Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-11-22

from the Charleston and Savannah Railroad,
and by reason of the fact before stated
offers very eligible site for purposes of
commerce. In The eUe1t Of a blockade of the
Southern Coast By naUak polscr, tbs point
could be easily made q sure protection 10 the
island commerce passing 6ettreeR Charleston
and Savannah This bluff is considerably
higher than the adjoining island and is said
to be healthy. The approach from the Broad
Riveris used by steamers constantly. Twelve
feet at mean low water can be carried
through
Port Royal Island, the chief OF the group
above mentioned, is surrounded by the
Broad, Port Royal Coosaw and Beaufort
Rivers, and Is about twelve miles long and
six wide. ON the east side Of the island,
and about mid say, stands the town OF Beau
fort, on Beaufort River, the approach Of
which does not admit vessels of over eleven
feet draft. Beaufort is about ten miles from
the sea, and sixteen miles from the Charles
ton and Savannah Railroad, and this i'm
portant line in itself directly approachable
by water through Broad River at st. Helena
Sound and Combahee River force NOV
ing up the river from Beaufort via Beaufort
and Coosaw and Port Royal rivers would
strike the Charleston and Savannah ReiIroad
at midway between Charleston and Savan--
nah, and about fifty miles from either city
"a fact which renders obvious the immense
strategic Importance of that line Beaufort
is the Newport of South Carolina, and has
a white populs ton of about one thousand.
1t is thus described by st. Charles Lyell, in
his Travels in the United States
ssBeaufnrt isa picturesque town composed
of an assemblage of villas, the summer res
idences of numerous planters, who retire
here during the hot season, when the inte-
c. ~ - I'll
whites. Each villa is shaded by verau-
dab, surrounded by live oaks and grange
trees." .5s
Beaufort District is The southernmost dis
trict of South Carolina, and has an area of
| $40 square miles IL is separated from
Georgia by the Savannah river, and is
bounded on the nOtheast by the -Combahee
river, and intersccted by the CoUstaWatIlie.
The surface is low and level, the soil sandy
and aliuvial, producing cotton, rice, Indian
corn aud potatoes, in great abundance. II
is one Of the most thickly settled districts of
the State, the population in 1850 beinc
Sc, sos, of whom no less than 32,279 were
negro slaves
The region around Port Royal entrance
aud island has a strange, eventful and ro-
mantle history. IL was, in fact, the first
settled spot on the coast OF North America.
How interesting, IN view of our expedition,
to read the story OF another expedition to
The Same locality Just three hundred years
ago. Yhc first colony was sent out by Ad-
miral Coligni. a Jealous Protestant, and then
one Of the Ministers OF the Crown, who al
the time of the war between the French
Proieslants and Catholics obtained permits
sion Of Charles lA. TO plant a colony of
Protcstants in Florida name then applied
also to a great part of the Southern coast
Of nlc
given to jean Ribailt, "a man expert in sen
causes" and in the spring of 1862 he land
ed on the Florida coast. Sailing nurthward,
he discovered several rivers, one of which,
from ''ihc fairness and largencss Of its har-
bor' he called the Port Royal river The
old chronicler, Laudoniere, who accom-
panied the expedition, describes the scene
in glowing cOlors. Splendid forests, shores
festooned with rich grape clusters, birds of
brilliant plumage, stays and deer in the lux
uriant savannah.
As the commander cast his eye across the
waters of the beautiful river before him,
says Laudoniere, and measured the breadth
of its mouth and the depth Of its sounding,
he persuaded himself that call the argosies
of Venice could ride upon its bosom" Ac-
cordingly, upon the island a few miles up
Port Royal river he erected, ii is said, on
the very spot where the town OF Beaufort
now stands a pillar with the arms of France,
and few days after built fort, which, in
honor of his king, Charles TX, be called
Charles Fort-ArG Cdrotina-from which
circumstance the country took the name of
Carolina Ribault reminded the colonists
that they were now occupants of 50 vast
country, filled with every goodly promise,
where every man was to be honored, not for
his birth Or fortune, but on account of his
-
the way, sadly neglected by after settlers of
Carolina. Thus it was on thai very spot
that, for the first time, three hundred years
ago, on the North American coast, the flag
of u civilized colony might be seen by the
approaching mariner. But this first French
colony did not flourish, and after sending
out another to the same locality, the French
in 1866, gave up all idea Of making settle
ments. 5
IL was almost century after this that the
English began to colonizc around Port Roy
nj. Early in the seventeenth century,
Lord Cardross lei colony from Scotland,
aud settled at Port Royal; but this place,
claiming from an agreement with the Lords
Proprietaries, coordinate authority with
the Governor and Grand Council of Charles
ton, it was compelled. with circumstances of
outrage, to acknowledge submission. Set
tlcment, however, does not seen 10 have
progressed very rapidly, for tract enti
tied, "a New Description of That Fertile
and Pleaeaut Province of Carolina, by John
Archdsle, Governor of the same 767,' the
following passage occurs:
''The principal place is Port Royal
please God il may be seated with English
and Scots in a considerably body, because
il is a bold port, and also a bold frontier
upon the Spaniard at Augustine. The
Scots did about twenty years since, begin
settlement with about ten families, but were
distressed by the Spa;iards. o. how might
the SCOTS that 60 now as the Swiizers to
serve foreign nations; how might they. say
strengthen our American colonies, snd In-
crease the trade of Great Britain and enrich
themselves at home and ahresd.
In 1870, Wu. Snyic was sent out as Gov-
ernor, and in his letter of instructions. he
was told to acause all the people at Port
Royal TO swear allegiance 10 our sovereign
lord the King. and subscribe fidelity 10 the
proprictors, and tho form Of governments
established By them. +" There viii probably
soon be opportunity FOR the s'people OF Port
Royal to swear far nobler oath OF ale
glance. ss-
The town of Beaufort was founded about
400. n Was called Beaufort IN honor of
Prince Henry. Duke of Beauford. Lord Pal