Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-30
NEW SCENE OF OPERATIONS.
Capture of Tybee Island in Geers,a-Ssme
Account Of It-Appreach to Savannah
Strerg'h of Fort Pulaski

HtSvu"t "a PptSoS" ~
SHerg'h of Fort Pulaski.
By the steamer Illinois, at New York. we have
scc0unts % the occupation of Tybee Island, of
the coast Of Georgia, by detachment Of Uuited
States naval forces from Port Royal or this
island, and the approac hes TO Savannah, the New
York Times thus remarks:
TYbee Island lies near the mouth of the Savan-
nah river, which Is here the dividing line be-
tween South Carolina and Georgia, to the SOUTH
ward Of the bar, and about twenty miles south
west from Port loyal. It IL one of the long chain
OF islands which stretch all along the coast of
this and the adjoining states The island Is
small, not as large as Port Royal island, and is
chiefly Of use TO US a stepping stone to Cock
spur Island lying Immediately TO the north Of It.,
on which is situated Fort Pulaski very strong
work, that defends the entrance to the Savannah
river, and is the defensive outpost Of the city Of
Savannah itself
Tybee Island has been notable chiefly by mari
ners on account Of Its Zig hthouses (Tybee Light
one Of the most prominent on the Southern coast
II is fixed light, l05 feet above the sea, on the
on the northeast end Of the island, and In clear
weather il may be seen at the distance OF twelve
miles. This light was exiting uished by the Geor-
Hians shortly after they had seeded from the
Union.
Many vessels are lost on these banks, and the
southern breakers are dangerous. rybee is a nice
it'll" isle of ocean, long, narrow and somewhat
marshy, in the coast county of Chatham, and In
climates and scenery is very much like Port Roy
al and the other Carolina sea islands small
amount Of Sea Island cotton Is raised upon II,
and It's Inhabitants are but few. II has a beanti-
fnl creek to the west Of it, where a ship Of any
burden may he In safety at anchor
Savannah Is fourteen miles above Tybee island
on the savannah river. Ii has a good harbor-
Vessels u curing fourteen feet Of water come up
to the wharves Of the city, and larger vessels
come up to the Five Fathom Hole, four miles be-
low. The city IL defended by Fort Wavne on
the east side, by Fort Jackson at Five Fathom
Hole, and by Fort Pulaski on Cockspur Island -
Ehey have also, since secession, erected a small
fort on Skidaway Island covering the creek to Its
west, by which gun boats could get I'D toward
the rear of Savannah.
The guns on the parapet are m ostly field pieces
mounted on frameworks Of wood, irstead of reg
ular carriages. Besides these, strong earshworks
have lately been thrown ND on the mainland
along the river, and on the islands In the river TO
resist naval attack, well az earthworks on the
west ana south, to resist land attack. Every
spot OF vantage ground has been seized upon and
prepared for defense. The cotton shipped from
Savannah amounts to about 10000 bales Of ID
land annually.
The geographical conformation Of Georgia is
very analogous to that Of South Carolina and
may be concisely described thus: From the ocean
for a distance Of seven miles there Ia a chain of
Islands, lntersected by rivers, creeks and inlets
communicating with each other, and forming an
inland navigation for vessels Of 100 tons burden
along the whole coast. These islands consist of
salt marsh and a land Of grey, rich soil, which
produces sea island cotton Of 2 superior quality.
The coast on he mainland, for four or 1--WE miles
Is a salt marsh.
Back Of these Is narrow margin of land, near
" resembling that Of the islands; this is partial
Iy or wholly overhowtd at the return OF the tide
ana constitutes the rice plantations. Then com.
mence the pine barrens, which reach from sixty
to ninety miles from the coast. Beyond this il
ihe country OF sand-hIIis, thirty or forty miles
wild ) and the part Of the state beyoLd this az ain
Is what is called the "upPer country" Of Georgia
Like the southern part Of South Carolina, the
southern part Of Georgia is thinIy populated by
whites The plantations are large, and the slave
element Is dense.
TIE gros. population Of Georgia, by the census
OF last yesr, was ,o57 31, divided into SOS U97
free people and 49,, go saves The Stat~cIaims
to have raised fifty regiments for secession ser
vice The population of Savannah Ia entered an
hut we ne know nom on tn, the bspe Of the town
reached there great part Of the population took
TO the interior.
FORT PULASKI, NEAR sAvANNAR
Fort Pulaski 10 situated on the northeastern
corner Of COckspur Island, which is separated
from fyhee Island by the creek or arm of the sc
already mentioned. 1t defends the mouth of the
StTa. nah river and the approaches to the CITY
Fbe fort, like 30 many oilers, being left to take
care Of itself the Georgians, at sece ssion times
quietly stepped In and took possession.
They Immediately commenced work complet-
Ing the defenses, mounting additional guns, etc,
till, at the time Of Mr. Russelps visit in May last,
he thought II capable Of stopping a feet very eff
fec,Ualiy He describes the fort as an irregular
pentag on, with the base line or curtain face in
lands, and the other faces casemated and bearing
upon the approaches.
The curtain, which is simply cranellated, is
covered by a redan, surrounded by a deep ditch,
inside the parapet Of which are granite platforms
ready for the reception Of guns. The parapet ia
thick, and the counterscarp IS faced with solid
masonry. Adraw bridge affords access to this
Interior Of the redsn whence the gate Of the fort
Is approached across a deep and broad moat
which is crossed by another drawbridge Sand
bag traverses guard the magazine doors, and
everything Is in as good trim as the rebels know
how
The walls are exceedingly solid, and well built
of hard gray brick, strong as iron upwards of six
feet in thickness, tue classmates and bombproofs
being lofty and capscious. The garrison of the
fort Is $50 men, and il Is undoub tedly now fully
ganisoned. The work is intended for l29 guns.
OF which probably half are mounted on the
classmates They are long 32's, with few 32's
and cOlumbiads.
The l0-inch columbiads are en- barbstts. There
are three furnaces for heating red hot shot. The
means Of completing the armament were furnish.
ed by the Norfolk navy-yard. The channel into
the Savannah river at this point 10 very narrow,
and passes close to the guns Of the fort. Mr. Rus.
sell tnoug ut II would take some hard blows be.
fore Georgia would be driven to let 90 her grip
of Fort Pulaski