Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-12-12
Northern Description of Port Royal Beaufort. and Envir0rs.

the town of Beaufort, reviewing numoer of historical reminiscehses associated with the place:
 Port Royal entrance is an inlet from the Atlantic. in latitude 38 deg. min. north, fifty miles Northwest of Charleston, and fifteen miles northeast of Tybee inlet, the entrance of Savannah river The opening fro,n the Atlantic is about three miles wide the prolongation of Port Royal river. Running up this for about twenty five miles, bending of eastward through the Coosaw river, and coming out to the Atlantic again through St. Helena sound, yo,l have an irregular area of about twenty five miles by fifteen. This amphlbeous re- zion k cut mp by numerous rivers. creeks and inets, into a great many islands s@a island,1 of various sizes, the chief Of which are "Port Royal, ""St Helena" Pans, :" "LedieS." s.Cooyaw." "Mo'gan," 'Da- thaw," "Elding," !" Chaplin, "' Prentiss, :" an I"H lnJing."
 Poti Royal island the chief of the group anove mentioned, is surrounded by the Broad. Port Royal, CooSaw ant Beaufort rivers. and is abont twelve miles long and six wide On the east side of the island, and about midway, stands the town of Beaufort. on Beaufort river, the approach of which does not admit vessels of over eleven feet draft. Beaufort is about ten miles from the sea and sixteen miles from the Charleston and Savannah railroad, and tbis important line in itself directly ap- proachable by water through Broad river at St. Helena sound and Combahee river. A force moving up the river from Beaufort via Beaufort and Coosaw and Port Royal rivers. would strike the Charleston and Sa- vaunah railroad at midway between Charl- eston and Savannah, and about fifty miles from either city-a fact which renders ob- vi,us the immense strategetic importance o that line. Beaufort is the Newport of Soutf Carolina. and has a white population ot abont one thousand. It is thus described by St. Charles Lyell, in his Travels i'll the United States
 fBeaufort is a picturesque town com posed of an assem blaze of villas, the sum mer residence of numerous planters, whc retire here during the hot season. when tho interior of South Carolina is unhealthy fo whites. Each villa is shaded by a veran dah. surrounded by live oaks and orangt trees"
 Beaufort district is the soUthernmost dis trict of South Carolina, and has an area o 1.54O square miles. It is separated: iron Georgia by the Savannah river, atd \ bounded on the northeast by the Comba [ { fOnc ctot TO thie. The surface Is low and level, the soi sandy and alluvial, producing cotton, ric' Indian corn and potatoes, in great abun dance. It is one of the most thickly set tied districts of the State, the population in 1850 being 38, S05, of whom no less thar than 32, 279 were negro slaves.
 The region about Port Royal entrance and island has a strange, eventful and romantic history. It was, in fact, the frs settled spot on the coast ol North Aslerica
 The first colony was sent out by Admr al Coligni a z"alouS protestant, amt thel one of he ministers of the crown, who, the time of the war between the trenc' Protestants and Catholics, obtained permiS sion of Charles K. to plant colony protestant. in Florida-a name th apl Il" ::.,.... e.=:. to great part of the Sonther accordingly given to Jean TfrfHTSssss Va man expert ze, in ,1 sea ,., ea",es,,' and in thu coast. Sailing northward, he discuverer several rivers, one of which from ''th fairness and largeness of its harbor he ca led the Port Royal river. The ol, chroni.ler, Landonere, who accompaine, .I
 the expedition, describes the scene in glow ing coiorS. Splendid forests, shores fes tooned with rich grape clusters, birds 0 brilliant plumage, Stags and deer in tn iuxurlant Savannah.
 As the Commander cast his eve acros the waters of the beautiful river before hin, says Laudonlere, and measurpa tho hreadt oI it's mouth and the depth of it's sounding he persuaded himself that ali a goses o Venice could rise upon it's bosom. Accor dinghy upon the island few miles up Por Royal river he erected, 1t is said, on tn very spot where the town of Beaufort nov stands, pillar, with the arms of France and a few days after built fort, which, il honor of his king, Charles K, he calico Charles fort-Arr Carolina-from whicl circumstance the country took the name o Carolina.
 The town of Beaufort was founded abou 1700. It was called Beaufort in honor o Prince Henry, Duke of Beaufort, Lore Palatine. It is thus described just cen tury ago:
 Beaufort is the next most considera ble place, though small town, peasan tly situated on th. south side of 8 sea is land named Port Royal, from it's harbor which Is capacious and safe, and into which ships of large size may sail; here is col lector, with other custom-house officers There probably soon will be. The har Dor is defended by 8 small fort, lately built Of tappv, cement, composed of oyster shells, beat small, with mixture of lime and water and Is very durable. The fort has two demi bastions to the river, and one bastion to the land, with gate and ditch the barracks are good, and will lodge one hundred men; there are ln 1t sixteen weigh ty cannon not yet mounted, the platform and parapet walls not being finished for want ot money' "A short description of the pro vince of South Carolina" Anon l793
 In manuscript account of missona- ries sent to South Carolna," we are told "that the parish of St. Helen's in Port Royal island, in TIP, agreed to have a minister resident among them; they never had a minister there, and the people lived all without using any kind of public