The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-31
RY TELEGRAPH
70 THE FIR EEMAN
T O'CLOCK, A. M.
FROM PORT ROYAL.

FROM PORT ROYAL.
Port Royal letters state that another lmpor-
tant gunboat reconnaissance has been made,
which pushed to within - miles of Charleston,
At \ town called Rockville. Here a force of 400
rebels was found. who fed in a panic when the
inferior force of our men was landed. The fol-
lowing is the official account of the affair:
UNITED STATES STEAMER PAwNEE, !
Port Royal, s. e., Dec. 81.
SIR In obedience to your order OF the l4th
inst. | left this harbor on the night OF the 10Th,
accompanied by the gunboat Seneca, Lieut..
commanding Daniel Ammen, and the coast
Survey steamer Vixen, Capt. Z. U. Boutelle,
but at the bar found that the heavy northeast
wind was blowing and had raised such a sea
as to render it out of the question to attempt
entering the river which | was directed to ex-
anime. | therefore returned to my anchorage
which left u second time, however, on the iol-
lowing morning, and reached the North hdisto
at two o'clock. Shortly after | crossed the par
with the Seneca, piloted in by Capt boutelie
in the Vixen. which vessel he, however icl'
when we were inside, for the Pawnee, ms 'es'
sci. remaining astern of us at the time we
conld plainly see Notifications ahead on Euis'G
Island. distant l 10 mile. AS 1t was reported
to me they were filled with men, | commence
firing slowly from my guns, as d'd .ne Isncoa
but receiving no answer soon ceaseu, anu Nh y
8 ming by the battery anchored on tie North lai H'
' to river. found the fort, when was RECENT.
deserted, to consist Of two rcdonbts Tor D gun
each. connected by II long curtain ana Pro.cc'
: cd in the rear by a double fence OF timex Pianks
c with earth between, and loopholed; Inc suns
r rs the negroes informed me, had I'LL nscn reino'
cd TO Charleston some weeks ago. WINE ""
' making this examination Lieut.. An''nen omS'
;. nroceeded up the river about D mics .he CIV -.
u Of which was immediately apparent III ''I ~
j. of cotton houses and outbuildlngs ~ !;
:, the night some negroes came oh "os' pt",uuI
=" formed us that at the small turn ol YIN -
81 which was in full sight. there was u lafe "a. =
campment of soldiers, at least ooV' "Nu ~
Boutelle Offering to 60 up the creek on ply, IN !,
F. was. | determined to make them = % '
vixen. and at daylight OF the lolh ~1" 'I !,
10 hoard of that vessel Tor inc purfose paun
=. with me the boats and marines VI In mast
US and Seneca, under the charge Oh "o'"S
III Smell. .shoro wc did r
u" o"" y, torn until near 8 o'clock, a Ill
:, above which was a sloo,p iaueh Is and tow
is nroyisions, which took POSSESSION ;"ns If
hrs pv s;dr' There still being no signs o' =
on alonS Snrs I landed with 40 men TO recoihio,'
VIZ III " . soon satisfied that the troops had y
III. ,ho frs, thing seen was the negroes piilae
iii. as br;,d,ne in which there was q large ~;
cat oft lily Of i ssesn, ea1", ' &s' This FSf,'i | .;sggss e
sugar, Lod what remained remover v"
leir once, and hao ""'
Vixen. 49,. tLo camp which
Dems w. -. ,hs water was entirely dcser,eu
a mile ron w ~ sIIloush so far as | could le
ett, WI I'd daylight, anu " "'Y,