Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-09
Tno DessInation oe tho Great Naval
ExpedttlOn,

- AK0eAAbA0AAf
Thlais now Ahe question Of absorbing inter- [
est. Two points have, It seems, BY general
been fxed upon for the landing Of the
troops-Bull's Bay and Port Royal Perhaps
both stations will be occupied tfle
As to the former, Balls Bay, Professor BAoHE'
in his report OF the Coast Survey Tor 1901,
states "a reconnaissance of Bul's Bay thirty
miles northeast of Charleston, and survey oi
North Edist9 entrance, about twenty-five south
east Of that city, pointed to these harbors as
harbors of refuge for vessels unable to pass
Charleston bar in northeast or southwest gales.'
The report also states that "Bulf's Bay entrance
gives thirteen feet at mean low wa'er, and
North Edisto twelve feet" ,sbacq
On page 60, same volume, we find thefolloW-
Ing as the report Of Assistant Q. o. BourELLE
(who accompanies the present expedition, and
his sub-assistant B. HuoER, JF,: - oss.
During the month of February the work was
carried forward over Bulls Island and through
Bulr's Bay to Cape Roman by the parties work
ing Jointly. Bull'a Bay we found to be large
slet of shalloso Dat,r inteTSectsd srith numerous
nayrow channels, leading from the creek entTing
the bay, but suitable Tor navigation only oil
light draft vessels.
A very fine harbor of refuge 10 made by the
n northeastern end of Bulls Island, ioith safe
and easy entrance from sea by night or day, AND
ABOUT FOUR FEET MORE WATER THAN AT CHAR
LEsroN BAR.
In 1859, 1t was again surveyed By Lieutenant
BANKHEAD (who also accompanies the present
expedihon), whose report states;
The inland passage leading to the southwark
and westward, was sounded out as far as Caper'd
Island. doubt whether IL will ever
be used except as hArbor Of refuge for coast
ing vessels, for which purpose, howeyer,it it ID
we'll adapted, being easy Of access, afording
| good holding ground, and having abundance oi
water Tin the channel) for that class OF vessels
| The small channels that traverse the bay are
too narrow and irregular In their depth for any
thing but vessels of the lightest draft.
In the same report ho also sites;
The inland passage, connecting with the bay
| | hnd to be too narrow and crooked for any ves'
sells other than very small steamers and fat
boats, there being but one loot Of water al
mean low tide, aud width Of only fifty feet ai
the narrowest part. Va tsa. ..I..a,
The Fortress Monroe correspondent of the
Baltimore American of the 5lh inst says;
Among naval and military men at Old Poin
the impression Is that the feet landed on Buli'f
Island, at the mouth of Bulls Bay, on Sunday,
the distance from Cape Roman, where the
feet was passed on Saturday night, being but
fifteen miles. The storm having damaged the
Southern telegraph, their landing could not be
known at Norfolk or Richmond before Tuesday
Intelligence from Norfolk Indicated that the
point OF landing was believed to be at the Port
ROYAL entrance to Beaufort, some forty miles
south OF Charleston, whilst BulPs Bay Is thirty
miles north OF Charleston. Gentlemen who
passed through that section of the State repre-
sent that three weeks since there was no forti
Hcation at Bulls Bayj and the impression ia
that nothing could have been erected there
since that would be able TO stand the batteries Of
the feet for an hour's cannonading. d.
The following is from the Norfolk Day Book
of the 4th inst @1
We understand that gentleman arrived In
this city several days since, who reports that q
vessel recently arrived on the coast of South
Carolina, In an apparent state of distress, from
some of the British Islands, bound to Baltimore
Some of her sails and rigging bad been cut
away as though she had been in gale, and she
was eudeavoring to make her way into Charles.
ton harbor for the purpose of getting relief
She was overhauled by the Federal feet off that
coast, and by them fitted up with such need
ed repairs as would enable her to keep on her
way. " ''-
They then put their mail on board Of her,
She left there and soon got hn opportunity and
lodged in either TO Charleston or some other
Southern port, where che was delivered over 10
the rebels, together with her valuable cargo -
On an examination Of the letters In the mail
from the Yankee feet, it was found that con-
siderable Information leaked out as to the In.
tenton of the invading feet which recently left
Hampton Roads. IL appears from this source
of information that their design 10 to attack
Charleston in force from three different points or
app, Oaehes, uHd it may be that POTt Royal Is one
of these POINTS. This information luckily has
been In the possession of the Charleston author
tiles long enough to give them an opportunity
10 prepare for their reception--that Is If they
Can place any reliance on 1t.
The Richmond Examiner of the Sd instant
SAYS; s .5 l-
II Is understood that the Government has
information, the particulars of which are not
given to the public, that furnishes ground for
the belief. that the Yankee feet were preparing
to laud at Port Royal, in South Carolina. There
is said 70 be here one Of the most capsciDus and
finest hsrbors on the Atlantic coast, with but
few natural advantages for its defense. 1t Is
thought probable that the enemy may attempt
to move inland toward Charleston. ri