New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-18
PARTICULARS OF TIE CAPTURE OF
BEAUFORT.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY.
.ndence Of The Evening Post.


HILros, HEAD IsIisp, PoRT RoraL(
INLEr. c. Nov II, 1901.
The steam gunboats Unsdila, Pembina and Cur
lew went up the river yesterday TO Beaufort, under
orders from Commodore Dupont From the anchor
age of the feet. as far as the mouth Of the Beau
fort River not a human being was seen; the Iania.
tons on either bank deserted, and the entire
country bore mourDful aspect, strangely contrast
ing with tie beauty OF the scenery aud the glorious
sunshine. At the confluence of the Beaufort and
Broad Rivera there was eight change, tie flanta
irons which now began TO dot the shore, gave evil
dence Of a somewhat numerous colored population,
nearly all male, bat not single white man showed
his face. Approaching the city, the negroes were
seen padding their 'dug-outs' close in Shore laden
with common household furniture, such as they
would be likely TO in their own quarters, but
they avoided the gunboais re- much as possibe Our
object being 10 retch Beaufort az quickly as poss-
ole, we did not attempt to take up these fugitiyes.
The city Of Beaufort, one Of the most beautiful in
Southern latitudes lie situated on the right bank Of
the river, which here makes an extensive sweep, Civ
ing the water the appearance Of a broad lake. The
town has frontage on the stream Of six or eight FUR
longs, and the buildings show unmistakahly the
wealth OF their late occupants. The sailors were not
permitted 10 land, the recOnnOeriug party being
composed Of the principal officers Of tie expedition
only four in number. Some OF the beet houses
were visited-among others, those of Col r. Khett,
DR.. Elliott and Col. Bramwell-and every building
showed evidences Of the panic which had seized the
the saturnalia of the negroes after their departure
a few aged tlaves afforded us some information 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 Immediately COM
menced leaving in hot haste-some for Charleston,
and other for point toward the shore OF st. Helena
Sound. The latter inlet is TO the north Of Port
Royal with which there is internal water commune
cation We learned that every article OF property
which was valuable and portable was carried OIL
the beds and mattresses having been cut up IN order
to provide wrapping material for the numerous pack
ages, and the feathers thrown from the windows
Piano-ortes stood out the sidewalks, guitars aud
other instruments lay in different stages Of dlapida.
ton upon the payements and the entire place seemed
the very picture Of ruin and desoaton. The houses
outside were az beautiful IA ever, and the flower
gardens were uninjured, but tie interiors were in an
awful staie-Iltle better than d chaos Of broken
furniture torn looks and engraYingt. old Letters,
&c. The negroes assured ne this was all effected by
the country people" IN they called them meaning
the field handsl aud that they Themselves bad done
all they could to prevent the destruction but with.
out avail.
AT the Post. Office we found number Of important
letters; among them one from Commodore Iainall
dated day or two before the battle. lie felt, II
would seem, quite confident as to the result, and
promised that be would stick by the defenders OF the
forts until the very last. He certainly redeemed bis
promise in a very strange manner; may be he recol-
ecled the fate Of that other Commodore, OF lateras
Iulet notoriety. All the letters IN question have
been delivered over TO Commodore Dupont.
We then ordered the negroes to show us the way
10 the Arsenal and here we found property belong
ing TO Uncle Sam which well repaid US for jour
ney. The entire Fresnel lighting apparatus formerly
used on Hunting Island and Martins Industry was
discovered, in excellent condition, except that the
massive brass work was somewhat furnished for
want of cleaning. One light is revolving the other
fixed and both apparatus were imported for the pur-
pose from France al cost OF 81 900. As Com.
Dupont is DESTROYS Of Immediately laying down the
buoys in this great harbor OF Port Royal, and rem
dering it secure refuge and anchorage for shipping,
il would scarcely be possible TO over-estimate the
value of our discovery. The entire machinery,
lamps, burners, clock work, &C., now safely on
board the Wabash and will soon be replaced III their
former position.
The other articles captured in the arsenal were n
few dozen muskeis Of the 80 pattern, Springfield
manufacture; quantity Of bayonets and United
States cartouche-boxes, a few kegs Of Kentucky
powder about five hundred pounds in all, three
siege gun-carriages, and old 2l-pouBder of little
value; the latter we rendered useless by knocking
of the trunnioDs. The long room on the second
floor, we learned, was used as ballroom by the
inhabitants and served the headquarters OF that
gallant corps, the Beaufort Artillery" Around
the wal, were festooned the namts Of Jefferson
Davis, Besuregard Pickens, Calhoun, &C. Tbese
were naturally removed from their dusty eleya-
tion and left the walls bleak and bare the lower
chambers.
We were led to believe by the negroes that come
intspton exists on the part Of their late masters
10 burn the City Of Beaufort during the night time
throwing the onus upon us. The gunboat Cuflew,
which came up TO headquarters this forenoon, reoins
the Pembina and Uugdla this evening, and the Com
modorc has determined that further shall
be committed either by blacks or whites Ii IL nn-
derstood that several companies of marines will be
placed Oh guard there tomorrow for the purpose