The national Republican., 1861-11-07
THE GREAT EXPEDITION.

expedition. II was last seen on Saturday night +,
within few miles Of Bulls Bay, which Is about
twenty miles from Charleston, and Is connected
with that harbor By numerous creeks. It Is
large shallow sheet Of water, about ten miles
long from north to south, and about three
miles wide The entrance is along the northern
extremity Of Bull Island, between that and
Birds Island. The entrance to the bay is about
six miles wide, but Ia obstructed by bar, at
one point only Of which are soundings snf-
fciently deep for the passage Of heavy vessels,
giving fifteen feet at low water. "a very fine
harbor of refuge" says the Coast Survey Re-
port " is made the northeastern end Of Bulls
Island, with safe and easy entrance from sea
by night and day, and about four feet more
water than at Charleston Bar" Ths country
about Bulls Bay, however, Is but sparsely set
tled at some distance from the coast y Is
traversed by the common road from Charleston
to Georgetown there is no railroad commu-
nication to oCharleston-which crosses the Santee
river, about ten miles from the coast. The
nearest town or village is Mount Pleasant The
coast from Bulls Bay south to Charleston Har-
Dor bears the peculiar character Of the whole
Southern shore line, being series Of islands,
and inlets to creeks running between the
islands and the mainland. These creeks CON-
manicae with Charleston Habor, between
Sullivan's Island and the mainland, but are
suitable for navigation only by lightdraught
vessels.
Presuming that the feet will disembark ut
Bulls Bay, let US see what kind Of opposition
it will probably encounter. 1t is not long
since that we had direct information from
Charleston, given by a citizen of that city.
From him we learned that Immediately after
the news of the capture Of Hatteras, soldiers
and were sent to different points along the
coast to oppose the United States fleet, as they
then anticipated an attack. The Washington
artillery was sent to Bulls Bay. Other troops
were sent to Beaufort, and all the inlets are
protected by little schooners, or, as they say,
by the Confederate nauy! No soldiers were
allowed to remain within the city of Charles
| ton. iuasmuch as the Home Guard was TO do
duty there.
II the troops are debarkrd at Bulls Bay,
they can pre- ceed on foot to Mount Pleasant,
which is on the main land nearly opposite Fort
Moultrie During the tombardment Of Sum-
ter and Moultrie, batteries were erected at
Mount Pleasant and all along upon the shore,
and at all points upon Sullivan's Island, and
all these batteries will be brought to bear
upon our advancing troops, and upon the feet
After the fall OF Sumter, all the guns on the
island and neigbboripg Notifications except
those in Fort Moultrie, were sent to Virginia
but after the arrival Of the Hatteras news, they
we're ordered back, and as fast as they returned
were replaced, SO az TO defend the harbor ani
its approaches.
} When our troops shall have gained position
at Mount Pleasant, they can greatly aid the
fleet by operating against Fort Moultrie, and
by preventing the arrival Of soldiers from
Charleston, from which there is regular ferry
boat the distance being but a few miles, and
they could also stop or greatly annoy, boats
going to Sullivan's Island.
Sullivan's Island, upon which Fort Moultrie
stands, is sand bank, little higher than the
waters of the bay. Before the fall Of Sumter
, there was small village composed Of frame
buildings and large hotel for the accommo.
summer or fickly season. This hotel was much
injured during the bombardment, and 1t is now
used as a barrack for the soldiers. A number
of the houses were also much injured by can,
! non balls, and since the Hatteras affair, the
; families have been ordered off, and most OF the
buildings have been torn down, so that the
yankees " could not<occupy them II they
retook the island. Every part of it has been
strongly fortified, and doubtless there will be
a Mount Pleasant, who will defend the place
with the most desperate courage.
If, however, the expedition should not go to
Bulls Bay, but proceed to
PORT ROYAL ENTRANCE,
our fleet will find itself in the finest harbor OF
South Carolina, AMI one Of the noblest inland
waters of the whole South. "The harbor OF
Port Royal or Beaufort is about seventy FIVE
miles southwest of Charleston, and is about
euui-dstant between that city and Savannah.
Head Island and St. Helena Island Is about
three miles wide, and has even over the bar
three and half fathOms, or twenty-one feet,
and probably twenty seven feet at high tide
Within, the Davies of the world might float.
e Sixteen miles from the sea ia the town Of Beau
fort, the water approach OF which does not ad-
nit vessels over eleven feet draught. A few
miles back Of BesutC6t is the railroad connect
ing Charleston and Savannah, itself approacha-
), BILE by Port Royal Inlet and St Helena Sound.
The whole Of this region should be studied on
the map, as it has quite an amphibious charac
ter. The mouths OF the rivers and the inlets of
: the ocean inclose number Of islands of con.
siderable size, among which may be mentioned
Hilton Head st. Heleua, and Port Royal.
: The possession OF the fine harbor of Beau
fort or Port Royal thus gives command of one
of the most important, and, for the designs the
Y army of the Union has in view In making a
lodgment on the Southern coast, most advau,
, tageous bases of operation in entire rebeldom.
3 Beaufort district has an area of |, $40 square
7 miles The surface is low and level, and the
) soil sandy and alluvial, producing cotton, rice