The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-11-21

PoRT ROYAL INLET, 5. u,
November IL, 1861. {
The steam gun-boats Unadilla, Penn
bina and Curiew went up the river yes
terday to Beaufort, under orders from
Commodore Dupont. From the an
chorage of the feet as far as the mouth
of the Beaufort river, not human be-
ing was seen the plantations on either
bank were deserted, and the entire
country bore a mournful aspect strange
ly contrasting with the beauty of the
scenery and the glorious sunshine. AT
the confluence of the Beaufort and
Broad rivers, there was slight change,
the plantations which now began to
dot the shore, gave evidence of some
what numerous colored population,
nearly all male, but not single white
man showed his face. Approaching
the city, the negroes were seen pad
ding their "dug-outs" close in shore,
laden with common household furni-
ture, such as they would be likely to
use In their own quarters, but they
avoided the gun boats as much as pos
sible. We did not attempt to take up
these fugltlveS.
At the postofice we found number
of important letters; among them one
from Commodore Tatnall, dated day
or two before the battle He felt, it
would seem, quite confident as to the
result, and promised that he would
stick by the defenders of the forts un-
till the very last. He certainly re-
deemed his promise in very strange
manner; may be he recollected the
fate of that other Commodore, of Hat
teras Inlet notoriety. ALP the letters
in question have been delivered over
to Commodore Dupont.
We then ordered the negroes to
show rs the way to the arsenal, and
here we found property belonging to
Uncle Sam, which well repaid us for
our journey. The entire Fresnell light
ing apparatus formerly used on Hunt
ing Island and Martins Industry was
discovered, in excellent condition, ex-
cept that the massive brass work was
somewhat furnished for want of clean
ing. One light is revolving, the other
fixed, and both apparatus were impor-
ted for the purpose from France at a
cost of several thousand dollars. AS
Commodore Dupont is DESTROYS of i'm
mediately laying down the buoys in
this great harbor of Port Royal, and
rendering it a secure refuge and an
chorage for shipping, it would scarcely
be possible to over-estimate the value
of our discovery. The entire machin-
cry, lamps, burners, clock work, &C.,
are now safely on board the Wabash,
and will soon be replaced in their for
mer position.
The city of Beaufort, one of the
most beautiful in southern latitude, is
situated on the right bank of the river.
which here makes an extensive sweep,
giving the water an appearance of a
broad lake. The town has frontage
on the stream of six or eight furlongs,
and the buildings show unmistakably
the wealth of their late occupants.
The sailors were not permitted to land
the accommodating party being COM
posed of the principal officers of the
expedition, only four in number. Some
score Of the best houses were visited
amongst others, those of Colonel E..
Rhett, DR.. Elliott and Colonel Bran
well-and every building showed evil
dences of the panic which had seized
the inhabitants after our victory of last
Thursday, and the saturnalia of the
negroes after their departure.
A few,.aged slaves afforded us some
information in regard to the events
which had occurred. When it was
known in Beaufort that the rebels were
IN flight from the batteries on Hilton
Head and Bay Point, the whites in
Beaufort Immediately commenced leav-
ing in hot haste, some for Charleston
and others for a point towards the
shore of St. Helena Sound. CThe lat
ter inlet is to the north of Port Royal,
with which there is internal water COM
munication.) We learned that every
article of property which was valuable
and portable was carried off, the beds
and mattresses having been cut up in
order to provide Wrapping material
for the numerous packages, and the
feathers thrown from the windows.
Pianafortes stood out on the sidewalks,
guitars and other instruments lay in
different stages of dilapidation upon
the pavements. and the entire place
seemed the picture of ruin and desola-
ton. The houses outside were as
beautiful as ever, and the flower gar
dens were uninjured, but the interiors
were in an awful state, little better than
q chaos of broken furniture, torn books
and engravings, old letters, &c. The
negroes assured us that this was all
effected by the "country people," as
they called them, (meaaing the field
hands, and they themselves had done
all they could to prevent the destruc-
ton, but without avail.
The other articles captured in the
arsenal. were few dozen muskets of
the '52 pattern, Springfield manufac-
ture vuantity of bayouets and Uni
ted States cartouche-boxes, a few kegs
of Kentucky powder, (about five hun
dred pounds in all,) three seige gun
carriages, and an old 24-pounder, of
little value the latter we rendered
useless by knocking off the trunnions.
The long room on the second floor we