The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-31

| found as busy as bees, had removed the most
valuable part of what had been left which was
nearly everything excepting their arms. The
e%ncampment, which was a large one, had
been occupied for many days, and its late ten
ants had evidently been in the possession of
every comfort.
l removed to the boats 40 Sibley and 4 ordi-
nary tents, besides a quantity of articles OF no
particular value, which were lylne about and
found at a neighboring house, which seemed to
have been used as the headquarters, a Confede-
rate flag.
Having pretty we'll cleared the ground Of
what was worth removing and being desirous of
| examining above, l left at 2 O'Clock and pro-
ceeded up the river with the Vixen not liking
to trust the Pawnee III 50 narrow q channel. we
soon came on Seneca, which had started at y
O'Clock to explore, fast on a mud bank. we
remained by her until 9 o'clock in the evening
but found it impossible to pull her off owing to
the night tide not being as high as the morning
Oce.
While lying here, however, I sent the boats
and burned a sloop, which had been run ashore
some distance beyond while attempting to es-
cape from the Seneca, and which could not be
got aaoat. The Vixen afterwards returned tor
the night to the neighborhood of the Pawhee,
but went back at daylight the following morn
ing with a party of men and boats from this
vessel, to Tighten the Senaca, which vessel was
got off at high tide. While the Vixen was
coming up the river, she came on a small slool
laden with cotton, from, which the men wer'
taken whom | have now on board as prisoners
As in the meantime nearly $50 negroes all il
a great state Of alarm, had collected on boart
!, the different vessels, | determined to land then
on The point, and called on the United State
sunboat Penguin, which was cruising OFF tn
y y port, and to leave Lieut.. Commanding Budd i
charge of the river after my departure, until h
- could lear from me. Capt. Boutelle was kin
enough to 90 out in the Vixen and pilot tn
Penguin into her anchorage off the fort. wher
she now is. On the morning of the l9th IA
Down to the South Edisto, and leaving the Paw
nee and Seneca at the bar, went in with TT
u Vixen. found the Notifications which are 9
Edisto Island entirely deserted and partially d
- stroved. They consisted of two redoubts whle
IA mounted, 50 far as l could judge, four gu
~ each, but the guns had been removed.
The Dale being in sight across Otter Sound
% 81 the Ashepoo river, | made a signal, and Lieu
~ Commanding Truxton hauled over with TO,
VI boats, He reported that everything was gu
49, in the neighborhood of his anchorage, and tn
~ the fort on Otter Island was rapidly being pI
", ced in q state of defence. Up to this time
r. though they had been IN slght Oh tpc 0ou
vi Edisto forts where We were lying, they had r
yet landed there.
Having finished my examination of the Sou
Edisto | returned to the Pawnee and ste
VI, VI North with the intention Of lying OFT Stono
w. the night, but as the weather looked threat
ing and the Vienna was almost out of coal,
went into the North Edisto again for the nj!
in order to have an opportunity of supply
her with some. Lieut.. Commanding Budd
ported everything as when left, but on the
lowing morning negroes came in and stated
troops who had left the encampment at 10
Vile being largely reinforced, showed a disp
ton to re-oc:upy that place.
As the weather was too threatening to
por- nit of my making a %careful. examination OF
lde, stand, as | intended, | determined now to ret
ON, at once te this place and report to yoa the 8
400 of affairs at the North Edisto. This l.
the done, reaching my anchorage here at 3 oc
fol- to day. Very respectfully,
Your obed't serv't,
P. DRAYTON, Commanding
- r.'~ O. Atlantic Suu ad