The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-09

the up to 1857 and must therefore have ac
qured most thorough knowledge Of il all its fcaturcs
The presence Of such officer with tho expedition Is
tho greatest moment
very efficient signal corps is also attached TO the OK
petition, under the immediate charge Of Lieutenant Da
mont.
ARTILLERY.
Battery OF six guns. Captain John Hamilton.
This battery consists mostly of Parrot red cannon,
and forms part Of the noted Sherman battery which the
rebels have 50 often boosted Of having captured
As Fort Royal them Is the OF selected by
the naval and military commanders of the expedition,
and where hoped win achieve the great results ex
pccted from its vaor and its devotion tho cause has
forth to uphold, lay before readers graphic
descriptions Of the harbor Of Port Royal It's immediate
surroundings and Of the city OF Beaufort which stands
at the head of the waters Of the harbor
SKETCHES OF PORT ROYAL AND BEAUFORT.
FORT ROYAL.
Port Royal is fifteen miles northeast from the entrance
Of Savannah river, and is perhaps tho most important
point on the Atlantic coast Of all the Southern states
which border upon that for the purpose Of hostile
visit
The entrance Itself Is nle, from the Atlantic, IN
latitude thrtytwo degrees eight minutes north, fifty
miles southwest Of Charleston fifteen miles northeast
% Tybee Inlet, the entrance of Savannah river. Tho
Hilton Head Island and at that point about three miles
wide Tho prolongaton inward Of Port Royal 10
called Broad river and Port Royal river. Running mp this
for about twenty miles, bending of eastward through
the Coosaw river and coming out to the Atlantic again
through st. Helena Sound you have irregular Of
about twenty five miles by fifteen This amphibiors re-
gion cut up by rivers creeks nlets
agreat many islands (sea Isands) Of various szos tho
chief Of which Port Royal St. Helena Paris Ladies,
coosaw. Morgan, Dathaw, Edding Chaplin, Prenth and
Hunting
an,seeorgia stretches low and narrow sand bar-a
kind defensive outwork the land-seldom inhabited
except by lost Indians and runaway negroes, who sub
sst by hunting and fishing. AT distant intervals thore
shallow breaches through which the quiet tide steals
In twice day, swelling the natural lagoons and damming
TIE outlet Of tho fresh water stream till tho
destroyed and turned back and their ocd ds,ersed
and wide tho debatabe land OF the Cypress swamp
Then when the heavy rains in the interior swollen
the rivers their eddyng currents deposit All along tho
edges Of the sandy islands and capes the rich eghts
they brought from the caicarcous grantc
which they rise, with the organic OF tho
great forests through which they flow This is tho soil
If the rico and cotton plantations which always
found in such parts Of the tidal swamps adjoining tho
mainland the sandy islands left nearly dry a.
the ebb OF tho water.
The region around Port Royal and island has
a strange, eyenful and romantic history. IL was n
fact the first settled spot the OF North America.
How interesting in view Of expedition, to read the
story Of another expedition TO the locality Just
three hundred years ago. The FIRST colony out
by Admiral Colgni zeaons Protestant md then Of
the Ministers Of the Crown. who at the time Of the
between French Protestants and the Catholics OBJ
tanned permission Of Charles k to plant colony of Pro-
tcstnts in Florldaa then applied also n great
part OF the Southern coast Command of vessels
codingy given to Jean Ribault, "a expert in
CAUSES and in the spring Of 1862 he landed tho
Florida coast Sailing norhward, he discovered several
rivers Of which, from the fairness and argeness ok
its harbor' he called the Port Royal river. Tho old
chroncler Laudonre who accompanied the expedition,
describes tho in glowing coors Splendid forests,
shores festooned with rich grape clusters birds Of bril-
liant pumage, stays and dcer in the uxurant
| nahs. AS the commander cast his eye across tho
waters Of the beautiful river before him says Iaudo
Mere and the breadth Of mouth and tho
depth Of its soundngs he persuaded himself that "al
the argoses Of Venice could ride upon s bosom.n Ac
codingly, upon the island few miles up Port Royal
river bo erected Is sad on the very spot where tho
town of Beaufort stands pillar with the arms Of
France and In few days after built fort which, in
honor Of his King, Charles * he called Charles Fort
Arr CaroIaa-from which circumstance tn country took
the Of Carolina Ribau reminded the coonists that
they we're occupants Of vast country nlled with
every goodiy promise where every was to be
honored for his birth fortune, but account Of
his own personal achicv Thus was on that
very spot that for tho first me three hundred years
ago on tho North American coast the fag Of civilized
colony might be seen by tho approaching mariner But
this first French colony did flourish after sending
out another to the same locality the French in gave
| up all idea Of making settlements.
It was almost century after this before the English
began to coonize Port Royal Early seven
tecnth century Lord Cardros led colony from Scotland
and settled Port Royal bat this place, claiming, from
an agreement with the Lords Propretaries coordinate
authority with the and Grand Council Of Charles
ton compelled, with circumstances u outrage, 70
! acknowledge submission.
In 1870 william Sayc sent out as Governor, and in
his letter OF instructions told to scause all tho
people al Port Royal to allegiance 10 sovereign
lord the King and subscribe fidelity to the propriotors
] ana the form OF government established by themn
with regard to the capabilities Of Port Royal an Eng.
,sh writer spoke Of IL as folowsThe whole royal navy
might with safety in Port Royal harbor Its situation
renders excellent station for squadron Of ships in
time Of war;
glance at thelmap will show that moro vulnerable
spot for striking at the rebels could not be selected On
either hand lie Georgia and South Carolina with their
capitals Charleston and Savannah the hotbods Of
sion. Tho communication between the cities would DO
st be sszed the distance between the two cities
being 1oi miles, and force moving the waters from
Beaufort would strike tho road at Pocolaego fifty Ave
miles from Charleston and forty nine from Savannah, by
which means Charleston Savannah could be taken on
the rear The forts and batteries Of both harbors would
thus be rendered useless dcences to their respective
] cities
| BEAUFORT.
Steering for Port Royal harbor the course after taking
bearings is due west for st. Michael Head within sesn
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