The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-11-16
Beaufort and Port Royal.

Assuming that Sherman's expedition is to
strike its fret blow at Port Royal, on the South
Carolina coast, it will be interesting to know
something Of region that will thus become
| suddenly famous il, the eyes of the world:
Port Royal entrance is the finest harbor of
South Carolns, and one of the noblest inland
waters of the whole South 1t is seventy. five
miles from Charleston, and fifteen miles from the
entrance to Savannah. For depth of water and
.fety Of anchorage, it is even unsurpassed sou th
of Hampton Roads The navies OF the world
might be here accommodated with perfect ease.
Port Royal was, indeed, the original point of
settlement, of South Carolina, in 1870; snd it
became subordinate to Charleston and savan-
| nah only because of its position at the southern
extremity of the State, too faSl(r0in the centre
of trade for Suuth Carolina, and TOO near the
only good harbor of Georgia. Sixteen, miles
from the sea is the town of Beaufort, .tbe water
approach Of winch does not admit yessels over
eleven feet drausht Beaufort is bHilk @bR he
vest bank of the Port Royal River, Safrow
branch of the ocean, fifty miles northwest Of
Savannah and fifty-6ve southwest of Charles
ion. Tie town is old, with less than Thousand
Inhabitants, and of Tar less importance in trade
now than its namesake of North Carolina
There is no strong position near the town capa.
BILE Of rebel occupation or defence. A few miles
back of Beaufort is the railroad connecting
Charleston and Savannah, itself approachabe
by Pert Royal Inlet and ST. Helena Sound. The
whole of shis region should be studied on the
map, as it has quite an amphibious character
The mouths of the rivers and inlets of the ocean
incloses number Of islands Of considerable
size, among which may be mentioned Hilton
Head, St. Helena and Port Royal
The possession Of the fine harbor of Beau
fort or Port Royal thus gives command of enc
of the most important, and for the designs of
the arms Of the Union has in view in making a
Judgement on the Southern coast most advant,-
geous bases Of operation in entire Rebeldon.-
Beaufort district has nm area of 1,54O square
mles. The surface is low ard level, and tha
soil sandy and alsuvial, producing rice, cotton,
ETC., in great abundance. Our troops will thus
find themselves lodged in the richest district,
(South Carolina term for county, in the State
yielding some fifty million pounds OF rice an.
nually, and thirteen thousand bales of the finest
quality of cotton, the famous long staple sea is.
land, the very kind Europe most wants. Here
are over six million dollars worth of c. ops sub
ject at once to confseation, If their proprietors
persist in their disloyalty. It IL also one of the
most thickly settlcd districts in the State, the
population being in 1885, SS,s05. OF these no
less than 80 $40 are negro slaves-a property
representing twenty millions of dollars. Il is
on this spot that the shaded maps Of negro dis
tribution show the nightiest shade We alau
MMs literally carry the into africa The
place is admirably suited for vast camp of in
strnction, and with proper detepces it will not
be found difficult to hold thi, whole district
against any force the rebels can bring against
US. What splendid nnclens OF loyalty in the
very heart Of tine birthplace of Secession!