Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-08
SKETCH OF BULLS BAY AND OF PORT
ROYAL AND BEAUFORT
BULLS BAY.


ROYAL AND BEAUFORT.
BULLS BAY.
Few Of our navigators have ever entered the
waters of Bulls Bay, because, though extend
ing for some ten or twelve miles from north to
south, by about half that distance in width,
there are no towns or settlements along its in
terror coast, and nothing to attract commercial
vessels. 1t is situated some twenty-thre miles
northeast of Charleston, and is connected with
! that harbor by numerous creeks. 1t is easy Of
approach from the sea for vessels of LEES than
fifteen feet draught, affords very good anchor
age, and can be easily put in a state of com.
plete defense. At high tide the bar has fifteen
feet of water. If one of the objects of the sx.
pedition be-as we have heretofore stated and
still believe-to provide havens for our vessels
and winter quarters for our troops in those
southern latitudes, this point has been well &C.
lected. The bay is studded with islands-some
of which-particularly Bulls Island-can be
made available for defensive purposes. We
have no doubt that formidable intrenchments
are already in course of erection by our troops
at the most suitable points. It was for such
purposes that the feet took with it such an
immense amount of lumber, brick, and other
building materials, tools, mechanics and la
borers.
1t must not be supposed that the occupation
OF this point at the present time indicates at,
immediate land movement upon Charleston.
we do not believe that any such movement is
contemplated. Besides the fact that the diyi.
sion of the army under General Sherman is not
of numerical force sufficient to warrant any
assumption of the kind, the nature of the land
bordering Bulls Bay would forbid it. For
miles from the coast stretches inward an i'm.
penetrable mOrass euBhoniously and not inap-
propriately designated He'll Hole Swamp.
There is not a road or path through it, nor.
perhaps, is pathway practicable. The creeks
that wind from the bay in the direction of
Charleston might be nayigated BY small gun
boats, but we do not believe that such design
is contemplated. The only real object of our
taking possession of the bay is, we imagine,
simply to constitute a rendezvous for our yes.
sells, and winter quarters for eur troops, in
connection with similar establishments vet to
be made further south-as for instance, at
fort hoyai, which Is, we presume, the next
point to be occupied
The entrance to Bulls Bay is ianked on its
right by large fertile island called Raccoon
Island, and on the left by Bulls Island. The
latter is some five or six miles in length. and
Is well calculated for large military encamp-
ment. 1t is here, particularly, that we look ed
for the erection of strong fortiications
The marshy nature of the soil adjacent to the
bay, while 1t would interfere with any land
movement of our troops-if such were
contemplated-will also prevent their being
interrupted in the erection of their entrepch.
ments by any formidable force of the rebels
SO that what might at first sight appear to be a
disadvantage, will be, in reality, an advantage
to US.
PORT ROYAL AND BEAUFORT
Many persons are inclined to believe that
the first destination of the feet will prove to
have been the harbor of Beaufort or Port
Royal, or at all events, that this place, If not
the first, will prove to be the second point to
which the expedition will pay its respects 1t
Is the best harbor on the South Carolina coast.
and yet, like Bulls Bay, it is but little fire..
quented.
Port Royal is fifteen miles northeast from
the entrance of Savannah river, and is per.
maps tho most important point on the Atlantic
coast OF all the Southern States which border
upon that sea for the purpose of hostile visit
The entrance to Port Royal is the best chan
mel for ships through the bars in the whole
range of ports below Norfolk, and the harbor
Is sufhc1ent to foat the whole expeditionary
fleet. It's accessibility, its cspsciousness. and
It's sonugulty TO Charleston and Savannah
cause 1t Ia be looked upon with much fear and
dlstrust by the citizens Of South Carolina and
Georgia, for they-correetly or not remains to
be seen-have selected it as the rendezvous of
the expedltionary fleet. The tswn of Beau
fort stands on the west bank of Port RovsI
river, and is connected by rail with all the
principal towns and cities in the Southern and
Southwestern States. This renders the Assem-.
bling of feet on Port Royal, and the occupa-
tlon OF Beaufort, peculiarly dangerous to the
rebels of those regions. Port Royal was the
original point of settlement of South Carolina
In 1910, and its great superiority as an en-
trance and harbor has always been acknowl-
edged. Why, indeed, it became subordinate
TO Charleston and Savannah does not clearly
appear, unless it was for the reason that il
was not central to South Carolina, it occupy-
ing the southern extremity of the State, and
was too near the only good harbor of Georei a
for commerce. A glance at the map will show
that more vulnerable spot for striking at the
rebels could not be selected. On either hand
lie Georgia and South Carolina, with their
capitals, Charleston and Savannah, the hot
beds Of secession. The Communication ha-
tween the cities would be the first to be seized
the distance between the two cities being IO4
miles, and force moving up the waters from
Beautort would strike the road at Pocelalego
hfty-fye miles from Charleston and forty. nine
from Savannah, by which means Charleston or
Savannah could be taken on the rear. The
forts and batteries Of both harbors yould tbus
be rendered useless as defences to their re-
spective cities.
Steering for Port Royal hsrbor, the course
after taking bearings is due west for 81.
Miehael's head, within fifteen leagues of which
Will De FOUND twenty to twenty-five fathoms
water. Land is made in clear weather at q
distance Of six Leagues, in twelve fathoms
water. Port Royal entrspce is known by
sun MI grove of trees which stand on the west
side OF 1t, and tower above all the other trees
like a high crowned hat; hence the grove is
called the Hat Of Port Royal. The entrance to
Fort Royal is between two immense breakers
one on the north called Coles Care, the other
on the southwark called Martins Industry.
Between these two breakers the channel is a
mile wide.
The town Of Beaufort is built on the west
bank OF the Port Royal river, narrow branch
OF the ocean, fifty miles northeast of Savannah
and ffty-fve southwest Of Charleston. The
town Is old, with less than q thousand inhabi-
tsnts, and OF far less importance in trade now
than its namesake Of North Carolina. II is,
nevertheless, within easy distance of both
Charleston and Savannah, and but ten miles
from the railroad which connects those cities.
Beufort Is situated in the district of the same
name, one of the most populous and fertile In
the whole State In 1850 this district produced
more rice and more sweet potatoes than any
other county in the United States,- or district
In H. kakA a.. - ks~E.