Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-11-16


Port Royal Is fifteen miles northeast from
The mouth Of the Savannah river, and is in
all respects the most elgiable point along
the southern coast for eCecting hostile
landing. The entrance TO the -harbOr is
one Of the best below Norfolk ana the
harbor itself is large enough to admit OF
the anchorage and movements Of the whole
feet. The city Of Beaufort is situated on
the east side Of the harbor, on Port Royal
Island, With population Of about ont
thousand. The harbor runs into and com
mands Beaufort county, which constitutes
the southern extremity Of South Oarolinn
| The population Of the district III 1900 was
] 3S. sos, Of which ouly $500 were tree.
The chief staples Of the district are cot
ton rice. Indian corn, and sweet potatoes
Bea Mort Is one Of the most populons dis
4 tricts in South Carolina, The surrounding
country is a leval plain, but little elevated
above ibe sea aud the soil is aluvial aud
yandy. well adapted, APPARENTLY, for qualer-
mo troops. aud the movements Of an at
tncking army. Port Royal communicates
almost directly, by railroad, with boln
Charleston and Savannah. A force NOV,
lug up the river from Beaufort city Eoui1
strike the Chatleston and Savannah nai''
road at point about Fifty miles lrVu
Charleston on the one hand and fifty miles
from Savannah on The other. The acquls',
lion Of that road. win Of course be one oI
the first movements OF the expeo''lou,a'y
army, giving as il would, the commana ol
both cities. aud easy access TO them, oes'ues
! rntfior off the facilities oftransit aud trans
| port FROM the rebels. Z, .f.-.4t ,s.,E
Glance at the map shows that the pos
session OF this point viii give General Sher'
man access to the most Important part o.
of the socihcrn coast, and enable him &c
attack in The rear the forliicatiOns o
Charleston aud Savannah. The possession
of Beaufort, in fact, must result in th'
speedy possession Of the whole of Soutl
Carolina and Georgia. This point OF th'
coast is situated directly opposite the mos
southern extremity Of Kentucky. A mill
lary line drawn from Port Royal to tn
Cumberland mountains would cut rebellio
completely in two, and thereby hnnihilat
the rebellion. The Intention of the Wa
Department probably is rather to max
. this base Of operations for securing Ii
whole southern coast.
E So long as our troops may find Il neeesst
ry TO remain in the district Of BeaufoT
! they are sure of fne quarters. IL is ih
most fertile part Of the State, and abound
in the neeessarieS Of subsistence. The proba
bility is that they will capture no inconsid
craLle, amount Of valuable commondiiie;
They will probably find few lbOusan
bales Of the finest Sea Island cottoI
which at the present prices of that staple
| would prove most valuable prize.
The annual value of the crops raised
this district is $4,000, 600, q very larG
proportion Of which must now be accumula
e cd there. If the property owners sEou
prove pers.Stant in their disloyalty, It
gains Of The government by couGscatio
must be considerable. p, af~ .v5
The possession of this harbor will enab
; the North 10 open a new cotton port, whe'
!. the experiment may be tried as to bow Ia
E cotton plasters would avail themselves
an opportunity of selling their crops, p