, 1861-12-10

The New York 1ri141at's correspondence
IRON Beaufort is to Dec. Sd, and what has
been done since Dupont gave over the xork
to Sherman and his land force is summed m
as follows:
Reconnaissance Of all the islands this side
Ct Port Royal HaIbor, and Of the main land
from Savannah River mp to Beaufort have
been carefully made. The damages to the
captured iorts have been repaired, and both
any possible attack Hilton Head Island.
about twelve miles By seven, is wholly in
military occupation, strong pickcts, occupy
1ng all important points, and Braddock's
Point, at lts extreme end, where guns we're
pointed to prevent the landing Of our
strengthen the positions and encampments
OF the whole Of our force, not com
pIeted, but already extensive Immense
quantities OF stores of every description have
been landed from the transports, in the most
difficult circumstances, within adequate means
and only by incredible labor Not less dian
SUI soldiers hdse 6ten acorking day and night,
mach Of tie time in the acdtei, and zoiIious anu
ot the simplest hep for lifting and Transporting
hca,y heights. Everything has been brought
on shore in small boats, the beach shelving
gradually, and, until the wharf is finished, no
!; launches or lighters being able to approach
within considerable distance.
Ile wharf is well advanced in construction,
built OF huge pine logs, cut three or four
11ca nMn ff~ffg H. PPay Pasy dragged and partly hoatcd
Der tor other purposes has been got in the
same way. That Of which the storehouscs
were built was brought in the transports. OF
the storehoases, two arc go by 80 feet each,
TWO others each 125 feet by the same width,
The stable is 600 feet long and - feet vide.
and about as much more is to be added. The
heavy labor imposed upon the soldiers by
the refusal Of the War Department to furnish
laborers,. and the large force required
Tor ths piekets, has interfered to some extent
with drill and the regular routine Of camp life,
yet great deal has been done to improve the
soldlcrly condition Of the division Five to
clght hours day am assured LAS been regu-
larly devoted to drill, battalion and brigade
movements, and other instruction for the esi-
gencles OF special service. The picket duty
may be divided into two classcs--the inlyins,
that which is immediately about the brigSdeS:
the outlying, much heavier and harder, ali
over tue island holding roads and ferries and
other important points. Add to this summary
tile expeditions in all directions, naval and
military, the occupation Of Tybee Island 1T
Sound to the north, a5 miles nearer Charles.
ton than tlis harbor, both having fortitic:,-
tions which have been abandoned by the
rebels, and believe some general notion NAV
be formed Of the work accomplished up to the
present date.
Tic condition Of the troops here. tfrir
health and spirits, cannot say much about.
1he sick l'stS hare tesn largely increased by Tie
eharactc,.t HeanoyE tie men haaehz to perform.
4nnch Of echich might hatc 6ecn done 6vcoat7u.
bands, the General commanding haI chosen
to 0sNH himself Of their services to a. 1rcater e.
sf3.f. Some Of thc regiments arc much better
~ than others; and It is plain that their con-
dltlon when leaving home has VERY much 10
do with their present state. The best armed
and officered regiment here has Ind perhaps
.he very hardest work to do, and still has not
suffered SO much as others. The tone Of feel
ing remains rs it was, and carries them
through everything.
One first result Of the fall Of the forts was
thu universal alarm that spread along the coast
from Charleston to Savannah, aud how much
further know not. Extra trains were ad-
Tcrtisctl to leave Savannah the day after the
surrender, to convey the inhabitants to places
Of more safety. There were probably moi
$500 troops in all South Carolina, and Gen.
sherman might have n1archcda couple Of rcgi-
mcntE to tllc railroad, broken up tic conmll-
nleation between the two cities, scattered tie
remnants OF the fugitiycs from the forts, and
ter a!l that appears, have taken Savannah with
little or no opposition. The precipitate flight
from the forts is accounted for from the fact
fl;st Wien they once became convinced ii could
rot he held, they knew their retreat miElt
lave been wholly cut off by one or two rp11-
boats IN Skull Creek. Many facts in our nos
session now, if known then, would have ena-
hlcd lis to make the immediate fruits of the
victory much more complete; and some Of
them, it is not Unfair to say. ought to have
been known and acted on. The opinion pre-
wallis extensively among officers and meu that
our advantages were not followed I'D as they
ought to lave been ut the moment.
The coulrabAnd question is not less interest
lnE III it's features than important in its rcla-
tion to the expedition and the whole war
Facts are so numerous that the difficulty is to
ec1est from the mass Of materials those which
arc most important. I can only repeat, to-
day, 4 few Of the statements, which come to
ne from the best authority, observing in the
first place that there arc not more than three
hundred in camp at present. Their feeling Of
hostility to their late masters and gratitude to
lie is unmistakablc and universal, and their
readiness to work is shown in every way. The
policy Of Gen. Sherman, or whoever is respon-
sible for Ills remarkable proclamation, T can
not pretend to fatlom, I'm It,ble to see arhy
their Scifices Should stot 1tiere tze oecrmorkcl SOL
"ieTs from some Of the heauiest tasks in,posed
tlpoA Mtm. The slaves come slowly into camp
for several reasons. The Invitation held out
is of the coldest-ihe accommodations, when
III, arc wrctcllcdly insufficient cannot
bring their families in any numbcr-thay can
not return for them # they are left behind
tier condition on the deserted plantations is
one of case and comfort, and every obstacleto
the camp is thrown in their way That they
laaye been shot in numbers by oycrsccrs and
masters is beyond all question.