Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-11-27
NORTHERN ACCOUNTS OF TIE EN-
PEDITION.
FSayficuE.srs o. TIC CaBIsrC Of Bca"'0Ff--
Description 81 Ekc Ctfg.

Correspondence OF the Nc1F York Evening Post.
HuToN HEAD November 1.-THE steam
gunboats Uuadla, Pembua aud CurieW Went
up the river yesterday 20 Beaufort under orders
from Commodore Dupont From the anchorage
of the feet as far as the mouth OF tle Beaufort
river. not human being was seen; the Plaute-
tious on either bank wrle deserted aud the ca
tire country bore d m0uruiul aspect, strangely
contrasting with the beauty of the scenery aud
the glorious sunshine.
At the confluence of the Beaufort aud Broad
rivers there was q slight change; the plantations
which now began TO dot the shore gave evidence
of a somewhat numerous cOlored population
nearly all male. but not a single white man
showed his face Approaching the city, the
negroes weIo seen padding their dug outs
close In shore laden with common household
furniture, such as they would be likely to use in
their own quarters, but they avoided the gun
boats as much as possible. Our object being 10
reach Beaufort as quickly as possible, We did
not attempt 10 take up these fugitlves.
The civ OF Beaui0r., one Of the most beautiful
in southern latitudeS, is situated on the right
hank of the river, which makes an extensive
sp-peD. giving the water the appearance Of
broad lake The town has a frontage on the
stream Of six or eight furlonSs and the buildings
show unmistaksbly the wealth OF their late Occu-
pants The sailors were not permitted 70 land,
the reconnoiteriuE party being composed o. the
pripcipal officers OF the expedition, only four in
number Some score Of the best houses were
visited-amoug others, those OF Col L. Rhett,
DIR Elliott and Col Bramwell-and every build
inc showed evidences Of the panic which had
seized the inhabitants after OuT victory of last
Thursday, and the satUrnalia of the negroes after
their departure.
A few aged slaves afforded us some informa-
ton in regard to the events which had occurred.
When II was known in Beaufort that the rebels
were in flight from their batteries on Hilton
Head and Bay Point the whites in Beaufort lm-
mediately commenced leaving in hot haste, some
for Charleston, and others for a point towards
| the shore of Helena sound. The latter inlet is
to the north OF Port Royal, with which there is
| internal water communication. We learned that
every article of property which was valuable and
portable was carried of, the beds and mattresses
| having been cut up in order to provide wrap
ping material for the numerous packages, and
| the feathers thrown from the windows. PIaut-
/ fortes stood out on the sidewalks, guitars and
other instruments lay in different stages OF d.
| lapidation upon the payements and the entire
| place seemed the very picture OF rum and desc
istion. The houses outside were as beautiful As
ever. and the flower gardens were uninJuTed- but
the interiors were in sn awful state, little better
| than chaos Of furniture torn books and en-
! cravings old letters, etc. The negroes assured
/ Us this was all effected by the country people,
| as they termed them, and that they themselves
/ had done all they could to prevent the destruc-
! ton, but without avail
At the post Office we found a number Of i'm
portant letters; among them one from Commo-
! dorc IsnaI, dated day or two before the bat
| tie lie felt, it would seem, quite confident IS
| 10 the result, and promised that be would stick
by the defenders Of the forts until the very last
| He certainly redeemed his promise in very
| strange manner; may be he recollected the fate
| Of that other commodore OF Hatterss inlet n0tO-
riety. All the Letters in question have been de-
! livered over to Commodore Dupont
We then ordered the negroes TO show us the
vsv TO the arsenal, and here We found property
| belonging to Uncle sam which wcllTepaid us for
| our Journey. The entire Fresnel lighting appar-
atus formerly used on Hunting Island and Mar
tins Industry was discovered. in excellent con
/ dition. except that the massive brass work was
! somewhat taruished for want of cleaning. One
! light is revolving, the other fixed and both ap-
| uaratus were imported for the purpose from
/ France at a cost Of several thousand dollars.
| As Commodore Dupont is desirOus OF immpdi-
! atev laying down the bu0ys in thIr great harbOT
of Port ROYAL, and rendering it a secure refuge
and anchorage for shipping It would scarcely
be possible to over egtmate the value Of cur dis
coyerv The entire machinery, lamps, burners,
clock-wOrk, etc. ara now safely on board the
| Wabash, and viii soon be replaced in tiieiT for
mer position.
The other articles captured in the arsenal were
a few dozen muskets Of the % pattern, Spring
| field manufacture; a quantity OF bayonets aud
| United States cartouche boxes, few kegs Of
| Kentucky powder, (about five hundred pounds
| in ALL three seige gun-csrraEes, and an old
twenty-fOur FOUNDER of little value, the latter We
rendered useless by knocking OFT the truunions
The long room on the second floor, we learned
was used as a ballroom by the inhabitants, and
served as the head quarters OF that gallant corps
/ 90 the Beaufort Artillery Around the walls
were festOOnsL the names Of Jefferson Davis
Beauregard, Pickeus, Calhoun, etc these were
naturally removed from their dusty elevation
and lst The walls bleak and bare as the lowe!
chamber
We were led TO believe by the negroes that
some intention exists on the part Of their late
masters to burn the city Of Beaufort during the
night time, throwing the onus upon Us. The
guuboat CureW, which came up 10 headquarters
this forenoon, rejoius the Pemlona and Una
dilia this evening, and the commodore has De
termined that no further excuses shall be com
nlitted, either by blacks or whites. It is under
stood that several companies of marines viii be
placed on guard there tomorrow, ortbe purpose
Of watching over the property left by the panic
stricken inhabitants.
INCIDENTS AT PORT ROYAL.
Among the articles discovered by our men OF
landing at Hilton Hesd Was q wonans bonnet
| of the most fashionable style found bY a pal