New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-17
A NJ ( c r . BAT T u E
Tsom Our Special Correspondent.

TSom Our Special Correspondent.
BEAUFORT, s. c., Dec. 9, 1861.
The town is 10 possession Of the Union forces.
The army of occupation, of whose immediate adj
vance news went north by tie last mail, was
promptly sent forward, and has achieved an unre'
sisIed but not unimpol tant success. Part Of the
troops got aboard the transports, and went mp the
river on Friday afternoon, the 9th inst. Three hours
after leaving Port Royal, they were ashore at Beat
fort bad thrown ont Lickets and received the fire OF
come struggling Rebel cavalry, whose numbers are
too vaguely and variousy stated to be estimated
with anv accuracy. private Of tie Pennsy lyaLia
5oth, Company C, was slightly wounded in the neck
The pckets not driven in, the Rebels reifeatipg
after delivering their fire. The affair was over by s
o'clock there was no further disturbance during tie
night, and daylight of the 9Th dawred on the Starr
and Stripes floating again over rebelous soil. The
line Of on living pickets was pdly extended, and by
90 clock. when the rest of the invading force al
rived, large portion Of Port Royal island, On
which Beaufort stands, was under the Juitdcuon OF
Union bayolets, and from that tue TO the morning
tie work of occupation, quariering troops landing
stores, reconnoi erpg, and all the indispensable
inia duties Of sucd an expedition, have gone cad
lily on. reconnaissance in force by Gen. Stevens
tons late Shermans, Battery, refulted in clearing
the leland of the desu DRY parties Of Rebels that
came over TO shoot pckets and burn cotton. These
scsmps annoying, without being dangerous
though, if they tad been suffered 70 continue Their
wols Of destroying tton, not bale would baEe
been left on tie island. The only attack SINCE he
frst evening was on Saturday, a6ont O'Clock, when
another attempt was made 10 drive in the advanced
pickets by concealed fire from q number Of dis
nour,ed cavalry. The FIRE returned and the
guards bed their ground till the eniva OF five CON-
psnies OF the Pennsylvania 50tb, whose approach
the Rebels retired No casualties On either side.
Tne emb4rka;ion from Port Royal was not alto
getber well managed. Tents were struck on Friday
morning, and before noon the troops were marched
down to the beach. When two regiments bad gone
On board il was found that the tide would not serve
fos tho rest OF else the boats wanted for the
Tybee troops. The steamers already loaded went to
Beaufort while the 9Th Michigan, which had spent
the whole day idle on tie beach, lying in the sand
under a hot sun. was exposed till midnight TO the
heavy dew and chill air. Shortly alter twelve they
sent ab ard tie Delaware, tired and dspited,
and less affected in health by the unnecessary
hardship 10 which they had been subjected There
was fault Of calculation or want OF forecast
where and, though great injury probably resulted
ii lis another example Of the necessity Of attention 10
details essential to the proper handling Of troops.
Gen. Stevens arrived at Beaufort about III the
evening. Before tue steamer fairly anchored
he had selected an officer and ten men, and put them
s,hore in boat to guard the dock in its vicinity.
He followed Immediately with hundred men, aud
met this force pushed out pekets two or three miles
from TIE town. holding the approaches in eli direc-
a. 81 IA ha
speD, the night in going the rounds, insurng by his
presence the watelfulness OF tie senirts. The al
most immediate collision before referred TO proved
the Importance Of the precautions taken. There was
NO doubt that the rebels were on the island bat the
amount of their force being unknown and the picket
firing on Saturday showing that their impotence
needed to be checked, reconnaissance in force was
decided on having also for it, object the clearing Of
the Island and occupation Of TIE ferry, the landing
on this side. Accordingly, at 8 O'Clock Oh Sunday
morning. Gen. Stevens took three hundred Of the
Pennsylvania Fiiteth, three hundred Of the Round
heads, and half Hamiltons Battery, and started
for Port Royal Ferry. News had been Teceived'of
the presence OF troop OF rebel cavalry, which Il
ras hoped to cut off; but their retreat wGs too rapid
Our force was massed in two battalions, with the
battery between, and preceded at a dis.a3ee Of a
hundred yards by company vanguard. in az
vance of which was a small party of scouts.
The Military order of Tho advance, however. was
slightly disturbed by the fac that Gen. Stevens and
Capt. Hamilton rode defiance in front Of the
whole party. The march war along the main az.
enae OF the island known the shell road, AMI tbe
zen miles accomplished in three hours-a cred
liable pace for volunteers. On the Other side Of iAe
ferry the enemy were in plain sight, Capt. Hamilton
with few men. riding down nearly to the end OF
fhe causeway which the narsh and forms the
only approach TO the landing. No shots ex- ,
changed a large force wss left at, and sill hode
the ferry. The Iest OF the island is covered by de-
saebed posts, and sufficiently guarded prevent the
landing Of force at any point without being imme-
diately discovered. The position is deemed strong
one Tor defense and can be held against any force
now on The main land.
The troops all cneanped for the present the
outskirts Of the town. Gen. SeyeBss headquarters &
are IN the house formerly occupied by the Rev. John
y. Smith. RegmeDtal Headquarters are established
N bonses near the CAMPS OF the different regiments
s''er houses being used for Hospital and Quarter
:ss'ers stores. Large supplies have been sent up J
D"@ Fort Royal The whole afihirs of the Quarter
s''Asers Department for this expedition were placed