The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-14
TRIPLE SH EFT.
New York, Thursday, November II, 1861
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The news which we give to-day from the grand
naval expedition to Port Royal confirms all the
reports which have previously reached us from
the South, and establishes the fact that the result
OF the enterprise has been most glorious. We are
now in possession Of the official accounts of the
expedition, which arrived by the steamer Bien.
vile from Fortress Monroe yesterday; and we Law
before our readers to-day, in the reports of the
commanders and the descriptions by our special
correspondents complete history of the entire
affair. Our story occupies no less than twenty.
OF the news for which we cannot find room to-day
would fill up several columns more. In furnishing
this important news we are compelled to omit
large smount of other interesting matter.
The total destruction of the rebel batteries
Walker and Eeauregard at Hilton Head and BAY
Point, the lending of Is 600 of our troops and the
abandonment by the rebels of the city of Beaufort,
and all the neighborhood around it, sufficiently
attest the completeness of our victory. The rebel
Notifications were found to be structures of an
admirable character, hardly surpassed, indeed,
In the history Of military science. They mounted
no less than forty-three guns, and had
large stores Of ammunition on hand. All
these have become the property Of our troops
When the boats of the expedition reached Beaufort
they found but one white man in the town. The
Inhabitants like the garrisons ut the fort at the
mouth Of the harbor, had fed. The preciptancy
with which the troops at the forts took to fight is
manifest by the quantity of arms--oiicer's swords,
pistols, &c.-and private papers left behind
Among the latter documents was found despatch
from JEFF. Davis to General Drayton, the CON-
mandant of the place. informing him Of the sailing
Of our feet, and its destination at Port ROYAL.
II Is curious coincidence in this engagement
that General Thomas W. Drayton, who commanded
the land forces of the rebels at Port Royal, and
Commander Percival Drayton, of the Union gun
boat Pocahontas are brothers, though found on
this occasion fighting on opposite sides. Captain
Steedman also, who commands the Bienyii,e, and
brought home the official reports OF the battle il a
son Of an ex-Mayor Of Charleston, South Carolina.
The accounts which we give in our ceaamns
to-day of this grand affair at Port Royal are 80 fun
and detailed that it demands no elaboration here
but we call attention to the fact that we publish no
less than FIVE maps of our late battle fields
which will be found ennnently worthy Of public
attention, four Of which illustrate the Port
Royal affair, aud Include a map of the coast
of South Carolina, another of Beaufort and the
inlets, another Of the forts at Hilton Head and Bay
Point with the position of tho feetsin action
In addition we furnish fine map of the battle
ground Of General Nelson, at Piketon Tor Pixies.
ville) Kentucky, the scene of the late brilliant
achievement, terminating in the capture Of all the
rebel forces at that point, including their two
Generals, Williams and HAYES. With all these
illustrations before them, and the full and authentic
accounts which accompany them, our readers
will be enabled to comprehend the magnitude Of
the success which has marked the course of the
AMY Of the Union for the past few days.
by the arrival Of the Biepville we have also
interesting news Of matters in the South. Among
the items will be found full account of the de-
parture of the rebel Ministers slidel and Mason
for Europe from Charleston, on the Theodore,
and how she ran the blockade of that harbor, to-
gether with accounts Of the transfer of the Union
prisoners from Castle Pinckney to New Orleans;
of a visit to Charleston by the French an-of-war
Prony; Of Spanish vessel in distress off the
South Carolina coast, and of preparations to re-
sist further invasion of North Carolina a Ia
Hatteras.
From the Lower Potomac we learn that at an
early hour on Tuesday morning portion of the
commands of Captains Morcy, Chester and Quartz
man, together with the two flank companies in
all about four hundred men-of the Fifth regiment,
Excelsior Brigade, under the lead of Colonel Ora.
ham, crossed the Potomac at Matthias Point drove
four miles into the country, and returned after a
careful reconnaissance, satisfied there were no
batteries in the neghborhood, nor any provision
FOR them. They brought back two prisoners. q
quantity Of horses and cattle, aud were accom-
panied by some sixty or seventy contrabands, who
rushed into the boats the moment the firing com
menced. The principal houses, barns. &C, on the
march were burned.