New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-21

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ever, no signs OF the presence Of white nsotie ex,
cepng that some buildings, which Giscove, Gu heA'
day 70 have been on Iiutchinsons Island, were
banning
On tie morning of the 9Th the u. s. steaDsb. p
Dale Lieutenant Commanding w. L. TnXton, alH
penIng off the harbor, sent The lsaac Smith 10 toB
her ~. Unfortunately however, when half wav M
the Dale stuck iast ana exerti0Ds could get her
ahoat until II O'Clock that night, when she was
forced into deep water having suffered 10 apparent
injury. and towed the following morning by Capt.
BOutclle in The Vixen, around Morgan Island. 80
soon az she was safely at her anchorage near us
proceeded NJ Ashepo with the Unadia, Isaac Smith,
aud Vixen, 10 examine tic river further up than i
had been able To do on the previous occasion.
On approaching Mosquito Creek, we saw picket
OF soldiers, who took to their horses approach,
and escaped into the woods, fastened perhaps IA
tter flight by shot two which were thrown after
them. Continuing up the Tiver, | landed on Hutch
inson's leland and found that two days before all
the negro houses the Cvefaser house and outbuhd-
ings, together with picked cotton, had been burned.
The attempt had al the same time been MADE to diYe
of negroes, but many had escaped, although some OF
their nun Der. they said had been shot in attempting
TO DO SO. The scene was one OF complete
desoation. The smoking ruins and cow
cring figures, which surrounded them, Of those
negroes who still instincively chung 10 their
bearibstones, although there WAS 10 longer there
shelter iOr them, presented most melancholy sigh,
the impression Of which was made even stronger by
the piteous wailiug Of the poor creatures, large
portion Of whom consisted OF the old and decrepid.
They were not able TO leave until some time after
dark, ano singular enough, the moment We were
ieiry under way, q bright signal light was burned
ON tie very plantation hsd lnst quilted, showing
that some OF the blsoks for there was certainly no
white msn there were communicating our departure.
On the following morning. with the same Vesstis,
| started % explore COOsaco River, bat very sC0u
after leaving the Unaeills was completely disatled
Nv tire breaking Of the main crOss-head, end was
obliged 10 leave her at anchor and continue on with
the two other vessels. Wien off Fort Hayward, |
left the Isaac Smith. It not being quite se 20 take
so long "A vessel higher up, and continued III the
Vixen, as far as the enhance OF Beaufort Creek, 10
place called the Brick Yards, where, had been
told, there was either tort OF guard OF soldiers
NO.hing, however, bcius seen Of either, anchored
of plantation belonging 10 Mr. BycOewood, close
by for the purpose OF petting information, as saw
ii great many negroes there.
On lancigg | folnd Tat, a short time previously
the cotonhOOse, with lis contents, Lad htcl burned
and ali the negroes that could be caught, ad been
taken away. here We're large numbers OF those
however who had left Hutchinsons Island after
their houses had been burned, and who, with their
household ELECTS piled up aOOnt them, hoed the
beach. some OF them begging to be permitted IL %
TO Offers Island, saying that they had neither shel
ter nor food, were taken back with us.
Late IN tie afternoon / retained down the river,
reaching our anchorage oil Fort Otter 81 sJuIset. AZ
/ did not that the services OF the Pawree were
auy longer necessary ia 81. Helena sound, aId
Thinking t imIOTaHt 10 get the Unadiila as fOCu as
possible 10 piaee where her engines could be re-
raised determined this morning 10 tow that vessel
10 Port ROYAL bari or, which have done, reaching
here in company with tue Vixen at haltpast this
evening.
In obedience 20 your Instructions, before leaving
transferred tie charge OF The fort and atjaten'
wSteFs, t. lheut.- Comm audiug Nichols0D, who,
with the i-anc smith aud Dale, Will remain there
until be receives further cders IRON yourset.
Eeryre'reoanl.1 - y's = 1 l6s ,eryau
Flag os,eer G 2. Drroyr Commencing South atlantic
Souadron, P,f' 10, ell haibor.
IA aoolt 20 negroes. most Of them in a very des-
tute condition, had collected AZ Ottcr I,lns. heoro
nv departure directed lieut. Nicholson 10 zee that
they were supplied with food until some dspostiu.i
would b. made OF them, Or until be heard from you.
Very re7pcet'q..y ,,-,..,,-
In Transmitting Commander Rcdgcrs's re-
port, Commander Dupont says that he was d.
reeted TO proceed 10 Ossibaw and to inform
himself IA accurately as possible OF the state Of
things in the inlet and sound and in Vernon
and Great Ogoechce Rivers.
The following is Commander Rodgerss Re-
port:
L. s. FLAG sHrr WABASH Poar nSTAL IIA,GeeeoR,}
SIR: I left Tybee Roods before tayEgb, yesier-
day morning. with the Ottawa Seneca, lembina,
and Henry Andrew, and crossed the bar at otsiOaw
soon after O'Clock. Entering and passing mp Yer
non River, we discovered on The eastern end, ON
Green Island q fort mounting guns apparently Of
heavy caliber. Near we saw about - teuts. There
W as bsrrack Lear the fort, and another building
was in process Of erection. think the work Is not
vet completed.
The fort is advantageousy placed, and its al-
proaches landwad are well projected by Garthes.
Ii has three faces, upon two a winch guns are
mounted. Il commands not only Vernon River, but
Little Ogeechee and Helgate Passage from Vernon
River into Great Ogeechee. It's long-lange guns
will also reach the channel OF me Great Ogeechee.
We were exactly two nautical miles from lie fO.t,
and after observing il carefully, we steamed down
the riyer VI ben The Seneca, the second vessel OF
the line, had turned, well-direoted fhot was fired
at her, apparently from rited cannon, " hieh fell
not more than 200 yards astcrn.
A shol v IS also hIed ~ tie I6mbiua, apparently
from heavy slnooil-boTe gun, which fell much
short We did not ie from the vessels, being al too
long range for effective practice. Nor Wa" / willing
our simple Reconnaissance should lie reported for the
comfort II the enemy engagement and repulse.
Passing again into Ossibaw Sound we entered the /
Great Oeoeehee, and steamed MP II about four miles
10 Aiorreil plantation Ossibag Island where /,
| landed, but found il abandoned. There IRE no
batteries on Ossibaw Island FOE the detense Of the
kOund / eaw NeIDonsburg, but could observe no
battery. cave the one off Green leland. We saw
over hand two OF three sehcouers az the head Of
Warsaw Sou.d which had probably lasecd from
Ossibaw through Romiily Marches.
an, Very Resreciiully
Iou9 OBedicul Servnn.,
fsigno,O G. n. ?. RODGERS Commander.
To Fl.g Ofcer s f. DCrosI Commanding South Atlantic
Blockading Squadron.
C1pT. WCkETTs--oUR PRJsoNEEs N RICH
MOND.
Cant. and Mrs. Ricketts,, whose arrival from
Richmond was announced yesterday, are stll
at Major Pamer's, in this city, ard have TO-
day received a large number OF visitors. The