New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-12

sor;rtion II the fate of this unfortunate merchant
urobably a Northern man, whose abolition con-
sisted in his attachment to the Union, should still be
unknown 70 his friends, this information may be val
nable 10 them. OF the commences asd authentic
oborocter Of the letter there can be no donbt.
A salute or signal from U. s. man-oi'war enter
ing the barbor has just been fred and can see rom
the window the smoke Of the guns TO leewardi then
steamer. apparently the Benville; and then SAIL
ing frieate in tow, which proves to be the Potomac
So our hopes Of mail from New-forS' or pernaps'
prize caught running the blockade last nght OF even
news from Tybee Island, to which another eXpeol'
ton went down yesterday, are disappointed. Inc
errand of the freate we must wait 10 learn till news
comes ashore unless it be to do duty harbor police
during the absence of her consors on the next expe
dition Her arrival and the unusual salute are the
only sensation of the morning, rumors being unusu-
ay scarce. and personal items still more rare. Inc
nress o;ves to the service to-day Mr.. Andrew j.
uolbrook of The Boston Transcript, who has been
onnointed on Gen. Vieles Staff, with the rank Of
Lieutenant.
Ibad honed to send by this mail an account OF the
svsem of reception and superintendent oil the con-
trabsnds-ther treatment, condition, ana prospectus
with some statements concerning the effect OF zen.
Sberman's policy in camp and throughout the as
trct but the subject is too extensive TO DC entered
Oh at the close Of letter. The number I'D cha &c Vi
Mr. Lee is increased to about loo, all OF whom nave
been removed to new quarters near the iort' some
recent arrivals from Savannah are In charge OF the
Provost Marshal.
Tknrsdav ereniag.-The steamer has been de-
famed and I am fortunately able to add some i'm
portant particulars. News was received this alter
noon that large quantities of cotton, corn, ana all
s,o,e. likely 10 be of service to us the planta-
tons in the vicinity Of Beaufort, were burned
last night the fires continuing this morn
ing. 1t is probable that corcerted eho' waS
made by the Rebels TO destroy all they could when
it was supposed might be seized by our troops In
of the orders already stated TO have been
received from Washington. Indeed, it seems not M
likely that those orders were known to the Rebels
ohout "a soon ~ TO the officers here to whom they
were sent. Ii is remarkable that the commencement
Of efforts on our part to seize the cotton remaining
should be accompanied by the most general attempt
at destruction yet made by them. Not less than
million dollars worth of property is supposed to have
been lost last night.
Fastened. believe, by the receipt Of this news
the expedition for the permanent occupation Oh Beau
fort goes up tomorrow morning, or, more proosDy,
afternoon. The force consists of the 9Th Michigan,
10th Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania Roundhesds,
n numberle.s regiment, being the whole of Gen.
Stevens Brigade except the 18th New-York High
landers. The transports Ben. Deford, Petersburg,
Belvidere, Delaware, Boston, and Mayhower, viii
convey the troops, with one or more gunbosts as
convoy.
The secret Of this enterprise has been remarkably
well kept 1t certainly was not known about head
quarters this morning by persons usually well in
formed and even 80 late hour ago many officers
composing the force were unaware Of the movement.
The difficulty of keeping counsel seems to decrease
in proportion to distance from Washington. The
part Of the plan of Gen. Sherman, because Of its
distance from the present base Of operations and the
large force required to hold it. considerable body
OF rebels 10 known to be at Port Royal Ferry, 10
miles from Neutrality-suspicious. two regiments. The
place has not been in military possession Of our
troops for more than few hours at time when the
gunbosts have gone up the river and landed c few
marines or A boats crew, since week before last
when Capt. SaIton with % men held il for two
days, his pckets in sound of the enenys guns, ana
brought away lOO, 900 feet Of lumber, urgently
wanted for immediate nse. A reconnaissance made
some time since by Com. Dupont and Gen. Sherman
resulted in their determination that force should
be detached to hold the town. The change in their
purposes believe to be due to Capt. Saxon, whose
opinion Las always been in favor of its occupation
from the heathiness Of the location. it's advanced
position, II miles further inland, the convenient
quarters for troops and the wide extent of country 1t
commands or threatens, strategcally important,
and aIso on account Of its hitherto untouched treas
ures Of cotton.
An expedition to occupy Tytee Island also moves
tomorrow morning, and since, owing to delay in
getting heavy guns and stores ready, the other
island garrison was not sent to-day. tomorrow
promises to be stirring day on land and sea- The
three together largely reduce the available force
under Gen. Sherman that it il now certain the great
expedition, whose sailing has been 20 snxiously
nnkeL for Ia nos nnned ill the arrival Of larre rei-