Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-12-31
cart. DRAYTON,s I,EPOKT.

morrow
CAPT. DRAYTON'S REPORT.
UNITED STATES STEAMER PAwNEE, POM
ROYAL, S. c., Dec Il, 1861 Sir: In obedi.
ence to your order Of the 18th inst, left this
harbor on the night Of the 10Th, accompanied
by The gunOoat Seneca, lieutenant command
ing Daniel Arnmen, and the coast survey
steamer Vixen, Capt. G. o. Boutelle, but at
the bar found that the heavy nortleaster
which was blowing had raised such sea as to
render 1t out OF question to attempt entering
the river which was directed TO examine. |
therefore returned to my anchorage, which l
left Il second time, however, on the following
morning, and reached the North Edsto attwo
o'clock. Shortly after | crossed the bar with
the Seneca ploted in by Capt. Boutelle in the
Vixen, Which vessel he however left when we
were inside for the Pawnee, his vessel remain
ing astern OF US.
AT the time we could plainly see fortlca-
tons ahead on Edisto Island, distant mile
and halt. AS it was reported to me that they
were filled with men, | commenced firing
slowly from my bow guns, as did the Seneca,
but receiving no answer, we soon ceased, and,
running by the batteries anchored III the north
Edsto river. On taking it, found the fort,
which was entirely deserted, to consist OF two
redoubts tor five guns each, connected by Il
long curtain, and protected in the rear by Il
double fence of thick pIanks, with earth be-
tween, and loop-hoed. The guns, as the ne.
groes informed me, had all been removed to,
wards Charleston some weeks back.
While | was making this examination,
Lieutenant Commanding Ammen had proceed
ed up the river for about five miles, the effect
of which was Immediately apparent in the
firing OF cotton houses and ou-buiidings. As,
during the night some negroes came on board
and informed us that at the small town of
Rockville, which was in full sight, there was
a large encampment of soldiers-at least five
hundred-and Capt. Boutee Offering to go
up the creek ON which it was, determined to
make them a visit in the Vixen. AT daylight
on the 18th, went on board of that vessel tor
the purpose, taking with me the boats and
marines of the Pawnee and Seneca, under
charge Of Acting Master Smell
Owing To our running ashore we did not reach
the town until near 5 O'clock A little above
it was sloop laden with cotton and provisions
which took possession of and towed along
side. There still sbeiug no signs OF life on
shore, landed with fifty men 10 reconuoiterd
and was soon satisfied that tile troops has
left. as the the first thing the negroe,
pillaging II building in which there was large
quantity OF commissariat stores, consisting of
rice sugar bacon, corn, Sc. This | stopped
at onee and had what remained removed TO
the Vixen. Being then informed that the
camp which was mile from the water was
entirel deserted, l wert there. But, although
SO far as | could learn the troops had lett at
daylight and it was then only 4httle after eight,
the negroes, whom l found as busy as bees,
clad removed the most valuable part of what
had been left, which was nearly every thing
excepting their arms.
The encampment was a large one, and had
>nbecn occupied for many months, and its at
pendants had evidently been in the possession
of every comfort l removed TO the boats
forty Sibley tents and four ordinary tents,
besides a quantity OF articles OF no particular
value which were |, ing about; and found at
neighboring house, which seemed to have
been used us headquarters, a confederate flag.
Having pretty well cleared the ground of what
was worth removing, and being DESTROYS of
examining above, lett at two O'Clock and
proceeded up the river with the Vixen, not
liking To trust the Pawuee in SO narrow a
channel
We came upon The Seneca, which had start
ed at 9 o clock to explore, fast on mud bank.
We remained by her until o'clock, but found
it impossible TO pull her of, owing to The night
tide not being as high as the morning one.
While lying here, however, l sent the boats
and burned sloop which had been run ashore
some distance beyond, while attempting 10 es
cape from the Seneca, and which could not he
got atloat The Vixen afterwards returned
for the night TO the neighborhood of the Paw
nee, but went back at day Of the following
morning, with party OF men and boats from
this vessel, to tighten the Seneca, which yes.
sci was got off at high tide.
While the Vixen was coming up the river
she came on small sloop laden with cotton,
from which the men were taken whom | now
have on board as prisoners. AS, in the mean
time, nearly hundred and fifty negroes, all
in a great state of alarm, had collected on
board the different vessels, | determined to
laud them on the Point and called in the United
States steamer Penguin which cruising
of the port in order to leave Lieut.. command
: ing Budd in charge of the river after my de-
{ parture until he could hear from me. Capt.
Boulee was kind enough to go out in the
Vixen and pilot the Penguin into her anchor
age off the fort where she now is
On the morning OF the 18th | ran down to
q the South Edisto, and, leaving the Pawnee
and Seneca at the bar, went in with the ViX
en-. found the Notifications which are on
Edisto Island entirely deserted and partially
destroyed. They consisted of two redoubts,
which mounted, SO far | could judge, four
guns each, but the guns had been removed.
The Dale being in sight across Otter Sound
in the Ashepoo, l male signal, and lieutenant
commanding Iruxton came over with four
boats. lie reported that everything was quiet
in the neighboThood of his anchorage, and that
the fort or Otter Island was rapidly being
placed in state of defence.
Having finished my examination of the
south Edisto returned to the Pawnee, and
stood north, with the intention of lying off
Stone for the night but as the weather looked
threatening and the Vixen was almost out of
coal, / went into the north Edisto again for
the night, III order to have an opportunity of
supplying her with some. Lieutenant COM
nanding Budd reported everything as when
lett, but on the following morning negroes
: came in, and stated that the troops who had
left the encampment at Peckville, being large,
ly reinforced, showed disposition to reoccu.
by that place. As the weather was too threat
ening to permit of my making careful ex'
animation of the Stone, as | intended, l de
termned now to return at once to this place
and report to you the state of affairs at the
: North Edsto. This l have done, reaching
my anchorage here at three O'Clock to-day.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
[Sgnedl p. DRAYToN, Commanding.
To Flag Officer S. f. Dupont, commanding
South Atlantic squadron.
THE EUROPA AT CAPE RACE.
Sr. JOHN, N. F. Dec. S0;-There was a
heavy easterly gale at Cape Race, on SaIur-
day aud Sunday, with tremendous sea. The
steamship Europa, Capt. Anderson, passed the