Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-18
w. D. WALLACH.
PARTICULARS OF THE CAPTURE OF
BEAUFORT.

A correspondent Of the New York Evening
Post writes from Hilton Head, s. c., on the
1lth instant, as follows:
The steam gunboats Unadilla, Pembina and
Curlew went up the river yesterday to Beau.
fort, under orders from Commodore Dupont
From the anchorage of the feet as far az the
mouth Of the Beaufort river, not human be-
ing was seen; the plantations on either bank
were deserted, and the entire country bore a
mournfrI aspect, 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 planta-
tions which now began to dot the shore, gave
evidence Of somewhat numerous colored pop
ulatiOn, nearly all male, but not 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 gunbosts as much as possible. Our object
being TO reach Besufort as quickly as possible.
We did not attempt to take up these fugitives
The city of Beaufort, one Of the most beauh
ful in southern latitudes, is situated on the
right bank Of the river, which here makes an
extensive sweep, giving the water the appear
snce Of a broad lake. The town has front
the buildings show unmistakably the wealth
Of their hate occupants. The sailors were not
permitted to land, the reconnoitering party
being composed of the principal officers Of the
expedition, only four in number. Some score
Of the best houses were evisited-amongste ethers,
those Of Colonel Z. Rhett, DR.. Elliott, and
Colonel Bramwell-snd every building showed
evidences Of the panic which had seized the
inhabitants after our victory of last Thursday,
and the saturnalia Of the negroes after their
departure.
A few aged slaves afforded US some inforna-
tion in regard to the events which had oc-
Cured. When ii was known in Beaufort that
the rebels were in fight 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
q point towards the shore of st. Helena Sound
(The latter inlet is to the nerth of Port Royal,
with which there is internal water cOmmuni-
cation) We learned that every article of
property which wss valuable and portabl e
was carried OF the beds and mattresses hav-
ing been cut up In order to provide wrapping
material for the numerous packages, and the
feathers thrown from the window. Pianuforte:
stood out on the sidewalks, guitars and other
instruments lay in different stages of dilapida.
tion upon the psvements, 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 q chaos Of broken furniture, tori
books and engrsvings, old letters, &c Th,
negroes assured us this was all effected by the
country people" as they called them, tmean
ing the field hands,) and that they themselve.
had done all they could to prevent the de-
struction, but without avail.