The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-12
OUR PORT ROYAL CORRESPONDENCE.

OOh IOhI EO1 AL CORKESPONDENCF.
Pom ROYAL, s. G., Doc. s, 1861
important Recoan otssanceTae Vcss.ls Eny1gedA ROUGH
Day-Tae Stone FLEET Preparing for Ac,ion-Tessss or
Saeamnah-A Vtsit 10 Tgbes hland-The Rebel Futifca-
tions-Deseription q the Martuo Destruction Of
Tybee Ligh.houSe-IAe Return 10 The ORa,ol- Recoa
sossance Of Wd'sdlo Sot,d--A Rebel Bateryy-Irepara
tons for Conc-Ihs Battery Ldndiag Eo,,ad 10 be
Dese'ted-The 0na'ca WiAta Eight Miles Of Saurnnal--
Anaher Rebel Batery-7he Fsasibttyof ARactinJ saran
nah by Wate,-Bcaayot 10 BE- Occupied by Union Troops
DC, DC.
have just returned from the most important and sue.
ccssul reconnaissance that has yet made in this de-
parmet and executed by he navy alone If the results
developed by it are lightly employed by the
Of the forces here thee be little doubt that shall
soon be able to chronicle victory TO arms more
glorious and OF value than that oh aimed
here the It'll day November last order that each
OF the HrRALps readers may speculate probable
results growing out OF the reconnaissance VIII first give
Che details of it, was fortunate enough to ind myself
on tho gunboat ottawa Commander Stevens at IN early
hour yesterday morning. and after Captain r.
Rogers, commander of tho Wabash whose skill and sea.
manshp aided so much in tho brilliant victory here came
aboard, with Lieutenants Luce and Barnes Of the flag
ship, as his aids. Tho gunboat was soon under way
standing out towards tho bar with clear sky but not
smooth sea. Tie sharp northeast wind which, blowing
fresh carried to very bones suggestions of mo o
northern winters had QUITE swell and the Ottawa
moved about IL lively manner Behind us a short dis.
tance the Pembna, Commander John Bapsheaa
which had been ordered TO accompany the Ottawa in her
movements As the sea was too rough to authorize the
pilot TO attempt to carry the guaboas Warsaw bar
which, Ae all the bars in Secessia destitute OF
buoys or marks, CAPTAIN Rogers determined to run
Into Tybee harbor where The United States navy again
End safe anchorage and orr position on Tybeo
Island as well as to make Reconnaissance Of Thorough
gvnr In pnfir On
Dor, we saw ten or twelve old whalers which comprise
portion Of the famous stone feet One already passed
over tho bar and securely anchored beyond in sight
Of Tho brown wals Of Fort PuasE, which look
unutterabc things al the poor old en- craft
which evidently taken for frgate the bread white
Streak, with black portfolios Of paint naturally
enough conveying that impression distant beholaer
One or two others of tho " blockadiug feet were an.
chored off the bar. while the remainder were standing in
under all the canvass they nap ened to have on item
An old hulk, which haG evidently braved many year in
Arctic aud bearing the scars of thousand epcoun
tiers with old Neptune in every cline, was lying
nearly the bar at anchor with her flag al half nast
Union down We bore down to her, and while passiug
under her stern hailed by her captain through
aspcakins trumpet, and informed that he had but one
anchor and one royal and wanted to get bar as
he could not lay there in of blow nor could he
work Off shore. Captain Stevens promised TO repot 10
che commanding officer of tie squadron and wc steamed
Oh She proved 10 DO the ship Corea Of New London and
suffered IN her spars and sails from waorsroat which
had struck her, and nearly aismasted her. The names
OF tho other huks did not learn they were sorry
Iookng lot. Passing over the bar without, trouble we
came to anchor near the savannah sloop war and IN
full view OF Fort Pulaski which look grim and defiant
nj over it, upon tho alles spar VIII CHI hey could
obtain few the aud bars when were Clipped in the
most mpudeut manner, in ken o. tLeir recognition of
our presence we found In the hsbor The say11ntb tha
Va fip thg1 Itar
Seneca, ell but tho later constituting ihe b,0ckad-
Ing squadron on this point. Tho ship have
secured SAFE anchorage where they can ride the
gale.
Another advantage gained Isl they arc not Obliged to
slip thei cables and make otu whenever salr from
the northeast or southeast le4erg the rbor
Tor days open TO any vessel that may chooso run ill.,
the heet are not driven cut by the rebels the port Of
Savannah muy be considered eiecuay boci;adsd Tho
beet ie go placed III the channel prevent sars
craft from passing without their knowledge oousoatt
we can hoa ~ bee Island and can see III reason Why
we cannot this anchorage can be forever leGi and m
other good harbor secured 70 our navy.
Awaiting myself oCaptain Stevens Kindness IL sending
his cutter ashore, vis eli, IN company with eutensnt
Luce and Barnes, aud another gentleman Type. Island
and tue Objects OF interest upon II. W. lout.d ia
forcble manner upon the low, corrugated beach os
aapa saha, ana, no. eht"ey escaping SAY water
hills, which face the beach, and .ectnling
to their summit, upon the deserted work Tie
rebels, which were Of somewhat formidable chara,cr.
Nature had done much in the way Of dcfence aud The
rebels had but rive,ted sod upon The interior prevent
she sand from Siding, and sLaprn the hills 10 their own
wishes, and the work WIS complete These natural
parts, extending in irregular line three sides were
nearly twenty feet high The drifting sand had obitcr-
ated nearly all rsces OF the position OF guns but the
work doubtless mounted ten twelve Within the
battery the gray walls Of maytclo tower showing
but few evidences OF decay without BIT within the pint
forms and floors, and the heavy tmbers, wasted by
rot and rapidly crumDlDg TO dgs II a st.a e old
lower, and curious monument Of ancient cnyino,rng
ekil II is at least fifty feet dameter aud ~ usny
eheis and lime with walls At least ten feet thick pierced
tor musketry, and with portfolios for fyo cannon,
ana evdsntly intended to resist long siege 1t showed
shat this was the Of aud hluoshed
Rgo HOW many flags hal waved over IL, gray battle.
Inonts ~ were hard to tell First gun. sp then
eiench or English; Afterwards the colon hi ensign: then
the stars and Stripes, followed for brief time by rebel
na OF STARE and bars anu the ensign Of the Union
Hoats like a thing Of beauty high abov. il, and wh,n
eha bunting comes down again IL viii lie aftoy s,no OF
Esi mage which tho rebels ma, vel, hesitate 10 ber,
When wo reached the tower Jack OF the navy WAS euy
N rolling huge blocks OF the lower door
n1lbnrIoading IT, Entrance 10 the tower is gained by
ldef OF primitive style, which leads door ep H.,
from the ground. Stepping rpon a roor rotten and
dangerous, gain view Or tbs Internal arrangements
o this curious work. In the liz well con.
SfIclcd ot heavy timber, Nhch eNtonds from a dis.
oe below the ground TO the summit Of the tower
~ tie bottom OF tbs well once emo spriur Of
wl.ar b1t 1t hat ong since been cogged p with falling
tMb anl masses o. c1ncrots. From the well ira osrb
81 ID walls aAl the flooring placed upol them
A. much dscsycd, and Large por on tie
IT. -0'ts end 10 lln n Grst below. TACO three
l.f til tue walls. contained when saw hem
a.43 "lul rl.e walls pie ced fer
III "a ,t' tur sharpaaootcfs
- #. - s.., N.iia ittle ~ IL tils woIS