New-York daily tribune., 1861-12-31

I" The following report of the expedition has be
Z received
UNITED STATES STEAMER PAwSnB,
y Port Royal, S. c., Dec. 81, 1851 J
SIR In obedei7ee to your order OF the l4th inst.
left this barbor ou the night of the 10Th, accompa
MED by the guubcst Seneca, Lieut.. Commandin,
Daniel Armmen, and me coasts survey steamer Vixen
t Capt C. o. Boutelle. Bun at the bar, found tha
the heavy north-easter which was blowing haC
raised such sea to resIder it out Of the question
to attempt entering the rivers which was directed
30 examine.
] / therefore returned to my anchorage, which
had left second time, however, on the following
morning, and reached tlre North Edisto at two
o'clock. Shortly sfer l crossed the bar with the
Seneca, pioted in by Capt. Beatelle IN the Vixen,
which vessel he, however, left when we were IN
ride for the Pawnee, bis vessel remaining assern OF
us. AT tho time could platsly see Notifications
ahead on Edisto Island, distant raile and a half.
| Ast was reported to me they were filled with
men, / commenced firing slowly from my bow fsiis
as did the Seneca, but, receiving no answer, soon
ceased, and, cunning by the batteries, anchored in
the North Eilisto River. On landing, found the
fort which was entirely deserted, 10 consist OF two
redoub,s for five guns, each connected by long eur
tain and projected in the by double fence Of
thick planks, with earth between and loop-hoed.
The guns as the negroes informed me, had ali been
remov ed toward Charleston some weeks back.
While was making this examination Lent
Commanding Arnmen had proceeded up the river
for about Eve miles, the effect Of which was imme-
dia.ey apparent in tas firing of cotton-houses and
outbuidings.
As during the night, some negroes came on board
and informed us that the small town of Rockville,
which was in full sight, there was large eneamp-
ment Of soldiers, NJ loast 500, and Capt Boatee Of
forng to 10 up the creek on which it was, deter
ri,ed 10 make then.a visit in the Vixen and at day
ah. of the l2tb went board of that vessel for the
purpose Of taking with me the boats snd marines of
The Pawnee and Seneca, under charge of Acting
Master Smell.
Owing to our canning ashore we 81 no, reach the
town until near o'clock little above wficn was a
sloop laden with cotton and provisions, which took
Possession Of aad icwed alongside. There sl being
no signs Of life On shore, landed with 30 men to re-
ronnoter and Was soon satisfied that the troops had
left as the fast thing seen The negroes paglne
n building, Il. which there was large quantity oi
eomnssa. vt s,ores consisting Of rice, sugar, boom
corn, &c.
Tts stopped at once, a.sl had what remained re-
moved 10 the Vixen. Being then informed tltaa the
eaup. which was Il mile from the water was entire
ly deserted, went thcss, but although, so las as
coah learn the troops had left daylight, and il wa'
then only ttle after O'Clock.
The negroes, whom | found as busy as bee., had
\ 's.~v'oa me no". '-'~eha mart of what bed hner
leli. which nearly everything excepting then
, arms. The encampmeht was large one, had been
occupied for many months, and IT'D late tenants had
evidently been in the possession Of every comfort.
removed to the boats forty Sihley aud four ordi
nary tents, beside quantity of articles of 10 par
,irular value, which were lying about; and found
at a neighboring house, which seemed TO have been
used as headquarters, a Confederate flag.
q. Having DR. well cleared the ground OF what
was worth removing, and being desrous Of oxanin
ing above, left at two O'Clock, aud proeeeledup the
river with the Vixen, not liking TO trust the Pawnee
in 40 narrow a channel, came on the Seneca, which
had started at nine o'clock to explore, fast on a
mud bank.
We remained by her until O'Clock, but found il
impossible to pull her off, owing to the night tide not
being an high as the morning one. While lying here
however, sent the boats and burned soop which
had been seen ashore some distance beyond, while
attemptipg to escape from the Seneca, and which
could not DO got afoat.
The Vixen aferward returned for the night to the
neiehborhood Of the Pawnee, but went back at day
:, light Of the following morning with party OF men
and boats from this vessel to tighten the Seneca,
which vessel was got of at high tide. While the
Vixen was coming up tho river she came on small
sloop laden with cotton, from which two white men
. were taken, whom now have on board as pris-
oners as in tie meantime nearly $50 negroes, all
in great state of alarm, had collected on board the
different vessels determined to land them on the
point. and called in the United States steamer Pen
oujn. which was cruising of the port, and to leave
Lieutenant commanding Budd in charge OF the river,
after nv departure, until he could hear from me.
4 Cant. Boutelle was kind enough to 30 out in the
Vixen and pilot the Penguin into her anchorage q
the fort, where she now is.
On the morning Of the 10Th ran do~., 70 n:
sop.h Edsto and leaving the pswnse and Seneca 4,
the baf, Went IN with the Vixen found the fortii.
cations, which are on Ediso Island, entirely deserted
and partially destroyed They consisted Of two re-
cos!ts wbi:h mounted, 50 far as could judge, four
.. guns each; but the guns had been removed
The Dale being in sight across Otter Sound, in the
! Ashcpoo made signal, and Lieut. Com: Truxton
pulled over with four boats He reported that every
thnr was Quiet in the neighborhood of his anchor.
age, and that the fort on Otter Island was rapidly
being placed in state Of defense. Up tothe present
time although they had been in sight OF the South
Edisto forts where we were lying, they had not yet
landed there. tH =
Having finished my examination of the South
n xznI,, Al.