, or, more properly, cover face to the water front of the works. In place of these, two light carronades arrived a short time before the bombardment, but without carriages or chassis. They were therefore simply buried in the sand to such depth and with such directions as to enable us to have at least one fire in the event of an attempt to storm the work. In addition to these the 12-pounder from the north bastion was placed in such position as to sweep the beach by the approach from the south. The ditches on the water front not being protected by bastions, I arranged caponieres, constructed of palmetto logs, pierced for two tiers of musketry, approached by galleries leading under the parapets from the interior of the fort. These completed the ditch defenses, and enabled us, in the event of the enemy attempting to cross the ditch at any point, to pour in a cross-fire of canister and ball. As a protection to the land batteries of the fort I constructed a heavy traverse longitudinally to the work, and to insure against casualties from shot and shell bursting in the parade I arranged small traverses in rear of each gun of the water battery, sufficiently low, however, as to offer no obstacle to the passage of such shell as might graze the parapet of the water front.

It was my purpose to construct a splinter-roof over the entire place of arms between the principal traverse and the curtain of the work, and had ordered all the necessary material for that purpose. My requisitions for a steamer to transport the same some 30 miles were, however, not complied with, and I was enabled to cover in only about one-third of the proper space, and then by bringing ranging timber by hand nearly 2 miles, and by working day and night.

The magazine of the work was large and complete, and so protected that, though an enormous amount of shot and shell was fired against it, {p.20} it remained at the close of the action as strong and secure as before the fight. No permanent hot-shot furnace was constructed, but a portion of the material for one which had been ordered arrived a few days before the action, and from it a temporary one was constructed on Tuesday, November 5. This work was well and rapidly executed by my artisans while under the fire of the enemy, and I feel it my duty to call to your attention the cool bravery of Mr. Patterson and the artisans under him in executing my orders under the most trying circumstances. Besides the above-mentioned temporary furnace a portable one had arrived some time before the bombardment, but of exceedingly limited capacity. In connection with the fort it was proper to construct a line of infantry works about 2 miles to the south, and also a battery at the outlet of Skull Creek into Broad River; but, for reasons over which I had no control, these works were never carried into execution.

Such was the condition of the defenses at Hilton Head on the morning of November 7, 1861. As an offensive work, Fort Walker proved itself unequal to the immense force brought against it. As a defensive work, it accomplished its purpose by so well protecting the lives of the garrison that after sustaining an incessant fire of shot and shell for nearly five hours but 10 of the garrison were reported killed. This number would, I believe, have been materially lessened had the traverses on the water front been practicable.

At the close of the engagement the fort had received but little damage, although hundreds of shot and shell were buried in the parapets and traverses.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FRANCIS D. LEE, Major, Engineers, S. C. A.

Capt. H. E. YOUNG, Assistant Adjutant-General, Hardeeville.

* To appear in Atlas.

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No. 7.

Report of Capt. Josiah Bedon, Eleventh South Carolina infantry, of the bombardment of Fort Walker.

CAMP LEE, November 12, 1861.

SIR: The following is respectfully submitted as a report of the part taken in the defense of Fort Walker, on the 7th instant, by Company C, of this regiment:

The company was posted in the battery at 7.30 o’clock a.m. Five guns were assigned the company-one rifled 24-pounder, under my immediate charge; three 42-pounders, under charge of Lieuts. J. E. Heape, J. J. Guerard, and W. A. Boyle, respectively; one 32-pounder in left bastion of the fort. The rifled gun and the three 42-pounders were on the left front of the fort.

Early in the engagement, which commenced about 9.30 o’clock a.m., the rifled gun and one of the 42s became disabled. Late in the action another 42-pounder became disabled. The remaining 42 and one 32 pounder were served until the ammunition failed. About 2.30 o’clock p.m. we were ordered to evacuate the fort. My company retired in good order, bearing with them their arms.

Two men were slightly wounded, Privates G. Munroe and T. Hudson, and 3 taken prisoners, who were sick in hospital.

I beg leave respectfully to call your attention to the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Heape, who had charge of a 42-pounder until disabled and {p.21} afterwards took charge of a 32-pounder in the left bastion of the fort, as also that of Lieutenants Guerard and Boyle. The sergeants who were chiefs of pieces acted with great coolness and bravery.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOSIAH BEDON, Captain Company C, Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment S. C. Vols.

Lieut. E. W. FRASER, Adjutant Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment S. C. Volunteers.

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No. 8.

Report of Capt. D. S. Canaday, Eleventh South Carolina Infantry, of the bombardment of Fort Walker.

HDQRS. NINTH [ELEVENTH] REGIMENT S. C. VOLS., Camp Lee, November 12, 1861.

SIR: The following is respectfully submitted as a report of the part taken in the defense of Fort Walker on the 7th instant by detachments from Companies F and H, of this regiment, under my command:

There were six guns under my charge-one 32-pounder on the right flank of the fort, two in the right bastion of the fort, one a 32-pounder and the other a 24-pounder. The remaining three were in the redan, two 24-pounders mid one 32-pounder howitzer, Lieuts. F. B. Appleby and T. E. Raysor, of Company H, were in charge of the guns in bastion and redan, and acted with coolness and bravery. But two of the guns could be used in the action, as the others could only be used in land defense. One 32-pounder was disabled by solid shot early in the engagement. The other 32-pounder was served until ammunition gave out.

The officers and men acted with bravery and coolness. One private in Company F (Burnett) was killed; Corporal O. Quin and Privates I. Martin and William Hudson slightly wounded. In Company H were wounded in the arm Corporal E. T. Howell, and slightly in the thigh Private P. Heaton. The remainder of my company and of Company H were acting as infantry outside the fort. Missing from my company (H) Private J. Judah, and from Company F Privates James Bryant and James Colson.

We were ordered to evacuate the fort about 2.30 o’clock p.m., and the detachment retreated in good order, carrying with them their arms, except those which were shot to pieces by the enemy’s fire.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. S. CANADAY, Captain Company H.

Lieut. E. W. FRASER, Adjutant Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment S. C. Volunteers.

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No. 9.

Statement of Capt. C. D. Owens, Assistant Commissary of Subsistence, C. S. Army.

OFFICE A. C. S., THIRD MIL. DIST., DEPT. S. C., Camp Lee, November 23, 1861.

SIR: On the morning of the 7th November I received, through Maj. E. Willis, quartermaster, your orders to report to you at Fort Walker, and accordingly left Beaufort at 5 o’clock a.m.; arrived at Fort Walker, Hilton Head, and reported to you at 8 o’clock p.m. On the receipt of {p.22} your orders to proceed to Charleston with steamer Emma for supplies I made the necessary arrangements to do so, and started in a yawl-boat for the steamer Edisto, in order to be transferred to the Emma then engaged in landing troops at Bay Point. The steamers were compelled by the fire of the enemy to take refuge in Skull Creek, and the steamer Emma I afterwards learned continued on to Savannah. Our boat, in consequence, was compelled to return to the island, and I found it impossible, for that day at least, to carry out your instructions. Since that time you are aware of all that has transpired in my department. In reference to the stores left at Beaufort I would beg leave to call your attention to the report of my chief clerk, Mr. Baya, a copy of which I inclose.* I feel satisfied that Mr. Baya made every exertion in his power to have the stores removed to a place of safety, and his failure to do so was from causes entirely beyond his control.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant

C. D. OWENS, Captain, P. A., and A. C. S.

Brig. Gen. THOMAS F. DRAYTON.

* See No. 10, following.

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No. 10.

Report of Mr. H. T. Baya, Clerk in Confederate Subsistence Department.

HARDEEVILLE, S. C., November 23, 1861.

SIR: In accordance with your instructions I left Beaufort on Wednesday morning, in the steamer General Clinch, with provisions, to be landed at Hilton Head and Bay Point. On our way down, having met the steamer John A. Moore, with a portion of the Fifteenth Regiment on board, bound for Hilton Head, and unable to continue the passage owing to the severity of the wind, we took the troops off of her on board the steamer General Clinch, and proceeded to Seabrook’s Landing, on Hilton Head Island, and landed them. The provisions for that post were also safely landed there. Capt. S. Simmons, the commissary of the post, to whom the provisions were marked, not being at the landing, I sent the invoices to him under care of Capt. E. I. Dawson, quartermaster of the Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment South Carolina Volunteers. At the landing in question I met Capt. C. Tracy, of General Drayton’s staff, to whose attention I called the landing of the provisions. At about 9 p.m. we started on our mission to Bay Point, and laid quietly at anchor about 3 miles from the fort until about daylight the following morning (November 7), when we steamed up to quite near the fort (the usual place of landing,) and began landing provisions for the point in two lighters. Capt. A. E. Rabb, the commissary of the post, being absent, I sent a messenger to him asking his presence. He soon came down to the point of landing, when I informed him of the object of my mission, and handed him your letter containing invoices. He desired me to hurry with the landing, and he would sign receipts for the goods as soon as he could check off the invoices.

In the midst of the landing the fleet of the enemy’s vessels, which were then at anchor near the bar, appeared to be in motion, and soon after came in and began the fight. On their approach we stopped the landing of provisions, hoisted anchor, and stood towards Beaufort, where we arrived at about 1 p.m. I there found the people under intense excitement, the mass of whom were making preparations to go to some place of safety on the main-land, they fully believing that the enemy {p.23} would take possession of the town that night. After considerable anxious thought I concluded it would be best to have what stores we had in Beaufort on board of the steamer General Clinch, but in making inquiry as to whether she would take them, I found that the steamer was almost filled with the various and voluminous properties of the citizens, who were eagerly taking advantage of any and every method to get their things away; and, again, the supply of wood was very short; so much so, that the captain of the boat had to knock down the whole line of fence extending from the wharf to the street, that he might take and use it for fire-wood. He did not wish to overload the boat, as it would make it more difficult for him to reach Charleston, almost overloaded as he then was, and thus, there being no other mode of moving them, they had to remain as they were.

At about 8 p.m. I packed up all of our papers and had them taken on board of the steamer General Clinch, but soon took them off and had them carried to the quartermaster’s quarters, determining to remain until the last moment. We had already heard that our troops were retreating, and had been advised by many (who appeared to be conversant with the geography of the country) that we had better send any of our valuable articles over on the main-land. We still held on until advised by both Captain Pope and Captain Elliott to go. We packed two carts with both the quartermaster’s and commissary’s papers, and I, in company with Mr. Caldwell, of the quartermaster’s department, started in charge of the papers for Pocotaligo. While crossing the town three rockets were fired and the alarm bell was rung to announce the approach of the enemy. This was about 12 o’clock, and the alarm was so great that the few remaining in the town immediately left, leaving the place quite deserted. On the road out we were passed by several, who informed us that the enemy were making their way up Broad River to cut off communication by Port Royal Ferry to the main-land; but this, like other reports, proved false. We arrived at Pocotaligo about 9.30 or 10 o’clock on Friday morning, and remained until Saturday morning, when Mr. Tuomey, of the quartermaster’s department, and myself started with a mule and cart for Beaufort, with the determination to get away any of the public property that we could, and if we were unable to do so to fire it.

Arriving at the ferry, our mule being unfit to take us to Beaufort, we endeavored to procure horses, but were unable to do so, and thus returned to Pocotaligo, where I remained until Sunday afternoon, when, General Ripley offering his special train for our accommodation, with mules, carts, and papers we arrived at Hardeeville, and on Monday, the 11th, reported in person, with papers, to you.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. T. BAYA.

Capt. C. D. OWENS, P. A. and A. C. S., Hardeeville, S. C.

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No. 11.

Report of Col. R. G. M. Dunovant, Twelfth South Carolina Infantry, of the bombardment of Fort Beauregard.

HEADQUARTERS TWELFTH REGIMENT S. C. VOLS., Camp Lee, Pocotaligo, November 16, 1861.

SIR: On the 26th of October last I assumed command of the forces stationed on Bay Point Island, consisting of three companies of the {p.24} Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment, to wit: The Beaufort Artillery, Capt. Stephen Elliott; Colleton Rifles, Captain Anderson, and Captain [J. J.] Harrison’s company of infantry; six companies of the Twelfth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, to wit, Company A, Captain [W. H.] McCorkle; Company C, Captain [H. C.] Davis; Company D, Captain [E. F. Bookter; Company E. Captain Hinson; Company IF, Captain [Hayne] McMeekin, and Company I, Captain [N. B.] Vallandingham, and a small detachment of Captain Screven’s company of Beaufort Guerillas, under Lieutenant Youmans. My staff consisted of Lieut. W. H. Talley, adjutant; Dr. E. B. Turnipseed, surgeon; Capt. T. I. Bell, quartermaster; Capt. E. A. Rabb, commissary; Rev, C. B. Betts, chaplain, and Mr. Robert Chisolm, volunteer on staff. The entire force on the island, inclusive of field, staff, and company officers, was 619. Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes, of the Twelfth Regiment, was placed in command of the six companies of that regiment and Captain Anderson’s company, then at the Narrows. Captain Elliott was assigned to the command of the work known as Fort Beauregard with his own company and Captain Harrison’s. The detachment of Captain Screven’s company was ordered to report directly to me.

Monday, the 4th instant, the enemy’s fleet made its appearance early in the morning, and crossing the bar came to anchor to the south of and opposite the island, but made no further demonstration of an attack on our position during that day.

In the afternoon Commodore Tatnall, with three small steamers, attacked the nearest of the enemy’s vessels, and after sustaining a heavy fire and replying most gallantly, retired slowly up the river.

Tuesday morning, in view of the uncertainty of the point and mode of attack, the following disposition was made of the companies of the Twelfth Regiment: Companies A and D were posted in rear of a range of sand hills, distant about 200 yards from Fort Beauregard, for the purpose of protecting that work in case of an attempt of the enemy to land; Companies C and E took position near Captain Anderson’s company at the Narrows, and Companies F and I were held at the camp of the regiment, being about equidistant between the detachments, so as to support either.

Between 7 and 8 o’clock Commodore Tatnall’s steamers again advanced and engaged the enemy, who met the attack in such numbers and with such weight of metal that the little steamers were compelled again to retreat above the forts. The enemy followed, firing upon the steamers till within range of our guns, when Fort Beauregard joined in the conflict, and drew a heavy fire of shot and shell, principally the latter, upon that work and the other portions of the island occupied by our troops. This engagement lasted nearly two hours, when the enemy’s fleet withdrew and assumed very nearly its former position opposite our island, which it retained for the remainder of the day.

The only casualties on our part were those stated in Captain Elliott’s report, herewith transmitted, as resulting from the explosion of a caisson.

The unfavorable state of the weather prevented any further action of the enemy on Wednesday. Thursday morning, however, the wind lulled, and the water was unusually smooth. Of this the enemy availed himself; and at 8.30 a.m. the fleet of war vessels, headed by what is supposed to have been the Minnesota, bore towards the northwest, till, reaching the main channel, they moved directly towards our batteries. As soon as they came within range Fort Beauregard opened upon the vessel in advance, which, being seconded by Fort Walker and replied to by the enemy, the action became general. About the time of the first movement {p.25} of the fleet it having been reported to me that barges filled with troops were leaving the transports, which still occupied their position opposite the camp, in anticipation of an attempt to effect a landing in that vicinity, I ordered Companies C and E, which had been withdrawn on Wednesday, back to a point near the earthwork at the Narrows, retaining at the camp the four remaining companies of the Twelfth Regiment. After, however, having made a careful personal observation of the movements of the enemy, and in view of their steady advance and heavy fire upon the western end of the island, I changed the arrangement of the force, throwing the four companies at the camp in the rear of the sand hills before referred to near Fort Beauregard, and withdrew within supporting distance the two companies of the Twelfth at the Narrows. Thus the troops remained for several hours under a heavy fire of shot and shell, during which they exhibited great coolness and promptness in obedience to orders. Notwithstanding the protection afforded by the sand hills many shot and shell fell around them, but fortunately without inflicting injury of any kind. The batteries at Fort Beauregard were worked with great gallantry, skill, and energy, and the highest praise is due to Captain Elliott and his command for the manner in which they discharged their important trust.

About 2 p.m. the fire of the enemy upon our batteries was slackened and redoubled against Hilton Head. A little after 3 o’clock it was reported to me by Adjutant Talley that a boat was leaving one of the fleet for the shore of Hilton Head and loud cheers from the former and that Fort Walker was silent. I at once proceeded to Fort Beauregard, and, after the colloquies accurately detailed by Captain Elliott in his report, ordered him to make arrangements for retreat from the fort towards the Narrows.

I then returned and issued the necessary orders for the evacuation of the island, and the force moved in good order towards the eastern portion of the island. The only line of retreat lay across the strip of land known as the Narrows, scarce 50 yards wide and 1,000 long, to the main body of Eddings’ Island, which itself is but an extensive swamp, entirely impenetrable save by a trail known to few, and of such extreme difficulty as to preclude the possibility of transporting baggage of any kind beyond what could be borne on the shoulders of the men. Of the character of the route and the consequent impracticability of transportation I had been fully advised, and therefore did not undertake the removal of camp equipage, stores, or heavy baggage. Nor did I think it prudent to destroy such property by fire, inasmuch as the retreat was at best of doubtful feasibility, and the nature of the movement would have been thereby revealed to the enemy, and its success still further jeoparded, if not entirely frustrated.

I believe that in consequence of the manner in which the evacuation of the island was effected it was unknown to the enemy until it had been fully accomplished, and this conviction is strengthened by their failure to take advantage of the entire command of Station Creek and Beaufort River to cut off the retreat at Jenkins’ Landing, and especially at White Hall Ferry. The body of the command reached the landing at Station Creek and crossed to Dr. Jenkins’ plantation during the night, and after resting a short time at the latter place resumed the march for Beaufort, where it arrived early Friday morning. The town was deserted by the white population, and no representative of the quartermaster’s or commissary’s departments, or other person in authority, could be found. I was therefore under the necessity of assuming the responsibility of taking for the use of the troops such provisions and necessaries {p.26} as their condition imperatively demanded, and had I known the amount and nature of the stores might have saved much public property, which has probably fallen into the hands of the enemy. I proceeded with the command to Port Royal Ferry, and thence to this place, regarding the latter as an important point of defense, and at the same time one from which I could readily open communication to procure the necessary supplies for my command. In consequence of the intricacy and difficulty of the line of retreat, some officers and men, detained by their duties, lost their way, but all these have since rejoined their respective companies. There is but one man whom I am under the necessity of reporting as missing. As to the particulars of this case I refer you to the accompanying report of the efficient surgeon of the Twelfth Regiment, herewith submitted. Some muskets were left, but only those which had been drawn for enlisted men, who were at the time absent by reason of the severe epidemic which had thinned our ranks during the previous month.

No soldier threw away his arms. In regard to the manner in which the retreat was arranged and effected, justice to myself and others requires that I should add a word of explanation. Having received no instructions as to the mode in which the island of Bay Point should be defended, nor of the contingencies upon which it should be abandoned, with no arrangement for receiving orders, by means of signals or otherwise, from headquarters, and totally without information of any plan devised or facilities provided for the retreat of my command in case of disaster, I felt that these circumstances imposed upon me the obligation of endeavoring to secure some means of evacuating the island in the event such a step should become necessary, Accordingly, the state of facts above referred to continuing, on Tuesday I went in person to Captain Elliott, who perhaps was more familiar with the localities than any other person, and after learning from him, in answer to my inquiries, that a retreat was practicable through Eddings’ Island, if boats and flats could be secured to take the forces across Station Creek, I instructed him to select some prudent and trusty person to superintend the collection of the necessary means of transportation at the landing on Edding’s Island. The Rev. Stephen Elliott was chosen to discharge this important duty, and left on Thursday morning for that purpose. Fortunately Capt. Thomas Hanckel, Mr. Henry Stuart, and Mr. W. H. Cuthbert, of Beaufort, had already secured a large number of flats at Dr. Jenkins’ Landing, for the purpose of taking them to some point on Eddings’ Island for our relief. Mr. Elliott informed them of the plan agreed upon, and thus, through the co-operation of these gentlemen and the valuable assistance of Captain Tripp and his command, the evacuation of the island was effected. I communicated the plan of retreat to none save Captain Elliott, the adjutant, and the quartermaster.

Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes, commanding the greater portion of the infantry, was prompt and energetic in executing the orders for the movements of his immediate command. From the nature of the attack the forces at Fort Beauregard were the only active participants in the engagement, and I cannot close this report without drawing special attention to the high qualities of the officer exhibited by Captain Elliott, commanding that work. Compelled from the necessities of our position to act the part of engineer, ordnance officer, and commander of the fort, he exhibited an energy and intelligence in preparing the batteries for the fight which were only equaled by the gallantry and firmness of the defense.

All the members of my staff did their duty. Adjutant Talley, Captam {p.27} Bell, quartermaster, and Rev, C. B. Betts, the chaplain, frequently sent with orders to various parts of the island during the bombardment, executed their trust in a manner entirely satisfactory to me.

Lieutenant Youmans and his detachment were efficient in the performance of the part assigned them. To Lieutenant Johnson, of the Beaufort Artillery, the command is under obligations for valuable services rendered at the ferry across Station Creek, and to Capt. Thomas R. Elliott for similar aid in passing White Hall Ferry.

The reports of Captain Elliott and Surgeon Turnipseed* are herewith respectfully submitted.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. G. M. DUNOVANT, Colonel Twelfth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers.

Capt. H. E. YOUNG, Assistant Adjutant-General.

* The surgeon’s report not found.

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No. 12.

Report of Capt. Stephen Elliott, jr., Beaufort Artillery, of the bombardment of Fort Beauregard.

HEADQUARTERS BEAUFORT VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY, November 13, 1861.

SIR: Having been assigned to the command of Fort Beauregard by Colonel Dunovant, commanding the post, I beg leave to submit the following report:

The garrison consisted of Beaufort Volunteer Artillery (Company A, 83 men) and Captain Harrison’s company (Company D, 66 men), both of Colonel Heyward’s Ninth (Eleventh] Regiment South Carolina Volunteers. To the former was intrusted the main work (thirteen guns); to the latter the hot-shot battery (three guns) and the sand battery (two guns).

On Monday, the 4th instant, the enemy appeared and anchored within the bar 4 miles below the fort. On Tuesday morning, at 7.30 o’clock, five gunboats came within range and opened upon us with heavy guns, throwing spherical and rifle shell with accuracy. One of these struck a caisson, causing it to explode, and thereby injuring slightly one of the gun detachments. I replied, but found the range too great for successful firing, and at 9.15 o’clock a.m. the enemy withdrew, having been struck several times. On Wednesday, the weather being boisterous, the enemy remained quiet.

On Thursday, pursuant to an order previously received from Colonel Dunovant, I dispatched the chaplain of the Ninth [Eleventh] Regiment to Saint Helena, for the purpose of providing transportation in case it should be necessary and prove practicable to retire. At 8.30 a.m. fifteen of the enemy’s sail formed in line and steamed up the harbor, engaging us at 9.15 o’clock. These were subsequently joined by four others. Having passed the batteries, they turned to the left and southwards and repassed near the Hilton Head shore. This circuit was performed three times, after which they remained out of reach of any except our heaviest guns. The last gun from my battery was fired at 3.35 p.m., being the eighth to which the enemy had not replied. A few moments {p.28} afterwards Colonel Dunovant entered the fort and said to me, “Captain Elliott, what is the condition of things over the river?” I replied, “Fort Walker has been silenced, sir.” “By what do you judge?” “By the facts that the fort has been subjected to a heavy enfilade and direct fire, to which it has ceased to reply; that, the vessels having terminated their fire, the flag-ship has steamed up and delivered a single shot, which was unanswered, and that thereupon cheering was heard from the fleet.” “Then, sir, it having been proved that these works cannot accomplish the end for which they were designed-that of protecting the harbor-you will prepare to retire from a position from which our retreat may readily be cut off, and which our small force will not enable us to hold against a land attack.” I then prepared my command for a retreat, destroyed the greater part of the powder, spiked the guns, and an hour later took up the line of march for Eddings’ Island.

Our fire was remitted during those intervals when passing down on the farther side of the river, as the ships were too distant. This cessation afforded a respite to the cannoneers, already fatigued by labors properly belonging to the Engineer and Ordnance Departments. At all other times it was kept up with shot and shell. One of the columbiads was fired 57 times; the other not quite so often. The position of the hot-shot guns in the main battery was such that, when unmasked, the ships were too far distant to be reached by any elevation the guns were susceptible of. They were therefore used but sparingly, but hot shot were fired from two 42-pounders on the front face. The flag-ship was supposed to be on fire more than once.

Our fire was directed almost exclusively at the larger vessels. They were seen to be struck repeatedly, but the great distance-never less than 2,500 yards-prevented our ascertaining the extent of injury. The wooden fuses for the 8-inch shell were very defective, generally igniting the charge a few seconds too soon. The paper fuses were more reliable. It had been found during the engagement on Tuesday that the rifle shell could not without much difficulty be forced down after one or two discharges. They had therefore in the interim been refitted. The gun, however, exploded at the thirty-second discharge, slightly wounding every man of the detachment. No other cause can be assigned except that the gun, after being fired several times in rapid succession, was loaded and allowed to remain. As it became cool it may have contracted upon the shell, and hence the explosion.

The hot-shot battery, manned by Captain Harrison’s company, fired a few rounds, but the great severity of the cannonade in an exposed position drove the men from the guns. Some of his men afterward assisted me in the main work, among whom Sergeant Edenfield deserves to be mentioned with praise. The Beaufort Artillery behaved with coolness under a heavy fire, as is attested by the fact that no accident attributable to carelessness occurred at their guns. Instances of conspicuous bravery might be mentioned, but it would be unfair to eulogize a few when the majority did their duty.

Previous to the engagement the members of this corps contributed each according to his talent to the efficiency of the whole but especially zealous and untiring were Privates S. E. Scanlan and I. E. Falbin in preparing ammunition and placing the battery in order. In this connection I must mention with honor Captain Harrison’s company, who for months before cheerfully gave me their assistance. I must also thank the companies of Colonel Dunovant’s command, who labored to make my position more secure. Honor is due to Midshipmen Maffit and Read, who with coolness and courage gave me valuable aid whenever it was required.

{p.29}

The following is a list of the wounded of the Beaufort Artillery: Capt. S. Elliott, in the leg, by a fragment of rifled gun; Sergt, B. W. Sloman, in the hand, by the same; Privates Fripp, Hamilton, Wilcox, Perryclear, and Joyce, by same; Sergeant Stuart, by recoil of columbiad; Private M. W. Fripp, by the same; Privates William Elliott and F. M. Murdaugh, by explosion of caisson-all slightly. Of Captain Harrison’s company, Privates T. and I. E. Crews lost each an arm by the premature discharge of a gun.

I am, sir, with respect, your obedient servant,

STEPHEN ELLIOTT, JR., Captain of Beaufort Artillery.

First Lieut. WILLIAM H. TALLEY Adjutant of Twelfth Regiment.

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No. 13.

Statement of Messrs. John Tuomey and Henry C. Robertson, of occurrences at Beaufort, S. C., November 7 and 8, 1861.

QUARTERMASTER’S OFFICE PROVISIONAL FORCES, THIRD MILITARY DISTRICT, DEPT. S. C., Camp Lee, November 24, 1861.

About 4 o’clock on the morning of the 7th instant Capt. Joseph A. Huger arrived at our quarters in Beaufort, S. C., with instructions from Brigadier-General Drayton to Maj. E. Willis, quartermaster Third Military District, Department of South Carolina. Major Willis, with Captain Huger, left Beaufort about 5 o’clock a.m. in steamer Emma for Fort Walker, Hilton Head. Twelve o’clock noon same day written orders were received from Brigadier-General Drayton to Major Willis, authorizing the purchase of 2,000 feet of lumber to repair Skull Creek Bridge; also a gang of carpenters, and to send to Fort Walker, Hilton Head, immediately, six barrels of powder, then in the arsenal in Beaufort.

Major Willis having been ordered to report at Hilton Head, the orders were opened, the lumber purchased from Mr. Cockroft, carpenters engaged, and powder shipped all ready to start, when the Confederate steamers Huntress, Captain Morris, and Lady Davis, Captain Rutledge, left, after setting fire to the two light-ships about three miles below Beaufort. The enemy were then reported to be in possession of Broad River and Port Royal Harbor, all communication cut off, and our troops were retreating to the main-land, having abandoned the batteries at Hilton Head and Bay Point. The powder was immediately taken out of the steamer and taken charge of by Mr. Robert Chisolm and Mr. McKee, of Beaufort, who kindly had it taken to a place of safety from the enemy. It is now at Mr. Heyward’s plantation, near Pocotaligo. The carpenters were dismissed and sent to Charleston; the raft of lumber left in Beaufort. Then, with the assistance and advice of Capt. Thomas M. Hanckel, of Brigadier-General Ripley’s staff, and Capt. Carlos Tracy and Capt. Thomas R. S. Emote, of Brigadier-General Drayton’s staff, the two steamers Beauregard and Mary Frances, ordered by Captain Willey of Savannah, Ga., were dispatched forthwith to White Hall Ferry (Ladies Island) with flats to bring over the troops then retreating from Bay Point, consisting of a portion of Col. R. G. M. Dunovant’s command (Twelfth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers) and Beaufort Artillery, Capt. S. Elliott.

{p.30}

The most intense excitement prevailed in Beaufort amongst some of the citizens. They threw up rockets about 11.30 or 12 o’clock at night, as to indicate the approach of the enemy. We immediately packed up all the papers and books we could get and sent them in charge of Mr. Caldwell to Pocotaligo, Mr. H. C. Robertson and the undersigned awaiting the arrival of the troops from Bay Point, whom we furnished transportation for.

On the morning of 8th instant, about 4 o’clock, a report was then in circulation that communication was cut off at Port Royal Ferry. Feeling anxious for the safety of what books and papers we had saved, as they were important, we left Beaufort about 4 o’clock a.m. on foot for about three and a half miles.

Previous to our leaving Beaufort we had all the sick men in the hospital cared for, about 16, who were kindly treated by Capt. C. M. Morris, of steamer Huntress, and taken to Charleston. The medicines and brandy left in Beaufort for Drs. Johnson and Prioleau were taken charge of by Col. R. G. M. Dunovant, as he gave me to understand.

I am, very respectfully,

JOHN TUOMEY.

Capt. H. E. YOUNG, Assistant Adjutant-General.

I certify that the above is a correct statement of things that transpired at Beaufort, S. C.

HENRY C. ROBERTSON.

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NOVEMBER 8, 1861.– Reconnaissance on Hilton Head Island, S. C.

Report of Capt. Q. A. Gillmore, U. S. Corps of Engineers.

OFFICE OF CHIEF ENGINEER E. C., Hilton Head, S. C., November 8, 1861.

SIR: In obedience to your directions of this date to proceed on a reconnaissance of Hilton Head Island, or so much thereof as I could examine, returning to headquarters on the same day, I have to report a completion of the day’s operations under the escort promised to me, to wit, the Seventh Connecticut Regiment, 900 strong, Colonel Terry commanding.

The regiment was placed at my disposal at 11 o’clock a.m., when I at once set out upon the reconnaissance, the principal object of which was to proceed across the island to Seabrook, on Skull Creek, a distance of 6 miles, by the nearest practicable route, and locate suitable positions for batteries to control the inland water communications by way of Skull Creek between Savannah and Charleston.

As no advance had been made from our position on Hilton Head since we came in possession yesterday evening, and as nothing certain was known of the position and movements of the enemy since he was driven from the work, I deemed it proper to exercise great caution against surprise, and accordingly requested Colonel Terry to cover the advance of the main body of escort by skirmishers. Over a very considerable portion of the route we took to Seabrook Point-the one running through the woods beyond General Drayton’s plantation, as distinguished from the one near the shore-skirmishers could not be deployed, as both sides of the road are lined by an impenetrable jungle. Our progress was necessarily quite slow. We reached Seabrook Landing about 2 o’clock p.m. {p.31} without encountering any of the enemy or any white person whatever. From what I can gather from negroes, there are no rebel troops on any of the northern portions of Hilton Head Island.

About 300 of them, with some wounded, passed over the road last night about the time we were disembarking. They were under the influence of a terrible panic; knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, cartridge-boxes, &c., were found scattered over the road and on the wharf at Seabrook, where the hasty embarkation took place. We also found at the landing a number of rifled muskets and bayonets. There is near the wharf, some in store and some outside, a considerable quantity, say fifteen or eighteen large wagon loads, of valuable commissary supplies, such as bacon, hard bread, sugar, rice, corn, vinegar, &c. We brought back two wagon loads of these articles which Colonel Terry will account for. Had my orders admitted of it I would have remained at Seabrook with half the escort until boats could have been dispatched from headquarters under convoy to bring off the commissary stores. At Seabrook an excellent position for a battery, elevated some 12 or 15 feet above the level of the river, to sweep and control the Skull Creek channel, has been selected. The river at that point is about one-fourth of a mile inside, and is skirted on the farther side by a marsh, which enlarges the distance between the firm ground on the opposite shore to half a mile or a little more.

I caused soundings to be taken across the stream at half tide, finding two fathoms at the end of Seabrook wharf, three fathoms a short distance out, and a good 5-fathom anchorage in the middle of the stream.

A battery of five or six heavy guns at Seabrook would be quite sufficient to close this inland water passage between Charleston and Savannah, but to secure it against a coup de main I would recommend an inclosed work of strong relief and of sufficient capacity for 1,000 men, with guns on the gorge and with suitable flanking arrangements, should be commenced immediately. It should mount fifteen guns, at least, of all calibers. The route over which I passed is practicable for heavy artillery and heavy transportation generally, but materials can best be taken to Seabrook by water. The wharf there requires some repairs.

On my return I increased the guard at General Drayton’s plantation at the request of the officer in charge there. I found no public property or papers at General Drayton’s, with the exception of two letters already in your possession.

There is no post-office at Seabrook. I have to acknowledge the cordial and efficient co-operation of Colonel Terry in carrying out the objects of the reconnaissance.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Q. A. GILLMORE Captain of Engineers, Chief Engineer E. C.

Brigadier-General WRIGHT, Commanding Forces on Hilton Head, S. C.

NOVEMBER 10-11, 1861.– Expedition from Hilton Head to Braddock’s Point, S. C.

Report of Capt. Q. A. Gillmore, U. S. Corps of Engineers.

U. S. ENGINEER OFFICE, Hilton Head, S. C., November 12, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor to report that I accompanied Brigadier-General Wright on a night expedition to Braddock’s Point, leaving Hilton {p.32} Head on the evening of the 10th instant and returning on the afternoon of the following day. We reached Lawton’s plantation about midnight, where our escort, composed of five companies of the Seventh Connecticut Volunteers, Colonel Terry commanding, was halted until 4 o’clock in the morning. By the road Lawton’s place is nearly 4 miles from Braddock’s Point. At 4 o’clock the march was resumed, and the column reached the point where the road strikes the beach just at the break of day, where another halt was ordered. When it became light enough to reconnoiter a single company was sent forward for that purpose. The report soon came back that the place appeared to be abandoned, when General Wright and staff went forward.

A battery of one 24-pounder gun, old pattern, was found behind an irregular parapet It was on a siege carriage. A battery of one 10-inch columbiad, on a new wrought-iron carriage and a good wooden platform with iron traverse circle, was found. The parapet at this point is of considerable length (263 feet), and contains within it a good magazine and some little ammunition. A well-constructed parapet, containing two 24-pounder guns, old pattern, was found. It contained a good magazine. Some few rounds of balls, grape and canister, were scattered on the beach outside the parapet, apparently left behind in the haste of embarkation or for the want of the means of transportation. Near this battery is a good garrison sling-cart, and all the finished parts of wooden columbiad platform, full circle. Three ordinary “A” tents were left standing, which were probably all that the garrison had, as extensive preparations existed for protecting troops from the inclemency of the weather by means of poles erected on the ground and covered with branches of trees.

Braddock’s Point cannot be held by us without a considerable force (except by the active co-operation of the fleet), so as to enable us to control the Calibogue Sound. To hold it with this end in view the point should be occupied in force, and strong guards stationed at the point where the cross-road at Lawton’s and the one above it debouch upon the eastern shore.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Q. A GILLMORE, Captain and Chief Engineer.

Brig. Gen. THOMAS W. SHERMAN Commanding Division, Hilton Head, S. C.

NOVEMBER 24, 1861.– Occupation of Tybee Island by the Union forces.

Report of General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS, Savannah, November 29, 1861.

SIR: On Sunday last, 24th instant, the enemy crossed Savannah Bar with five of his vessels, and made a lodgment on Tybee Island. Subsequently three other vessels joined them, and the force on Tybee Island was re-enforced. Five vessels, one of them a frigate, said to be the Sabine now lay inside of the bar north of Tybee Island. They are 3 or 4 miles from Fort Pulaski, within range of whose guns they have not yet approached. The force on Tybee Island is reported to be large, but I am unable to state it. No demonstration of their purpose has yet been made further than the occupation of the island.

{p.33}

The preparation and arrangement of Fort Pulaski ordered on my first arrival have progressed slowly, but I do not think the passage of the river can be forced. Fort Jackson is now armed, and its defenses have been strengthened, and forms an interior barrier. The channel of the river has also been blocked up.

The force in the Savannah River is believed to be part of that from Port Royal Harbor.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE, General, Commanding.

Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.

DECEMBER 6-7,1861.– Expedition to Port Royal Perry and Beaufort, S. C.

Reports of Col. William E. Martin, C. S. Army, with preliminary correspondence.

HEADQUARTERS MOUNTED REGIMENT, Pocotaligo, November 25, 1861.

Capt. T. A. WASHINGTON, Aide-de-Camp, Coosawhatchie, S. C.:

CAPTAIN: I have the honor of inclosing copies of the following papers:

A. General Ripley’s order date November 16.

B. Memorandum by myself.

C. Reports to General Ripley, November 19.

D. Letter to F. H. Harleston, aide-de-camp, November 22.

E. Extract from a letter of General Ripley, November 24.

I hope you will pardon the trouble of asking your attention to these papers. I am embarrassed about the duty devolved upon me, because I do not know whether my coadjutor, Captain Pope, appointed to the command jointly with myself, has abandoned the project; and whether he has or has not, I am at a loss to know whether General Lee would approve the execution of the only order practicable for cavalry-the operations on Port Royal Island and separate movement. If the matter had been confided to me solely I would have attempted that portion of it before this time. I feel bound to wait for the co-operation of Captain Pope a reasonable time. My doubts are whether I have a right to wait any longer. These doubts it is my anxious desire to have resolved by an expression of opinion from headquarters, and it is to solicit your assistance in obtaining it that I venture to invite your kind assistance.

In the exercise of the discretion with which I am intrusted I would not now ask advice if the matter were not complicated by the joint operation contemplated and now apparently impracticable. I am anxious to gratify the public expectation for action on Port Royal Island immediately. I think the objects of the expedition can be attained in safety as far as that island is concerned, and I would be gratified by permission to proceed in its execution. May I beg the favor of you, therefore, under the circumstances, to favor me with advice from General Lee, if you think it proper to request it.

I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. E. MARTIN, Colonel Mounted Regiment. {p.34}

[Inclosure A.]

HEADQUARTERS PROVISIONAL FORCES, DEPT. S. C., Tulafinny, November 16, 1861.

Col. WILLIAM E. MARTIN, Commanding Mounted Regiment:

COLONEL: You will proceed as quickly as possible to organize four or more parties, to be composed of volunteers from your command and such citizens as you can induce to give their services to the country, to proceed, in such manner as you may determine upon and direct, into that section of country which is now in possession of the enemy, to take such steps as may be fit and proper for the removal and escape of citizens of South Carolina or their slaves, and for the protection of the material property which may be in the vicinity, and to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. Should it be necessary, you are authorized to destroy all cotton which is in that district of country, to prevent its being made use of by the enemy, but where the owner of the property is present let him be consulted. On no account, however, let it fall into the hands of the enemy if your force can prevent it. Much discretion must be left to you in carrying out these orders, but first secure all property, next prevent the enemy from getting possession of cotton.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B. S. RIPLEY, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

P. S.-Should you be unable from any circumstance to carry out this order in full, carry it out as far as possible.

[Indorsement.]

I have seen the within order and approve of it. I suggested it to General Lee, because I consider the property now in possession of the enemy and because its destruction weakens the enemy.

F. W. PICKENS.

[Inclosure B.]

NOVEMBER 16, 1861.

On the next day I was shown by Captain Pope orders from General Ripley assigning the captain to the command of two or more parties in the expedition and directing the movements to be made in conjunction with and simultaneous with mine.

[WM. E. MARTIN, Colonel Mounted Regiment.]

[Inclosure C.]

CAIN MARTIN, NEAR POCOTALIGO S. C., November 19, 1861.

Brigadier-General RIPLEY, Charleston, S. C.:

GENERAL: Referring to your orders for penetrating into the islands held by the enemy, I have the honor to report that, in consequence of Captain Pope’s intimate knowledge of the topography of these islands and the navigation for reaching them and his capabilities as an officer, I intrusted to him the details of the plan for reaching Saint Helena, while I determined, in conjunction with Major Oswald, to take charge of a strong column of cavalry for operations on Port Royal Island. Your orders directed the duties to be performed by volunteers from my command and such citizens as could be induced to give their aid. On {p.35} my return to camp, after an absence of twenty-eight hours (my visit to the city being partly to see my sick family and partly to make arrangements for the expedition) I found the first impediment in the way by the discovery of the whole plan being known and openly talked about among the planters; indeed, in several instances, under my own observation, they spoke of it in promiscuous assemblages as if it were an ordinary topic of conversation. Fearing the information would reach the enemy, I determined to act promptly. Captain Pope undertook to confer with the island planters and ascertain how many of them could be induced to co-operate with us. Here we have both experienced a great disappointment, as we have scarcely met with a man who was willing to lend his aid and the knowledge of navigation essential to the enterprise. The water transportation to Saint Helena would be in boats and flats by oars, occupying, under the most favorable circumstances of weather and tide, fully two hours. If cavalry were to be transported the flats would take horses with their riders, and I was unwilling, with my knowledge of the difficulty and danger of transporting cavalry in open water and in flats without aprons, to risk any horses and men but those belonging to Captain Tripp’s company, in which the troopers and horses are accustomed to such mode of transportation. I regret to be obliged to inform you that with two or three exceptions this company refused to volunteer. Having no infantry, I was thus left to the volunteers from my command. I have purposely avoided calling on them until the expedition was ripe for execution, but I have no doubt of being