The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-12-03
LATER FROM PORT ROYAL.
Arrival Of Guuboat NC Clellan
Reconnaissance At TYBEe ISLAND.

The U. s. steamer Mcclellan, Alfred g. Gray,
commanding, arrived yesterday morning at half
past seven o'cl,Ck from 1ybee Island and Ill.
ton Head. The following items Of Intelligence
are iurnishcd by the sailing master Of the
steamer
On the day before the Mcclellan sailed she
conveyed Gen. Sherman and staff 20 Tyboe Is
land, which Is situated sixteen miles from Hi
ton Head, just south Of the entrance 20 the
savannah river, and within easy range Of Fort
Pulaski, which gusrts the entrance to tho liver
and is therefore, the key to Savannah. The
object OF the reconnaissance was to fix upon a
plan Of iortifyihg the isaud 50 as to make il a
la-e OF operations against Fort Pulaski and
Savannah. II ia unden TODD to be the intention
Of our forces to erect mortar batteries at very
early DAY, with view to SIe reduction Of Put.
asN. The project is thought to DO entirely feas-
lille.
Ia the course Of tho rcconr oisance the party,
consisting Of General Sherman, his staff, Cap,.
Gray. and guard Of about 20 marines, was
ii ed on Ivy Fort Pulaski. -Four shells were
discharged. The first fell short about 30 Yards
but was an excellent line shot. The next one
cSp'oded in the air. Had II fallen before ex-
ploding It is believed that considerable loss Of
life would have ensucd. The flight Of tho shell
was noticed anil the order given to lie upon the
| ground. General Sherman afterwards stated
that II would undoubtedly have fallen in the
midst Of his party. The tbirl she'll fell short
and the fourth exploded on the beach, too far
or to do any damage.
An abandoned cnrenchment which had
mounted battery, was found at the south end
of Tybcc Island. Tho cannon had however,
been removed.
The attack Of Commodore Tatnall on the
26th which has been referred to- was not worthy
Of the namo OF battle. Tatnlll came with his
three or four vessels near enough to fire few
shots, which did no damage, and Immediately
retired.
TyLee Island Ia not vet occupied by our
troops; but each night party is sent from our
vessels TO light a fire. The national colors are
fly Ing from the lighthouse rear.
Preparations are going on at Port ROYAL for
the expedition South but it's DIES, ination is not
stated. Fernandina, for several reasons, /, SUR
posed 10 he the place where the blow will fall.
The following vessels, among o'hcrs, will COM
pose II :-Cahawba Daniel Webster, Oriental,
Matanzas, Belyidcrc, Philadelphia 10 carry
horsts,) Empire City, Roanoke and SIar Of tho
South.
Among the war vessels which were al Port
Roysl, and, it was supposed, would take part in
the expedition, are the following Steam-i rigate
Wabash, sloop-Oi-war Dale, the Pawnec, Mohi-
can, Seminole, Isaac Z. Smith, Mercury, Petit,
Pcmbina Ottawa, Unadilla and Ellen.
Ihe Vixen was assisting in surveying the 10.
calities near Hilton Head and was LAYING down
buoys.
The large amount of provisions of various
kinds found there Is not yet exhausted. Cattle,
sheep, turkeys, chickens, are very plenty; some
Of them obtained by foiaging parties, which pro-
coed TO the islands in the vicinity, and in some
cases, IL is said, to the mainland. There Is and
will be for long time, no scarcity of fresh meat
from the sources near the present encampment
Cf our troops
There is no longer any constant guard of
vessels at Beaufort and Il il left almost ex-
"A a Of ha r.
whom there are many. There is, however, one
white man, secesriOnist, who remains in the
town nights, and on those DAYS when the United
States forces are not seen, but on the appear
ancc Of danger, he Instantly retires. lie is
supposed to he spy.
1t was understood, when the Mcclellan sailed
that Beaufort would be occupied, probably the
mex, day,hy a force of about live thousand men,
which could lie easily spared even in addition
to the five thousand which would accompany
the expedition. The purpose of the o,,upancy
Wa To prevent tho scccssionists from taking
possession, and also TO retain the considerable
amount Of property which vet remains there
The scCessionisis have come there in the night,
in few cases and tak,n away property but il
is understood that no large bodies Of their troops
are in the immediate vicinity
mt CoSrRAHANps.
The "conmhand,' occupy Beaufort, Hill
tons Head Island and the contiguous islands in
considerable numbers. Those Who have already
separated ir'm their masters and are only UNI
der their own control, are estimated at fiye hun
dred to a thousand. These are within easy
reach Of our forces. Those at aud around Beau
fort are by some estimated at nearly the figures
given. \ few of the latter are supposed ~ be
looking after the property of their masters.
But ol the great majority It Is known that they
would he very glad to enter our lines for tho
purpose generally OF obtaining employment.
The men Of the steamer Mcclellan, when they
were at Beaufort, could have brought away n
full load of them had they been authorized
to do So. The "contralands' crowded around
them, begging to he allowed the priyile se OF
getting ON board. Quite numier assisted in
loading the lumber, for which they asked and
received no pay, and worked, the men say, ''likc
good fellows Thirteen Of them were finally