The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-13
FROM PORT ROYAL.
TIE OCCUPATION OF TYBEE-ANoTHER EKPE.
DITION READY.
A Weeks News by Mail.

TIE OCCUPATION OF TYBEE-ANOTHER EXPE'
DITION READY.
A Weeks News by Mail.
The United States transport Illinois ar
rived at New York, Thursday morning,
from Port Royal, South Carolina, having
sailed thence on the .25th ultimo, at twenty
minutes past four O'Clock, P. NJ, making
the RIM in fitty-nine hours. She brings a
small mail and sevenry-four passengers.
Hilton Head Correspondence, 10th.
What has been accomplished at this place
since the battle of the 9TH, though not so
brilliant, is hardly less important than the
events of that memorable day. $4,000 or
$4,000 souls have been constituted into a
population, and by degrees their various
needs generally attended to 1t was labor
of no small difficulty simply to land the
troops; but that was nothing by compari.
son with the unloading from the feet of
transports of their cargoes. Two docks
have been built, plank road laid, immense
storehouses put up to receive the contents
OF the vessels, ovens erected, a post Office
established, simultaneously with the prose-
cution of more purely military labors, such
as setting tents, throwing up entertainments
establishing a camp police, and otherwise
administering the government of an army.
A thousand men at time might be seen at
work along the shore, constructing wharves,
driving horses through the water and along
the sand, receiving cargoes, rolling barrels,
and guarding property while three or four
miles off, another thousand was engaged in
digging trenches, moving guns, and prepar-
ing the new Notifications which are to rem.
der the place impregnable. Besides these.
four or five hundred men day were fire.,
quently sent off on reconnaissance, for
the whole of Hilton Island was to be ex.
plored and occupied.
One of the most remarkable features of
the new life in South Carolina, is afforded by
the negroes. Black servants have been
hired by many of the officers, as waiter and
washermen and women. Black gangs have
worked on the shore, or been used as oars,
men blacks have served as scouts and
guides in the Reconnaissance. Crowds of
women and children may be seen in the va.
rious parts ofthe camps, but especially near
headquarters, where they inhabit their old
huts still. None evince vindictive spirit
even those who speak of having been
whipped often and severely, are by no
means indignant, but on the other hand,
those who seem to have been most kindly
treated, evince no regret for their old posi-.
ton. Two or three, perhaps half dozen, were
undoubtedly found armed at Beaufort, but
no indications of warlike disposition have
been detected. The determination of all
who can escape, to leave their masters, is,
however, continually asserted. So far as
the slaves are concerned, an advance into
the country from this place would undoubt-
eddy be followed by an immediate rush of
the whole population toward our camps. l
doubt whether they would be guilty Of
greater atrocities than those of pillage, un.
less the whites should madly provoke them,
or insist upon the slaves following. Centu
ries of bondage has had its effect, and the
spirit of the race is efectually cowed they
are not savages, but slaves they will &C.
cept their freedom if it is ofered-they will
not of their own accord fight for it.
Beaufort is still deserted by white men.
Three Union gunboats lie there, and Others
pass mp and down the river occasionally.
The negroes destroy and carry off every
thing they can lay their hands on. Pianos,
mirrors, and other valuable property, are
ruthlessly destroyed, Any thing they think
useful they carry off to an island where
they are establishing settlement of their
own, and where they think they will be al
lowed to live in security. They have plen-
ty of provisions. The crops are said to be
heavier this year than for ten years past.
The rice crop was secured before the ARR.
val of the expedition.
Great quantities of cotton were stored in
barns and storehouses. As many as 1000
bales we're seen on the plantation ready
for market. Gen. Sherman, however, re.
fuses to seize it. He says it is not contra
band of war, and he has no authority to
seize any other property. Probably half
of the crop, however, was not picked, or if
picked, not ginned, and would be lost, as
the negroes have no idea of doing any la.
Dor siuce their task>masters have fed.
Hilton Head Correspondence, 25th.
Yesterday our troops took possession of
Tybee Island, at the mouth of the Savannah
river, and shall continue to hold the posi-
ton, as it effectually cuts off that city from
the outer world. l am informed that there
is good anchorage inside the bar, and that
ships of war will be kept constantly there.
Another branch expedition went to St.
Helena Inlet and without striking blow,
took the enemys batteries. The guns had
heen carried inland. l learn from authOri4
tative sources that we shall continue to
hold this inlet also, A third expedition to
the interior is also at work, but its action
not being fait accompli, keep silence
upon it.
The island is small, not as large as Port
Royal Island, and is chiefly of use as a step
ping stone to Cockspur Island, lying imme-
diately to the north of it, on which is
situated Fort Pulaski-a very strong work,
that defends the entrance to the Savannah
river, and is the defensive outpost of the
Savannah itself. Fort Pulaski had better
look out for ,ts rear as we'll as its front, and
the rebels of Savannah had better be get.
ing ready their sackcloth ana ashes. Sa.
vannah is fourteen miles above Tybee Island,
on the Savannah river. 1t is good har-
Dor. Vessels requiring IA feet of water