The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1861-12-14
Late from Port Royal


INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE.
The arrival Of the transport steamer TIn,br-
biz from Port Royal, yesterday, furnishes us
with interesting intelligence from that point up
to- the sd instant The T,Ind rJnR will return
with supplies for the troops, without delay.
The English fiigaie Immorihlitc still remain.
ed in port. with tho vessels of the Omitted y atcs
beet and a numbir of briss and schconcrs laden
with coal. Several transports were discharging
stores, ordnance and other supplies.
Nothing Of special Importance hal transpircd
since the departure OF the steamer Rhode Is
land.
The naval expedition was fitting out with all
possible speed, and would leave on its mission
"a, soon as the troop from Fortress Monroe and
Annapolis who were daily cNpcctcd, should ar
rive. The truops were generally in good health.
The hafbOr has been surveyed, and buoys
placed 20 that vessels drawing twenty five feet
o. water can enter with safety. Beaufort Is still
unoccupicd by the federal troops, but officers of
the army and navy make daily visits to the
place.
THR coSTRABANDs.
The contrahauds TO the number Of about ono
thousand, still remained in tho vicinity of tho
foit anil tits estimated that of theee employed
on extensive plantations, the greater portion yot
remain, and scouting parties of onr troops dis
cover them in larger numbers than were sup
posed. They improve eve v opportunity to sell
to our troop provisions cattle horses hogs, fur
niture, and other personal propeIty which has
fallen into their banda. Many OF the troops and
such ncgr a. could 10 used were engaged in
securing the potatoes, Vegetables, and fruit
abandoned by their runaway owners. The ne
pTOcs who remain on the plantations are doing
NJ work and, claiming the legal ownership Of all
they con lind, are living a. their leisure upon
the les, provisions tho country supplies. They
are very wsNteiul, and tho supply will not last
very " e. unless the whites shall teach them to
have ioro regard fer the future.
Il j. estimatod that by far tho greater port N
II tie black employed ON cNiensiye ri iutIiiurs
vet remain. Many, ri course, followed their
masters; others ara " ithn our lines. But IN 4c
vi, take care Of themselves ave conceived very
peculiar ideas of their own Independence, and
even Ci their proprietary rights. When asked
where their master are they reply, with much
iusto, that tboy have none; that they are their
own m,s'cr,: "Massa lt, when lie Yankees
COME; dcy rur away WI on CID rhic hsck (thc
Wsbssh) sent de rotten shot
1iE REBELS BURNING COTTON.
-Four DAYS before the Vanderbilt sailed a gun.
bat went up one Of the rivers in the vicinity of
ror, Royal, and remained over night On the
passage up vast quantities Of cot on were di'cO-
VcTod ptoICd ready for ginning. No rcb is were
discovered; but on the retdrn, the cotton which
had been noticed was found on fire and a. far
a. could bc seen in all directions, dense smoke
ruse in clouds, indicating that an organized
'nsft to burn all the cotton, AMI probably other
property, had bean made. The rebels, it Is
bought, were under the impression that the
vessel has come for the purpose Oi selling II.
The reconEoisances have revealed tho fact
that vast quantities of cotton are stored upon
the numerous small creeks aud isiets within
easy ieach of our forces. II is, in nearly all
cases, ready for ginning.
The schooner United States, partly loaded,
yet remains on Hilton Head. No progress seems
IN have been made in filling her since the Nc
Clelan sailed
OPERATIONS OF OUR TROOPS
connoissarces are quite common; and re-
Gently some batteries have been discovered and
ak N. Ole was about seven niles from Bsau.
to and was occupied by from 81 to 100
rcbcls. II mounted five guns, and was captured
hy fifteen HighlandeIs under command Of Capt.
The Highlanders did not notice il until they
we'c within few rods Of il, and at once fired
vOlley at the socossiOnsts from the woods,
which they at the moment occupied. The
rebels took to their heels. Captain Faux.
ners men advanced and spiked the guns. Il
was not deemed advisable TO occupy the posi-
tion. Other offences were discovered in the
vi nifty, but they were ia an incomplete state,
and had been abandoned.
Thu 10Th regiment had been on an expe iition
toward Charleston captured three batteries aud
spiked the guns, returned after having recon-
noissanco TO within 20 miles Of Charleston. A
large amount Of cotton was found stored really
for shipmen, but the rebels were improving
every opportunity TO burn and destroy II.
The chief steward Of the Vanderbilt reports
that a few days before the steamer left Port
X, val, Captain Faulkner, with scouting party
OF fifteen men, proceeded about seven miles be-
yOnd Beaufort, where they discovered a rebel
fort on Ladies' Island. The party opened a
bfisk fire for the purpose Of discovering If the
stronghold was garrisOnGd and the number Of
roops ready TO defend it,. A ranid Teply was
soon received in the shape of a large shell which
burst near the party and soon after tho troops
n the fort were discovered retreIting There
were about 300 soldiers, including artilleriss,
in the fort, and its evacuation created some sur.
Prise from Captain Faulkner aud his command
but II soon appeared that the rebels hal believed
that the scouts were but the advance guard VI a
large force, and the evacuation was thus ac.
counted for. Captain Faulkner then cautiously
took pose, ssitn Of the fort but subsequently,
considering that there was no military necessity
20 hold H., Withdrew with his command, after
having spin ed the guns. Captain Faulkner re
turned in the Vanderbilt to recruit his health.
ESIREScIDiENTs AND FoRrFIcArIoNs.
Nearly the entire force of General Sherman
vel remains on hilton Head Island. The on.
trenchments in progress are rapidly approach.
| iRg completion. They begin on the mainland
| side of tho island, mile and half from Fort
| Walker, and are about three miles in length
/ The works consist OF ditch, with a breast
work, and will, when completed, entirely pro-
Il tect the island from aSy attack which could be
made from the mainland. Tho work y per.
formed under the superintendence OF Captain
Gilmore, OF the Engineer Corps, formerly sta
toned oa Governors Island.