The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-11-23
Success Of the Nayat Expsdition.


All doubts (says the LeaVenwoflh Times
as to the success of the Naval Expedition are
at rest by the dispatches in this mornings
paper The feet suffered considerably from
the. terrible gale hichcSught { before reach
ing Port Royal. but beyond that the loss
was small in comparison TO the grand VIC
tory which it achieved. Il is impossible
to estimate the advantages gained by the
success of the expedition. OF one. thing
we are certain, however. in spite of all the
Rebels can do, cotton. aud of the best quail
ty, will soon be opened toathe market, and
that without the necessity of England or
France interfering in our affairs by break
ing the blockade.
We hope our force will not stop at the
advantage gained by the possession of the
Island of Pors Royal. hut push on and take
Charleston or Savannah. both places being
only City miles from Beaufort. The railroad
connecting Charleston and Savannah. runs
within few miles of Beaufort. and is un.
doubleday now in possession of our forces.
The following description of the Harbor
and Islam OF Port Royal, will give some
idea of the Importance of the victory our
forces have gained:
Port Royal is fifteen miles northeast from
the mouth vi the Savannah river, aud 10 in
all respects the most eligible point along
the southern COAST for efecLing a hostile Iand-
ing. The snlrauce 10. the harbOri is one
OF the bsst below Norfolk; and the harbor
itself Is large enough TO admit of the an
chOrage aEu m ,vements of the whole feet.
The Guy oil Beaufort is situated GU the
east side ut tie barbjr, oR Port Royal Island,
with poPulatiOn OF about one thousand.
The hal Dor runs ieto and commands Beau
ioit county, which constitutes the Southern
extremity OF South Carolina. the popula-
tiun of the district in 1859 was SO, 8J5, of
which only 6 500 were Tree.
Tine chief staples of the district are
cotton, rice, Indian corn and sweet potatoes.
Beaufort Is oue of the most populous dis
tricts in South Carolina. Tne surrounding
country Is level plain. but little elevated
ABOVE The sea: and soil is alluvial and sandy
well adapted apparently for quarterIng
troops, aud for the movements of al attack
ing army. Port Royal communicates al
most directly, by rail- oaI. with bo.h Charles
ton and Savannah. a force moving up the
river from Beaufort city woult, strike the
Charleston and Savannah Railroad at point
about fifty miles from Cnal lesion on the one
hand, and fifty miles from Savannah on the
other. The acquisition of the road will, Of
course. be one vi the first movements Ut the
txpedILIonar: my, giving. as It would,
the command OF both cities, aud easy ac
cess TO them. besides cutting off the taciIi-
Ties Of transit and transport irum the Rebels.
So long as our troops may lind II neces-
sary To remain III the district OF Beaufort
they are sure Of fne quarters. 1t Is the
most fertile par: ot the State. and abounds
probability Is thai they will capture no in
considerable am 'uut of valuable co mmod
tiles. They Will probably fad few thou
sand bales OF finest Sea Island colt IN, which
At the present price of that staple, would
prove a mos. valuable prIZe.
The annual value OF the crops raised in this
district 10 ST, wv, COO, a very large proper
ton OF " hich must now be accumulated there.
Ii the properly owners should prove per-
sstenl their dIsloyaity. the gains of the
Government by confscation must be con-
siderable.
The possession Of this harbor will enable
the North 10 open a new cotton port, where
the experiment may be tried as To how far
the cotton planters would avail themselves
Of an opportunity vi selling their crops.
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