Smyrna times., 1861-12-05
From our South Carolina Forces.


The Stars and Stripes Floating on Georgion
Soi!-Iybee Island Occupied by our Troops.
The U. S. transport Ilinois has arrived at
New York from Pot Royal with late and i'm.
portant news from that part of the caast. The
U. 5. Steamer Flag, at Port Royal, reports
that Tybee lslaud, on the coast Of Georgia,
after being slightly sheled by the U. s. gum
beats POcGhontGs, Seneca, Augu and Flag,
was taken possession Of by force OF marinRs
and the U. S. flag hoisted. The rebel works
were found 20 have been evacuated. Tybse
Island is at the mouth of the Savannah river.
Fugitive GlSTes in large numbers continued 10
to arrive at Port Royal. Gen. Sherman has
built entertainments across the whole leland of
Port Royal. Sore threat disease prevailed
among our troops. Large quaint; es Cf good
cotton were c,tll found i'll the starehouses and
be rnr. Another expedition, consisting Of two
brigades, under Cen. Viele was to sail soon
from Port RI ogaI for sotRs point OF the southern
coast. Beau!oIt was sill unoccupied bY our
troops, b4t two gunb ais were anchored oFthe
town. The sc5ouisr Essen had been chased
and fired a, by a privateeI several times be.
tween St Helena sound and Hilton Head.
TYBEE rsLAED AEo THE FORTS,
Tybee Island lies ne.r he mouth of the Sa.
between South Caroline aud Georgia, TO The
southward of The bar, and about twenty miles
southwest frou Port Royal. II is one Of the
lcng chain Of sea 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 as stepping
stone 10 Cockspur Island. 'yng Immediately 10
the north OF IL, on which is situated Fort Pu.
lask-a very strong work, that defends the en-.
| trance to the Savannah River, al nd is the de.
fensiVe outpost Of the city of Savannah itself.
Fc!I Pulaski had better look out for its rear as
well as lis front, end the rebels of Savannah
mad better be getting ready their saekclOth and
ashes. Savannah is fourteen miles above Ty.
| bee Island, on the Savannah River. Il has a
good harbor. Vessels requiring IA feet Of wa.
ter come up to the wharves of the city, and
larger vessels come up to the Five Fathoal
Hole, four miles below. The city is defended
by Fort Wayne. on the east side, By Fort Jack.
son at Five Fathom Hole, and by Fort Pulaski
on Cockspur Island. They have also, since
| secession, erected a email fort on Skidaway
Island, covering the creek 10 it's west, by which
gunbeats could get up toward the rear SaVan.
nah. The guns on the parapet are mostly
| held pieces, mounted on frameworks of wood
instead of regular carriages. Besides these,
strong eurthworks have lately been thrown up
on the mainland along the FlveT, and on the
islands in the river, 10 resist naval attack,
as we'll as earIhworks on the west and south,
to resist land attack. Every spot of vantage
ground has been seized upon aad prepared for
defence. IS
The garrison of F. ri Pulaski is $50 men, and
it is undoubtedly now fHlly garrisoned. The
work is intended for l28 guns, Of which proba-
bly, half are mounted on the classmates. They
are long thirty.twos, with few forty.twos, and
columhiads. The 10 inch colur1biads are G..
bGr6eue. There are three fsrnscea for heating
red hot shot. The means of completing the
armament were furnished by the Norfolk navy
yard. The channel into the Savannah river az
this point is very narrow, and passes close to
the guns Of the fort. Mr.. Russell thoHghtit
would take some hard 1lows before Georgia
would be driven to let 60 her grip of Fort Pu-
laski. The iron hand 10 deal those lard blows
is now very close to lis object.