PORT ROYAL, S. C
\pˈɔːt ɹˈɔ͡ɪə͡l], \pˈɔːt ɹˈɔɪəl], \p_ˈɔː_t ɹ_ˈɔɪ_əl]\
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was first settled in 1562 by a band of Huguenots under Jean Ribault. The colony was soon reinforced by Rene Laudonnière, but it was not wholly successful, even at the first. Then Pedro de Menendez, appointed Spanish Governor of Florida, after founding St. Augustine in 1565, marched along the coast and destroyed the French settlement, while Ribault was sailing unsuccessfully against St. Augustine. In revenge for this a French gentleman, Dominic de Gourgues, in 1567 destroyed the Spanish settlement at St. Augustine by a private expedition.-During the late Civil War, to complete the Federal blockade of the Southern coast, Commodore Dupont, commanding the Federal frigate, "Wabash," fourteen gunboats, thirty-four steamers and twenty-six sailing vessels, attacked the fort, November 7, 1861. The works were garrisoned by 1700 South Carolina troops under Generals Drayton and Ripley and were protected by Commodore Tattnall with six Confederate gunboats. The expedition started from Fort Monroe late in October. The fleet entered the harbor between the two forts, firing upon them simultaneously. Then sailing in an elliptical track the ships concentrated their fire upon Fort Walker, which surrendered after three hours. Fort Beauregard was also speedily reduced. The Confederate fleet had been prevented from rendering assistance by a few gunboats.
By John Franklin Jameson
Word of the day
Snake's-head
- Guinea-hen flower; -- so called in England because its spotted petals resemble the scales of a snake's head.