, 1861-12-24
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune
BEAUFORT. Is. c. Dec. 10, 1861.

BEAUFORT. Is. c. Dec. 10, 1861.
wrotc you line n few days ago, saying
that our Brigade {2nd) had been ordered to the
main land. WAS in error, but it was at The
time SO reported. We are in Fact now en-
camped ashore on an unoccupicd square Of
this most lovely and 1ately most aristocratic
and Yankec-hating town Of Beaufort, the very
centre Of aristocratic negrodom, and only sur
passed, If at al, by Charleston herself. a few
short weeks ago and their shady walks, their
richly furnished dwellings, echoed to the cx-
pressed scorn and hate uttered from thou
sand tongues; but times change-none occupy
its festive halls or parade its streets but good
Unionists, to-day. She was the home, the
1uxuriousshoue, Of the Barnwells, the Rhetts,
the stuarts, the Bells and the Verdie1a: and
their snmptuous dwellings, massive furniture,
abundant ornaments and well filed libraries,
bespeak great wealth and refined taste.
There is no town Of the size of this in the
North that compares or approaches in wealth
and abundance to this. Every house is or vas
full Of evidences Of wealth and refinement.
Fine houses, fine gardens, beautiful shrub
berry, pianos, books, stationery, vases, grand
portraits, these are the surroundings and ap-
p1iances OF, may say, every dwellingin Beau
fort. We hare struck q blow at their most
tender portion Of the hotbed ofsecession.
While on Hilton Head it Vas an occasional
I planter who with his abundant teams and vc-
hic1cs had carried off most Of his valuablcs,
but could but appreciate the full effect OF
our descent and their hcglra, until We
came to Beaufort and heheld whole
townfIom which the inhabitants had fled with
scarcc anything hut titho Of theirvaluables
leaving their LaTss and Ienats to be desc
Grated BY the 81 INVADER" all their hidden Sc
crcts Of home and family, all their confidentia
nooks and corners, all their most free and init
mate correspondence, to be peered into AMI
studied over and shouted over and coughed a
by tho ssTankee." Here are the boasts Of mel
written cool1y On paper, to " drive the eneua,
back into the Sea-" and to *wade in bloc,
before their own doors, &c, &C., dd ssaustan.
but where now are your boosters, that Her
wont to set our newspaper readers in a roar
"Quite chopfa1len; - they have left for up tn
rivers, towards tho ssup county,"
Beaufort was occupied as summer rcsI
dence by numerous wealthy families Of fol
tune; and many rich planters, who seemins1
| discouraged the ingress Of 4 commercial spiril
| and choosing to purchase all articles Of scare
ty or excellence from distant cities, had mad
| this secluded and exclusive Eden, where n
upstart counter.junper could tread upon thei
heels, or impudent white trash" Of any so,
gain foothoId. The men were aristocrati.
the women were aristocratic, the rules of th
! Beaufort Billiard Club show it to have bee
, an aristoeratic club !; so Was the nagnifcer
public library, so the churches, but pride an
,, arrogancclaYe made the longest kind Of stridt
: for "thicker timber" and thereat VIC It'll
, greasy &C., do greatly rejoice. We arc u,
t able 10 get sight Of the unfortunsi
!. | rebels. and there Is no excitement (
any kind, or any prospect Of . meeting Wit
them. Gen. Stevens is throwing out pickle
and striving to gather Information in regaz
r to the enemy, but his plans OF instruction
:, |. from Gen. Sherman are not even limited q
, We are here, but do not know how long r
shall stay.
r t. Nov, you will perhaps wish to know VIII
r. kind Of an opinion ono forms, who Is here
q the midst Of the thing, Of the conduct Of II
l. enemy and the prospect Of an engagement
). Not from their actions entirely, OF the rcpor
y Of tho negroes, or In . Boosting spirit, b
n from careful survey Of all these, conclu'
- TINT we cannot, bring them to another decisi
engagement until thcir fighting nseH 1ctu
a. from the Potomac. Their Home Guards dor
n mean to fight. Their fighters went to V
;r ginia; If they come back they may engage I
If think NC shall not be opposed in our advan
ct unless they do
ID | took negro who had been. for four d.
coming down from the Ashepoo river On