The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-12-06
WAR NEWS.

nah River, on or about the 23d INST, was
taken and occupied by our Southern fleet,
The Flag, Pucahoutas. and Seneca fred a
few shells on the island. and ifcD. their
guns not being responded to, landed marines
and uok it. The taking OF this island is
significant Of a demonstration upon Savan.
nah. Ii is at tho mouth Gf tho Savannah
River. and Just above it. on another and a
smaller island, is Fort Pulaski, which coin
MAIDS tho mouth. IL NAV be that the ma.
ture of the land will admit Of an attack
upOn the fort from batteries on shore. should
il bn proposed to assault it on tho seawaid
sido Tho Light. House is on Tybco Island
We have somo nows from Port Royal.
Tho troops are ali in good health and spirits
Tho dIsn,onntcd guns have been replaced
in Fort Walker, the works themselves have
been strengthened aud repaired. and new
works are on foot 900 men being ON.
ployod on them a long wharf is alsO build
ing. Many bodies OF slain rebels have boen
discovered, somo buried in the sand by the
discharge of sholls. and some hidden in the
woods. Tho boasted battery of five guns
from Charleston vas also found in tho
woods, two OF the pieces having been spiked.
A planter, Mr. Bcrjrmin Chaplain, was the
other day taken prisoner; IL appears that
he had returned to tho vicinity of Port
Royal to attend to his affairs; having &C.
coInplishcd this he was just leaving for the
interior. when hIs slaves saw in tho neigh.
borhOod some Union troops. Thoy accord
ingIy called their Ownor back, under pro.
tonso Of speaking to him on business -
Whom no came to them, he was captured
10y our troops. II these slaves are fair rep.
rosentatives of tho great body who are so
L., 4, #, 4
will he very little Uuion blood she'd bv tho
blacks under any circumstances and those
Rebels who are busily organizing companies
of negroes may as we'll desst from the work
Mr.. Chaplain says that tho Rebels aro COZ
centrGtlng in forco on tho main land. and
that thev hopo to retake ST. Philips Island
as soon as so;Te of our vessels leave those
waters, but that they havo uo hope of re-.
taking Hilton Head. They have been in
constant communication with tho North,
from hero receiving arms and ammunition
in large quantities. Negroes are not re-
cciVed by Con Sherman except thoy can
do somo valuable work; they hover about
tho camp, however. and sell provisions to
tho soldiers at n low ratc--25 cents a pair
for chickens. and IS for bulOcks. Il would
seem that thoy supply themselves at n
on whatever they ind in she country of
thor masters hence thcv can afford to sell
cheaply. Beaufort is still deserted by tho
whites. The negroes have pretty thorough.
Iy destroyed and carried off the valuable
property there; when thoy SEQ anything
that pleasos them thoy take it off to ono OF
tho islands, on which they havo mado
black settlement. On the whole, tho slaves
are in paradise of no work and plenty of
food. great quantity of cotton, ready for
market, was left in Bouutort, but Gen.
Sherman will not take possession of It
About half ;he crop is stand ing. and will
BIO lost by reason OF neglect. Tribune. .29M
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, Dec. 2.--Southerp
papers 10 the 28h con tain scattered ac-
counts of tho P,cken's affair.
The bOmbardmont commenced the 2lst
and continued with occasional ntermissions
night and day, tiI tho evening of tho 24th,
when Col. Brown cuased firing
Tho rebels did not respond until after
Fort Pickens opened fire of tho Fort, and
outside OF Santa Rosa batteries was directed
against Fort Barrrancas aud other rebel
batteries, the rebel steamers Tune md Mel.
mo, and tho Navy Yard. while tho Federal
vessels engaged Fort McRae. Tho rebels
aunllt 10 klleu ana wounded,
Considerable damage was done to McRae
including the caving IN of tho powder mnp.
.azne nnd partial destruction of tho Navy
Yard al Warrington, aud a rebel train haul
ing provisions to the rebel army
The rebels seemed to act strictly on tho
defensive.
Stories abont disabling the Colorado and
tho Niagara appear unioundod.
4
damagnd and got out of tho reach OF Browns
fire. Brown received no reintorcements.
New YoRK Nov 29-Edwin James. the
distinguished English lawyer now resident
hore, IN published lotter in regard to tho
Mason and SIdell case. says when the aues.
tion is submitted by tho Cabinet of England
to tho law ott!cors or tho responsible advisers
OF the Crown, those authorities, before Civ
ing any opinion, will. in all probability, ro-
qnire from tho officer in command of the
Trent answers to the following questions:
First ~ero you acquainted with tho terms
OF her Majesty's proclamation, commanding
said neutrality on tho part OF all her subjects
during the torn of hostilities betwoon tho
Northern and Southern States:
Second, did you not know that the two
gentlemen, when thcy became passengers
and refugees on board your weasel, we're
employing themselves or wcro employed in
an enterprise of direct hostility to tho Con-
stitured Government of the United States:
The answer TO these two questions in the
affirmative, and consistently with truth they
cannot DO answered otherwise. will reduce
tho question to worry narrow Dimensions
Should any doubt exist upon the second
proposition, tho message Sont by Mr. jeff
Davis to his parliament, will much facilitate
its solution.
| am Sir, faithfully yours,
(Signod) EDWIN JAMES.