Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-09
AN OFFICIAL REPORT.
An Interesting Naval Reconnaissance
Rebel For,ifications Abandoned. &C.
Z =. =. PAwSBK,
Pert ROYAL harbor, Nov. %, 1s6i

Port Royal harbor, Nov. %, 1861.
Flag Omc.r J. r. Dupont
SIR In obedience to Instructions contained In
your letter of the 9Th instant left this barbor at
Z i. m. of the 25th instant in company with the
Unadills, Lieut.. Commanding Collins, and the
PemblBa, Lieut. Commanding Bankhead, piloted
by the Vixen, Capt. Boutelle. we crossed this
bar att ~ and that If st Helena at 50; steamer
supposed to be the Gen. Clinch being then of the
Edisto river which position she shortly left, and
steamed up the river.
coon afterwards came In sight Of fort on the
point Of Otto Island, into which, at the distance
Of a mile, threw a few shells, as did the gun
boats, TO discover If II were occupied. There
being no answer sent q boat on shore 10 take
possession, and found 1t TO be regular triangular
work, with two faces towards the water, Of two
hundred and hf1y feet each, with bastions and
curtain on the land side the whole surrounded
by ditch. The magazine had been blown up,
and everything carried away or destroyed; the
only thing left being the fragments Of an eig hty
pound rife gun, which had been burst. There
was also on the outside large quantity Of timber
and palmetto logs, which left und sturb bed; there
being little or no probability Of any one coming
10 remove IL; and considering that should we oc-
CuPy the place il would be required to fHi 81 the
work
Having made the above examination continued
up the Coosaw river with the gunboats, piloted
by Capt. bOutelle. When just passing Morgan
river, about two miles from Otter Island, | came
In sight Of fort directly ahead, and at the juno
ton Of Barnwell creek with the Coosaw. When
within mile we threw a few shells into It, and
there being no signs Of occupation, and the ne
groes showing themselves In the neighborbOod,
sem beat on shore to take ossession, and found
1t to be rednnbt, with ditch tn rec faces and
a steep slope toward the water, above which the
parapet was elevated thirty feet; It's name being
(as we found from papers picked up) Fort Hay-
ward The armament had consisted of only tn rec
guns-one rife, which had been removed-and
two eighteen Founders, which being of a very
antiqusted make, and spiked, DESTROYED by
break king the trunions OF.
nay trrnNb nj Il,
70 this vessel quantity Of intrench!ng tools which
found near the fort, together with a large sling
cart ana two Siege carriages, which had not been
much injured by the fire, which had consum-
ed sufficiently to render useless the other one
ana a. the timbers. This being completed 1 re-
tufned to Otter Greek Island, and finding there
the vixen, which had preceded US for the pur-
pose OF bringing on an engineer-Lt O'Rouke-
who had been sent by Gen. Sherman TO Join us at
Conn's Landing. He desired to make a drawing
OF the fort, and as 1t was late anchored for the
night, leaving again on the morning OF the 9th
with the gunboatS and Vixen (there not being
water for the Pawneel to ascend the Ashenoo
river, as understood that there was a military
station sbcrt distance up. After running a few
miles discovered redoubt, and having, as be-
FORE, satisfied myself that IL was not occupied I
landed and found that like the Others il was
very Carefully and scientifically built with deep
olten around II. Everything had been DESTROYED
ana carried away excePta rified "a FOUNDER and
an old English Is FOUNDER, both OF which had
oeen burst and another ls-pounder, which de-
snoyed W.
Having performed this duty, continued I'D
'ns ,lVer, thinking that might find fOrtifcatio
al Mosquito Creek, which offers the ONLY inland
channel of communication with CHARLESTON
None had, however, been erected there and
continued up the river TO the plantation on "A utcb
lhson Island about twelve miles above Otter
Island; which was az far as the vessels could 90
mere were large number Of neg oes but no
white men, although they told rue there was a
picket OF soldiers about three miles beyond At
I. lime aarA AL
posed il proceeded from the Pawuee I hurried
every one on board and returned down the river
as quck as possible; but on reaching that vessel
was told that the sounds came from the direction
OF Beaufort.
Then, with the Pawnee got under weIgb. and
accompanied by the other vessel ran across the
BAY TO Hunting Islands river, where landed and
looked ior the fortincatiOns Oh the point Of Hunt
ing Island, but could not find the least appear
ance OF there ever having been any there The
lighthouse had been recently blown ND and all
tae pubic property carried away. ] had now
examined all the points mentio ned In your letter
except Collins landing, which had been visited
by Lieut. @ 'Rourke on his way across; and he
reporting that no works had bee n erected there
ala not think II worth the DELAY that would have
been occasioned there. | left Hunting Island
harbor at a m. this morning, and reached nv
anc hOrags here at meridian
with regard 10 the other inquiries that [ was
ordered to make, would beg leave to say that
whenever practicable, the slaves have been reuo-
we'd; as on the northern side Athe poo ~yher.
there Is no communication with the Edisto At
all the plantations south of that great many still
remain at Hutchinson island not less think
than 10 Not white man seems to be left any.
where outside the line of military occupation
which was higher than was able TO 20 with the
vessels
The slaves are doing nothing, and are very
friendly, and assisted MS voluntarily wherever we
wanted their aid and sometimes as al Fort Hav.
ward, worked very hard. | overheard one Of
tbem say that IL was but fair they should do so
for Us, as we were working for them he more
intelli2 ent anonS them told me that there was no
packed cotton this year, and that not much more
than half the cotton and scarcely any Of the pro-
vision crop had been gathered.
forgot to mention that as far as We could make
out. on our return down the river, 1.-THE Ashepoo,
they appeare to be burning houses in the direc-
ton Of the South EdistO river, or on those lanta-
lions which must have still been in the pos sess on
OF the whites, and the same thing seemed 10 be
continued during the night
cannot finish without mentioning the obliga.
tons am under to Capt Boutelle, for the skiIl
and untiring energy be displayed In plotting us
through those inland waters; and think the peo-
pie must have been a little surprised at seeing
vessels OF war passing at full speed up narrow
and not over deep, rivers, such as the Coosaw
and Ashepoo. | am, very respectfully, your ODE
olen' sefVdnt, z. DRAYroN,
Commander, commanding PawneeD