Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-11-21
The Capture Of Beaufort !.

The Capture Of Beaufort.
The navy correspondent of the N. Y. Even
ing Post, in letter from Port Royal Nov. lIth,
gives the ollowing interesting particulars of the
capture Of Beaufort, description of the city, and
what was talnd there: 81 81 A
Tho steam gun boats Unadilla, Pembina, and
Curlew went up the river yesterday to Beaufort.
under orders fran Cemmodore Dupont. From
the anebsssge of The feet as far as the mouth Of
Beaufort river, not 4 human being was seen;
the plantations on either bank were deserted,
and the entire country bore mournful as pect
strangely contrasting with the beauty OF
the scenery and the glorious sunshine.
At the confluence of the Beaufort and
Broad rivers, there was slight change; the
plantations which now began to dot the shore.
gave evidence of a somewhat numerous colored
population, nearly all male; but single white
man showed his face. Approaching the city
the negroes were seen padding their "dug-
outs" close in shore, laden with common house.
hold furniture. such as they would be likely to
use in their own quarters, but they avoided the
gun boats as much rs possible. Our object be-
ing to reach Beaufort as quickly as possible, we
did not attempt to take these fugitiyes.
The city of Beaufort. one of the most beauti-
full in southern latitudes, is situated on the
right bank of the river, which here makes an
extensive sweep. giving the water the appear
ance of broad lake. The town has frontage
on the stream of six or eight furlongs, and the
buildings show unmistakably the wealth of
their late occupants The sailors were not per-
mittcd to land, the reconnoitering party being
composed of the principal officers Of the expe-
dition, only four in number. Some score Of
the best houses were visited-amongst others,
those of Col. E. Rhett, DR.. Elliott and Col.
Bramwell-and every building showed evil
dence of the panic which had seized the inhab-
itants after our victory of last Thursday, and
the saturnalia of the negroes after their depart
ure. -sn 7r,- s7aa taA
A few aged slaves afforded US some .informa-
tior in regard to the events which occurred
When it was known in Beaufort that the rebels
were in flight from their batteries on Hilton
Head and Bay Point, the whites in Beaufort
Immediately commenced leaving in hot haste
some for Charleston and others for point to-
ward the shore of ST. Helena Sound. (The
latter inlet is to the north of Port Royal, with
which there is internal water communication.
We learned that every article ofproperty which
was valuable and portable was carried off, the
bed and mattresses having been cut up in order
is privde wrapping material for the numerous
packages, and the feathers thrown from the win
6ows. Pianofortes stood out on the sidewalks,
stages of dilapdation upon the pavements, and
the entire place seemed the very picture OF ruin
| and desolation. The houses outside were as
beautiful as ever. and the flower gardens were
uniniured, but the interiors were in an awful
state, little better than chaos of broken furni.
ture, torn books and engrayings, old letters DC
| The negroes assured us this was all affected by
the"country people" as they called them (mean.
Ing the field hands }, and that they had done al
they could TO prevent the destruction, but with
| out avail.
| AT the postofice we found number of i'm.
portant letters; among them one from Commo.
dore Tatnall, dated a day or two before the bat
tie. He felt, it would seem, quite confident a,
to the result, and promised that he would sticf
by the defenders of The forts until the very last
He certainly redeemed his promise in a very
strange manner; may be he reeollected the fate
of that other commodore, Of Hatteras Inlet no
toriety. All the letters in question have beer
delivered over to Commodore Dupont.
We then ordered the negroes to show us the
way to the arsenal. and here we fonnd property
belonging TO Uncle Sam which we'll repaid us
for our journey. The entire Fresnel lighting
apparatus, formerly used on Hunting Island
and Martins Industry. was discovered, in ex-
cellent condition, except that the massive brass
i work was somewhat furnished for want Of clean.
ing. One light is revolving. the other fixed
and both apparatus were imported for the pur.
pose from France at at a cost of several thou.
sand dollars. As Commodore Dupont is desir.
ors of Immediately laying down the buoys il
this great harbor of Port Royal. and rendering
it a secure refuge and and anchorage for ship.
ping, it would scarcely be possible 10 over-esti-
mate the value Of our discovery. The entire
machinery, lamps, burners, clock-works, dc.
are now safely on board the Wabash, and will
soon be placed in their former position.
The other articles captured in the arsena
were few dozen muskcts of the 50 pattern
Sprinfeld manufacture; quantity Of bayonet.
and United States cartouch- boxes, few keg!
of Kentucky powder, (about 500 pounds in all,
three siege gun carriages, and an old "a pound
er of little value; the latter we rendered useles:
by knocking off the trunnions. The long room
on the second floor, we learned, was used rs
ball room by the inhabitants and served as the
headquarters of that gallant corps. "The Beau
fort Artillery" Around the wall were festoon
ed the names of Jefferson Davis, Beauregard
Pickens, Calhoun, etc; these were naturally re-
moved from their dusty elevation, and the walll
black and bare as the lower chambers. &
We were led 10 believe by the negroes thai
some intention exists on the part of their late
masters to burn the city Of Beaufort during The
night time, throwing the onus upon us. Th,
gunboat Curlow, which came up to the head
quarters this forenoon, rejoins the Pembina ant
Unadilla this evening, and the Commodore ha
determined that no further excesses shall b.
committed either by blacks or whites. Itis un
derstood that several companies of marines vii
be placed ON guard there tomorrow for the pur
pose of watching over the property left by th,
panic stricken inhabitants. ''.