Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-11-20
The Federal Coast Raid---NOTIheFH sPCCn-
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The St. Louis Republican, Of the 18Th inst,
in announcing the landing Of the Federal feet
al Port Royal, INDUCES in some dreamy specu-
lahons. which give Us fair idea Of the prepos-
terous decisions now prevalent in the northern
miIid regarding the true status Of affairs in tie
South 1t also developas marvellous ignorance
of the spfrft Of our people and the determination
with which they have entered into this war.
The following is the article, the preface being a
mere description Of Port Royal har50r and the
adjacent country:
PORT Boya. is fifteen miles northeast from the
mouth of the Savannah river, and Is, in all
respects the most eligible point along the south
ern coast for efecting hostile landing. The
entrance 70 the hsTUOr Is one Of the best below
Norfolk and the harb1r itself is large enough
10 admit of the anchorage and mOvemente Of
the whole fleet The city Of Beaufort Is situa-
ted on the east side OF the harDoT, on Port Royal
Island, with population OF about one thousand.
The haTbor runs into and commands Beaufort
county, which constitutes the southern eItrem-
ity Of South Carolina. The population Of the
district in 1850 was $500 Of which only O5OO
were free.
The chief staples of the district are cotton,
rice Indian corn, and sweet potatoes Beaufort
is one of the most popuious districts IN south
Car0lina. The surrounding country Is a level
plain. but litte elevated above the sea; and the
soil is aIluvial and sandy, well adapted appa-
rently for qusrteTiug troops, and for the move
mcuts of an attacking army. Port Royal COM
muuicates almost directly, by railroad, with both
Charleston and Savannah 4 force moving up
the river from Beaufort city would strike the
Charleston ard Savannah railroad at q point
about nifty miles Eom Charleston On the Oua
hand and fifty miles from savannah on the other.
The acquisition of that road viii, Of course, be
one Of the FIRST movements of the eXpediti0nary
army giving, as i would, the command OF both
cities, and easy access o. them, besides cutting
of the facilities OF transit and transport from the
rebels
a glance at the accompanying map shows that
the possession Of THIS point viii give Gen. Sher-
fasE access 10 the most important part Of the
southern coast and enable him 70 attack in the
rear the fOTtifc3GOus Of Charleston and Savan-
nah. The possession Of Beaufort. in fact, must
result in the speedy possession Of the whole Of
South Carolina and Georgia This point Of the
coast Is situated directly opposite the most
southern extremity Of Kentucky 4 military
line drawn from Port Royal to the Cumberland
mountains would cut rebellion completely iu
two, and thereby aIEihilate rebellion. The in
tention of the War Department probably is
inc the whole southern coast
So long as cur troops may find it uecestsn
10 remain ia the district OF Beaufort thief han,
sure Of fine quarters. It's tbe most ferttsinIy."
of the State, and abounds in tie lec.HbospitaI;f-
subsistence The probability is thte affair Is a
capture DO incousilerable amou 10 Rvbt FOR
liable commodities. They win p be hospitabl
few thousand bales of the fines went tohemn
cotton, which, at the present price,. and It was
waald prove a most valuable priz leaked out
The annual value Of crops raise1lI was at hon
s SO 00000o very large propDo voa pisy on
must now be accumulated Jheg-v. Il viii try 70
~ owners should prove parsis' 'p.ano he convince
loyalty, the gains Of the gOygere in Texas the
cation must be considerable known and arprec
The possession oi TINS ha4 Of tie Old Dominic
North 10 open ne" c9'1o' his handke.shiefy in {
pertinent may De !ned ag, words and music by
planters would avail theutces of M fair oIas of
uitv of selling their crops