Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-03
THE BATTLE oF BEAUFORT-177a.

THE BATTLE OF BEAUFORT-1779
The United States like the old soldier il
the song. seem destined to flight their battles
DER again" rhe happy intelligence Of the
capture OF Port Royal Island, on which is sit
uated the little, old fashioned town OF Beau
fort naturally recalls 10 us the incidents of the
battle of Beaufort, from the documents relat-
ing TO which we have compiled the following
account =
1t is not necessary we should go into detail
ed particulars OF the Typographical features of
Port Royal Island ; the maps which have been
published proiusely in the daily lapers will
have made every reader acquainted with the
face of the country lying between Charleston
and Savannah a remark or two Gil this head
may not be irrelevant in regard to the present
as well as the past. Thus ii is curious TO note
that rather less than forty years ago the ieder-
al government re desirOus OF using Beau.
fort as a naval depot, in consequence OF the ex-
tent and excellence of its harbOr. On due ex
animation, however, the idea was given up be-
cause Of the great expense of tortifying it so
as to secure 1t from the approach of an enemy,
That was the only objection to it. 1t it could
have been so fortified the Union would now
have been without one OF the most advanta-
geous ponts-in all probability the most adj
vaniageOu3 pont-of attack on the southern
states. Yet the physical features of the coun-
try seem to favor defence. The banks of the
rivers are nothing but swamp, where land
ing of forces must at any time be exceedingly
difficult, and il the island Of Port Royal itself
were adequately defended, an attack ON the
main land Would seem to be almost mposs-
Bile. That our troops are now in possession of
the island is Il guaranty OF future successes
although we we are told by gentleman who
was on the spot last year that the whole dis
tance between the bank of the river bounding
the northwest extremity Of Port Royal Island
and The railway which connects Charleston
and Savannah is one deep swamp, ana there
fore bad for the movement OF troops OF any
kind, if not impossible to them. However, 1t
is our duty here 10 hope every rythng ior the
best. Let us return to our battle Of l779.
General Robert Howe, commanding the
Continental troops in l77S, suffered def at on
Brewton's Hill, near Savannah, on December
29th. The enemy had marched into Savan-
nah, and Georgia was at the foot OF tile con-
queror, willingly enough, some historians
say. In this condition Of affairs all our forces
could do was to defend South Carolina. Gen.
Lincoln had been appointed to the command
OF the southern department, and the remains
Of Howe's little force Joined him at Fury sburg,
on the Savannah river, making llls whole DIS
posable force 242S men, 1121 OF whom were
regulars, and the rest were inexperienced,
undisciplined, and restless militia" The force
of Gen. Provost, the British commander III
Georgia, numbered about 5000 men, exclusive
of iiregulars who had joined him there Both
parties wanted to Cross the river, but neither
dared to attempt it in the vicinity of the other s
forces Like Earl Chatham and Sir Richard
Straclan, in the well known rhy me, they
longed TO be at one another, and awaited an
attack with drawn swords yet neither began
the atlray. TO solve the difficulty, the BilIish
commander detached Major Gardner, with
two companies of about 200 men, to take pos
session Of ;he island OF Port Royal. No sooner
had his movement become known to General
Lincoln than he took measures to thwart 1t,
by dispatching Colonel William MOultrle to
induce the American force Of militia III tie
neighburhoOd to cross over TO the Town oi
Beaufort, ON the island The inhabitants were
already alarmed at the approach OF the Brllisll,
and began Il precpltate retreat. L lie ueenses
OF the island they were hastily abandoning ;
they were moving their goods Iell-meii from
the plantations, AMI preparing to give them
up to the plage of the enemy. Colonel
Moutre arrived just in time to restore courage
to the terrified inhabitants, and to give con
fidvnce 10 the militia, and prevent the spklng
of the guns He was requested 10 lead them
against the enemy. He accordingly crossed
the ferry on the morning OF the II OF Feb
ruarv. 1873. with near 800 of the Charleston
militia, and 800 of the Continentalists, with
two field pieces and one brass two FOUNDER.
After resting the troops few hours, he en-
tered Beaufort at sunrise on the morning OF
the Sd. and ordered the troops into quarters.
Soon afterward intelligence was received that
the enemy was marching toward Beaufort
Gen Moultrie, with Gen. Bull of the Charles
ton detachment, at once marched to meet them
and give them battle After marching two
miles and having found an advantageous place
TO form his troops upon, Mouitrie awaited the
arrival of the British.
The enemy being aware of this determine
ton, altered their march, and thereupuu it be-
came Moultrie's business to find them. This
he began, and after going about three miles
he found where they had turned back ant
were now within mile OF him. AT last they
met, about four O'Clock in the afternoon, aftel
lodging one another for eight or nine hours
Having sent his aid to reconnoitre, just before
the actual meeting OF the forces, and finding
the enemy close at hand, Aloultrie hasteneC
his march to gain swamp which was near
But the enemy had anticipated him, having
already got possession OF the ground he IN
tended to occupy. lie accordingly haIte'
about two hundred yards distance from th'
enemy, and drew up his troops to the rgh
and lett OF the road, with two SIX pouhder hei'
pieces on the right, IN Woou' Oh tie eiie ne
my's near approach, Moultrle ordered his lit !,
tie battery TO open fiIe, and advanced his righ
and left wings nearer the swpmp, whereupoi
the firing became pretty general. One euIlou
feature OF the battle was that as soon as IN
firing began TO grow warm, the BRUSH TOOL
to the woods, which had usually been I'll
American practice, while Moultrie's men KEEP
the open ground, SIS the British generally die
Finding, however, that the interchange OF tat
tics was more advantageous TO the enemy tina
to the Americans, Moultrie resolved to take I
the bushes himself. Then began to be hear
a cry so often heard in the ranks # the Anne
lean forces during the Revolutionary war
"No more cartridges pa horrible cry to Il
eoldier-and a most appalling one TO the cor
mander. The ammunition Tor the field piec
was in fact nearly expended after tirir
about forty rounds from each piece. U