Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-30
rSffhfsr1sa rRoM foRf hoYAt.
~ TIE VICINITY or
CHARLESTON
scATTERATfoN OF THE cHIvAtRy.
COTTON SEIZED.
The Navy Department has received the follow:
L. q STEAMER PAwvFR,

lnSI
Z q STEAMER PAwSFR,
Port Royal, s. c, De:sr7btr 81 1901.
Sra: In obedience to your order of the lith In
slant, left this barbor at daylight Of the l5:h,
accompanied by the Runboei Seneca, Lieut. Com
msnding Daniel Ammsn, and coast-su,~ey
steamer Wien, Capt C. o. Boutslle, but at the
har fund that the besvy Dortbessser which was
blow ne bad raised sucb ses a. to render u ont
Of the question TO attempt entering the rive-s
which vas directed 70 srsmine. I therefore
returned to my anchorage, which ! len second
time, however, on the following morning. and
feschNd The North Ed sto at 2 O'Clock. shortly
after, crossed the bsr with the seneca, pIloted In
hy Cspt Bcutelle In the Vixen, which vessel be
however LEFT, when We were inside, for the Paw
nee, his vessel remaining astefn Of us.
At this time we could plainly zee foYtia cations
shesd. on Pdlsto Island, distant q mile and bali
"A II wHs reported 20 me they Were Hlled with
men, commenced firing slowly nom my bow
guns, as did the Seneca, but receiving no answer
soon cessed, and running by the batteries an
cboTed IN the North EdistO river. On landing,
fo1Dd the for, which was entirely deserted 10
consist Of two refcub:s for Eve guns each, con-
nected by long curtain, and protected IN the
rear b. double fence Of thick plank, with earth
between and loop boled. The guns, as the ne
grces Informed me, bad all been removed towards
Charleston some weeks back. While was making
DETERMINATION. 1t Com. Ammen had proceeded
up the river for about five miles, the effect Of
which was immediately apparent In the firing Of
cotton houses snd out-buildings AS during the
night some negroes came on board, and Informed
Us that at the small town Of Rockville, which
was in full sig ht, there WAS large encsmpment
OF soldiers, at least five hundred, and Captain
Boutelle Offering to go up the creek on which It
was, determined TO make them n visit In the
Vixen, and al daylight Of the 18th, went on board
Of that vessel for the purpose taking with me the
boats and marines OF the Pawnee fnd Seneca,
under charge II Acting MISTER Snell; owing To
our running ashore, p'e did no. rsscn the tnyvn
until near eight O'Clock, little above which U7ss
slooP laden with cotton and provlslons, which
took possession Of and lowed aionf side
There being still no signs Of life on shore, [
landed with about fifty men 70 reaonno!teT, end
was soon satisaed that tue troops had left as tie
first thing ssen wss the negroes piIlagng build
ing, in which WIS large quantity OF connis
sarist stores, cons sting Of rice, sugar bacon.
corn, &c. This stopped at once, and had VI bat
remained removed to the Vixen. Being then IN
formed that the camp, which was mile nom
the water, was entirely deserted, went thera.
but although, 80 far as could Learn, the troops
had LEFT at daylight, and It was then ONLY tile
after eight, the negroes, whom found a. buay a,
bees. had removed the most valuable part Of what
bad been left, which was nearly everything, eI-
cspting their arms The encsmpment was a
large one, had been occupied for many months,
aud Ito late tenants had evidently been In the
p session Of every comfort.
removed 10 the bosts forty sibIey and four
ordinary tents, besides & quantity Of articles o.
10 particular value, which were lying about.
ard found at ueisbooring house, which seemed
TO have been Used g bssd1 uarers, q Confedegsis
sas. Having pretty well cleared the ground OF
what wss worth removing, ard being desirous
Of examining above, I'm at two O'Clock, and
proceeding Ep so river with the Wien, nos
liking to tTust the Pswpss in 80 narrow ehsn-
nsl, came on tie seneca, which had staFted st
n;ne O'Clock to ezplose, fast on mud bank; we
remained By Der until nine O'Clock. but found IL
impossible 70 pail her CT, owing TO the nIgt,
TIDE rot being 90 high g. the morning one.
bile lying here, boveses, sent the boats and
burned q sloop which had been run ashore sous
distance beyond, while attempting to esospe from
the senrce, add which could dot b 20. sf;ost
The Vixen afterwards returned 70, the night "a
The nfiRhbOrhood OF the Pgwnee, but went back
q
OF mrn and boats f'om this weasel to Ngttsr ,bs
Seneca, which vessel was 90, cH a. hIva ,ids
While The Vixen was running up tbs river, she
came on small sloop laden with COTTON. fro,,
which two wh!ts men were taken, whom nov
have on board a. prisoners AS In the ,nssut,ma
nearly a hundred and City negroes. all iuagrs,
stHte 81 alarm, Rad collected on board the a fer.
eat vesssI', I determIaed to land them ON ,h.
point, and called IN the T. g. steamer Penguin,
which was cruising az lbs port and to leave
Lieut. Comm sndIng Budd In charge Of the rive.
e'ssf ny departure, uI'i' he cou bear from Won.
CaP boutelle was kind enough 10 20 out I'm the
x"n' and pilot TIE Penguin into ber anchora 20
on the fort, where she nov is
On the morning Of the 10Th ran down n ,bs
sOuth Edistc, and Leaving the Pawnee aud s-psc,
a. The Thr, went In with tire ViEsn. found the
NOTIFICATIONS which are on aisto Island entirely
Deserted, aud partially destroyed. They consisted
OF two fedoubs, which mounted, % far as I could
judge, four guns esch, but the guns had been
removed. The Dale being IA sight across Otter
I"and, In the Ashepoo, l made signal, snd Lieut..
commanding Truxtoa pulled over with four
ooes. ne reported that everything was Quiet In
the neighbOrhoOd OF his anchorsps sna th., ,ho
fort on Otter Island was rapidly being placed in
& state Of d,Tsnss. Up TO the present time
although they had been In sight Of the south
EdiEto forts, where we were lying, they had not
yet landed there.
Having finished my examination of the South
Edisto, returned 70 the Pawnee and stood north
with the Intention Of lying of stono for the night
but "a the weather looked threatening, and the
Vixen was almost out u coal, went into the
North Edsto again fer the night in order 70 have
an opportunity Ct supplying her with some. Ii.
Com'd'g Budd reported everything az when 7
len, bat on the following morning Negroes came
Ia and stated that the troops VINO had ie.t the en-
eappment at Rockville, being largely enforced.
showed disposition 10 reoceupy that place.
As the weather was too threatening 70 permit
Of my making careful examination OF the stono.
IS intended, determined now to return at ones
to this place aud report to you ths ate of Affair,
Al tie North Edisto. This hsv. done reaching
nv anchorage here at three O'Clock to-day - |.
Very respectfully, your obsiient servant,
iSiRnsdD p. DaATros, Comradie
Flas o1sSss 8. D0H0Sr, comndis South At
lSntc Squadron.
1rTHk UNION PRAYER MEETING Will