The sun., 1861-12-07
Late from Port Royal.
INTERESTING INTELLIGENCR.

The arrival Of the transport steamer ydn1,r
on from Port Royal, yesterday, furnishes ia
with interesting intelligence from that point up
to the 3d instant. The pdndT5A will return
with supplies for the troops, without delay.
The English frigate Imlnortaite still remain.
ed in port with the vessels of the United s ,ates
fleet, and number of brigs and schooncrs laden
with coal. Several transports were discharging
stores, ordnance and other supplies.
Nothing of special Importance had transpired
since the departure OF the steamer Rhode Is
land
The naval expedition was fitting out with all
possible speed, and would leave on its mission
as soon as the troops from Fortress Monroe and
Annapolis, who were daily expected, should az
rive. The troops were generally in good health
The haTbor has been surveyed, and buoys
placed 20 that vessels drawing twenty five feet
OF water can enter with safety. Beaufort is still
unoccupied by the federal troops, but officers of
the army and navy make daily visits to the
place.
THE CoNTRAnANDs.
The cOntrabands TO the number of about one
thousand, still remained in the vicinity of the
forts and il is estimated that of these EMPLOYED
on extensive plantations, the greater portion vet
remain, and scouting parties Of Onr troops dis
cover them in larger numbers than were sun
posed. They improve eve Opportunity to sell
to our troops provisions cattle horses hogs, fur.
niture, and other personal property which has
fallen into their baLds. MANY of the troops and
such negroes as could be used were engaged IA
securing the potatoes, vegetables, aud fruit
abandoned by their runaway owners The ne-
gIOes Who remain on the plantations ara doing
no work, and, claiming the legal ownership of ali
they can find, are living at their leisure uDJu
the best provisions the country supplies, They
are very wasteful, and the supply will not las,
very long, unless the whites shall teach thom to
have more regard for the future
II IL estimated that by far the gre lter portion
OF the blacks employed ON extensive pl lntations,
yet remain. Many, Of course, followed their
masters; other are within our lints But those
who take care OF themselves have conceived yery
peculiar ideas of their own Independence, and
even Of their proprietary rights. When asked
Where Their mas'ero are they reply, with much
tusio, that te6y have nonei that they are their
own mss'ers; "Massa lef, when do Yankees
come; dey run away wlen old i0hite neck Cthe
Wabasb) sent de rotten shot"
THE REBELS BURNING COTTON,
-Four days before the Vanderbilt sailed. A gun
boat went up one Of the rivers ia the vicinity of
Fort Royal, and remained over night. On the
passage up vast quantities Of cotton were disco.
yyeIed stored ready for ginning. No rebels were
discovered; but on tho return, the cotton which
had been noticed was found on fire and as far
as could be Seen in all directions, dense smoke
rose in Clouds indicating that an organized
efsrt to burn all the cotton, and probably other
property had beon made. The rebels, IL Ia
thought, were under the impression that the
vessel has come for the purpose Of seizing IL.
Ihe reoonnolsances have revealed tho fact
that vast quantities Of cotton are stored upon
tho numerous small crooks and iAlsts, within