PORT ROYAL BAY, Battle of. As early as June 1861 the United States authorities, order more effectually to maintain the blockade and to secure a military and naval base of oper rations on the southern Atlantic Coast, deter mined to seize a good port south of Cape Hat teras; and its August a naval and land expedi tion was ordered for the purpose. Capt. S. F. Dupont was ordered to organize the naval ex pedition, and Gen. Thomas W. Sherman to organize a force of 12,000 men to accompany it. It was agreed between Dupont and Sherman to seize Port Royal Bay, one of the finest harbors on the coast, 56 miles south of Charleston and 25 north of Savannah. The destination was kept a profound secret. The fleet of 16 war vessels and nearly 40 transports, carrying Sher man's 12,000 men with supplies, sailed from Hampton Roads on the morning of 29 October, and on the night of 1 November was struck by a furious storm off Hatteras and scattered. Four vessels and a few lives were lost, one war vessel was disabled and, with two trans ports, returned to Hampton Roads; but by the 6th the fleet had assembled off the entrance to Port Royal Bay, the gunboats, preceding, hav ing driven into the harbor three Confederate vessels that had run out and opened fire upon them, and coming under a long cross-fire from two works commanding the entrance to the It had been the intention to silence and take these works on the afternoon of the 6th but necessary arrangements were not perfected until too late in the day. The bay was defended by two earthworks and some shore batteries, one earth work on each side of the entrance, Fort Walker, on Hilton Head, the south side, and Fort Beau regard, on Bay Point, Saint Phillips Island, on the north. These were strong and well-con structed works, mounting 42 heavy guns, 2Z i of which were in Fort Walker, and garrisoned by nearly 3,000 men, under Gen. T. F. Drayton. The distance between the two works was two and one-half miles. In addition to the land works, there were three small Confederate gun boats of two guns each in the bay, under com mand of Corn. Josiah Tatnall. The Wabash, the flagship of the fleet, carrying 46 guns, was to lead in the attack, followed by nine other vessels, a ship's length apart, and a flanking column of five gunboats was to move on the right. The fleet was to pass up the roads on the Bay Point side, delivering broadsides on Fort Walker until each vessel had reached a point two miles above the fort, when they were to turn and come down and again deliver their broadsides at Fort Walker and enfilade its two water-faces. Having completed the circuit, the line was to repeat the movement until the forts surrendered. At the same time the five flanking gunboats were to pass and attack Fort Beaure gard and, on reaching the turning-point two miles above it, remain there and hold Tatnall's fleet in check, with special orders to see that it did not make a dash upon the transports. At 9 a.m. 7 November the fleet crossed the bar and advanced in a long well-oidered column to the attack, while the transports lay at anchor out side ready to land troops. Captain Dupont led
the Wabash up the middle of the bay, receiving the first fire from both forts at 9.26 aist., and replying to both, until two miles beyond them; then he turned to the left in a wide circle and led back past Fort Walker at 800 yards dis tance, opening upon it broadside after broadside. The rest of the column followed, each vessel in succession opening its guns, as it came within range and maintaining a rapid fire as it slowly drew past. The gun-fire from the fleet was terrific continuous roar and was replied to by a well-maintained fire, notwithstanding the fact that hundreds of shells were dropping into the fort and almost burying its defenders, under the dirt thrown up. At the same time the flanking column of five gunboats steamed up the bay, nearer to Bay Point, and poured broadsides into Fort Beauregard and then, steering to the other side, advanced against Tatnall's fleet, driving it into Scull Creek and, taking position near the shore and flanking Fort Walker, opened upon it a destructive fire, to which it could not respond, as the one gun on that flank of the fort had been shattered by a round shot. After the main column had passed down the bay about two miles, it turned, at 11 A.M., and again passed in front of Fort Walker, at 300 yards closer range than before, and with a more terrific fire, part of which was against Fort Beauregard. As the manoeuvre was repeated for the third time it was discovered that the Confederates were aban doning Fort Walker; its guns were silenced; a few shots were fired, to which there was no response; a small party was sent ashore, the Confederate flag hauled down, and the Union flag run up at 2.20 P.M. Before the close of the action the Pocahontas,. Commander Percival Drayton, which had been delayed by injuries received in the storm, entered the bay and opened fire on the fort. Commander Drayton was a brother of the commanding officer of the Confederate forces. The Confederates had left in haste, leaving tents standing, and escaped across Scull Creek, being assisted by the boats of Tatnall's fleet. By nightfall the transports had come into the bay and landed Gen. H. G. Wright's brigade at Hilton Head. Fort Beaure gard was abandoned about 5 P.M., after its com manding officer had spiked the guns and de stroyed the greater part of the powder. It was occupied next morning by General Stevens' bri gade. The battle was of great value to the Federal government in its moral and political effect, in addition to the fact that it gave the Union army one, of the finest harbors on the Atlantic Coast, as a base for future operations for both the army and navy. The Union loss was 8 killed and 23 wounded; the Confed erate loss, 11 killed, 48 wounded and 7 missing. Consult 'War Records' (Vol. VI) ; 'Naval War Records' (Vol. XII) ; Ammen. Atlantic ; Maclay, 'History of the United States Navy' (Vol. H) ; 'Battles and Leaders of the Civil War) (Vol. I).
PORT Or rwa yal dal shah. See Poirr ROYAL