THEIR PERILOUS POSITION.

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covered in time to enable Col. Browne hastily to retire, with trifling loss. He made the best of his way towards Hatteras, abandoning his camp to the enemy. He was met by Colonel Hawkins, fifteen miles from Hatteras, with a force of five hundred men; advancing to his relief, accompanied by two steamers on the sound. Here they halted, and awaited the approach of the enemy, who were in pursuit. The steamer Monticello proceeded along the coast, to discover the position and watch the movements of the enemy. They were found about fifteen miles in the rear, proceeding along the narrow Island, so narrow as to bring them directly within range of the steamer's guns, which opened upon them a very destructive fire. Retreat, which was attempted, did not relieve them from the effect of the steamer's fire, which kept constantly abreast of them, pouring upon them a terrific shower of shot and shell. The rebel fleet, at one time, attempted to interfere, but the guns of the Monticello soon sunk two of their vessels, and compelled the others to retire, when she again pursued the retreating enemy, until darkness hid them from view, and, under cover of which, they escaped in transports.

The loss of the enemy, in their retreat, was very heavy, and darkness only saved them from utter destruction.

As the summer advanced, the extraordinary activity in all the northern sea-ports and navy-yards, indicated that the Government was preparing to strike the rebels in their most vulnerable point-the sea coast-a blow that would fall with crushing force.

Hatteras had fallen; but Hatteras was a point of comparatively little importance. There were other harbors upon the southern coast, in which the navies of the world might ride in safety; and to capture and occupy one of these, was the object of the great Naval Expedition, which sailed from Hampton Roads, on the 29th of October.

In order that this object might be attained with the smallest possible loss, and that the blow might be the more effective,

REAR ADMIRAL S. F. DUPONT,
Commander of the Southern Expedition.

because unexpected, its destination had been kept secret. The instructions to the commanding officers, were not delivered until the last moment, and then they were ordered not to be opened until the expedition was at sea.

This magnificent fleet, the largest that had ever been con centrated on our coast, was under command of Commodore Samuel F. Dupont, and consisted of over seventy vessels, including sixteen vessels of war, twenty-three steam transports, and twenty-six sailing vessels; also several steam-tugs and ferry boats. The scene on its departure from Hampton Roads, is thus described by an eye-witness:

The shore at the Fortress was lined with spectators; the ramparts were dotted here and there with soldiers, and even the rebels on the beach, between Willoughby's and Sewell's Point, came down to see us off. As the troop-laden transports

ITS FORCE AND DESTINATION.

457

passed each other, the men cheered, and various bands enlivened the scene, by stirring strains of music. The whole scene was one of grandeur; and during the morning, the fleet lay scattered over an area of twenty miles. According to the order of sailing, the vessels were formed in three parallel lines, preceded by the naval squadron, in a face line with several gun-boats, to guard either side, and the rear. When thus formed, the distance from the eastern to the western limits of the fleet, was about twelve miles; and from the northern to the southern, about the same. As the day drew to a close, the leading vessels slackened their speed, and the line of the fleet was shortened by two miles; and night came on, with everything going on finely, the fleet making about five and a half knots per hour. The land force on board the fleet, consisted of fifteen thousand men, under the command of Acting Major-General W. T. Sherman.

All went well with the fleet, until the third day out, when a terrible storm, one of the severest ever known on the Atlantic coast, scattered it, and badly damaged some of the vessels. Several were wrecked on the coast, and quite a number were compelled to return to Fortress Monroe.

On the morning of the third of November, a portion of the fleet arrived off Port Royal harbor, in South Carolina, about midway between Savannah and Charleston, which proved to be the point of attack. During that night and the next day, the scattered vessels kept coming in, until all the war vessels, and all the transports, except those which had been injured by the storm, were on hand, and ready for action. On the fourth, two small steamers were sent in to take soundings, ascertain where the channel lay, and prepare buoys for the guidance of the fleet. These were convoyed by several gunboats, which were fired upon by the rebel batteries; but the distance was too great for effective execution, and the object of the expedition was successfully accomplished.

On the morning of the 5th, several gun-boats, guided by the buoys placed the day before, were sent in with the view to draw the enemy's fire, and thus ascertain his strength and position. They were fired upon by two batteries, situated on either side of the harbor, and mounting respectively twentythree and fifteen heavy guns. After an active cannonade of between two and three hours, the vessels, which had sustained no injury, were signaled to return, which they did, having accomplished the object of the reconnoissance In the afternoon of the same day, all the vessels passed inside the bar, and arrangements were made for a combined attack on the day following. But the weather being unfavorable, the wind blowing off shore and accompanied by a heavy swell, the attack was deferred until the next day, the 7th.

The plan of the battle was very simple, and yet most effective. The ships were to sail in a circle, or ellipse, running close to the shore as they came down the river, drifting or steaming in line as slowly as possible past the batteries there, and pouring in their shot and shell as long as they remained within range. Then making the turn to go back, as they passed up on the other side of the river, paying a similar compliment to the batteries there. Then again turning and passing down on the other side, the game to be continued until the rebel flag should be hauled down. At 9 o'clock the ships were arranged in line of battle, and at half-past 9 took up their magnificent march in the following order:

Seneca, 1 large rifled gun; 2 small how- Ottawa, 3 guns.

itzers.

R. B. Forbes, 1 gun.

The Forbes did not come into the fight

until the second round.

Pembina, guns.

Vandalia, in tow of the gun-boat Isaac
Smith, 22 guns.

Isaac Smith, 1 large pivot gun.