New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-11
from Our Special Correspondent.
PoRT RoYAL, S. c., Jan. 3, 1862.

movement. Ut HAS u'sNtu ehot"oi W 'HS 49,
of services that have steadily followed It's st splendid
achievement in Carolina waters. while the army,
waking nst from s repose, has Get lie foo, on the
mainland and felt the Rebel front. Ii is easy 10
rtate generally the purpose OF the movement and
method Of its execution, but iit brilliant success and
the real importance Of is results cannot be under
stood without knowledge OF the steps by which
they were accomplished; and fortunately almost
every detail Of the operation has novelty and n-
terest Of its Own.
When Beaufort and Port Royal leland Were n rst
occupied in force by our troops, an Immediate adj
vance on the main land 10 have been expected
by the rebels. Pot Royal Ferry was fortified by
tie erection Of an earthwork, the construction oil
which was more or les interrupted from our eide by
the guns of Hamiltons battery under Lieut.. Ransom
Our efIor, to stop was not permitted in, and the
strengthening OF the rebel position al that and other
points was suffered to continue. Finally, when the
battery was supposed to he nearly complete, CO.
operative movement Of naval and land forces was
determined on. to destroy il. Port Royal Island Is
surrounded by waters nsyigable by vessels drawing
pot over ten feet. The gunboats were therefore
able, though with some difficulty, 10 approach tic
ferry on either tde.
In order 20 capture the fort, il wac arranged TO
throw trooTs ncross tie CoosGw River, from Pot
ROYAL Island TO the main land, foyefal miles be-
low the ferry, ard that they should advance along
the shore, while the gunboats should cover them ns
they moved, and shell the battery. What was sup
posed TO be the main fertilization erected sogo
tie head OF tho causeway leading down TO the ferry
about FIVE hundred yards from the landing, md
thought 10 contain not lees than seven guns n
large force Of robes known u be -tsnoncd nth
IN a few niles. From Gariner's Conner, Hff1ee,
Vile, Poootalieo, ard other places, ierhsf5 F,OVo
troCps could be concentrated q, short notice. A
MECH larger force could be brought by rail 70 point
not more than eight miles distant. No effort, there
fore, was to DO made bold the battery. The move
men had no other object than TO destroy it, and for
Til. purpose $500 troops, with the aid Of the naval
force, were deemed sufficient. Gen. Stevens took
for the work paris Of each regiment comprising Ills
brgade--the 18th New-York, Major Morrison acting
colonies sth Michigan, Col. Fenton; 50th Pennsylva-
nis. Col. Christ; Pennsylvania Roundheads, Col
Lsasure; together with parts Of the 41th and 18th
New-York, under Col. Perry. The Roundheads
were TO cross at the ferry III front ON arrival OF tie
cunboats, and the column Oh the other side.
The naval force was under command Of Capt.
| c. r. r. Rodgers Of the Wabash, and consisted oil
five gunboats and four boats from the Wabash. The
gnnboais were the Ottawa, Capt Stevens Pembina,
Can't. Bankhead; Seneca, Capt. Ammeni Ellen,
Can't. Budd; and T.. Is. Hale, Lieut.. Barnes COM
mspding. The Wabash's boats which had a very
importapt duty TO perform, were in charge Of three
officers Of the ship, Lieut. j. Ii. Upthnr having the
Gt,t launch; Lieut.. s. Is. Luce the fecond and
Iieut. John Irwin with Mr.. KempG, Acting Master
under him the fret and second cutters. These four
boats each carried howiizer in the bow. Their flint
duty was to cover the landing Of the troops
Can't. Rodgers with the Ottawa and Pembina, and
the Wabashs boats went up to Beaufort Tuesday
morning. Dec. 81, and having been joined by the
Hale in the afternoon, started about six In the even
ing, and followed by the transports Delaware ana
Boston with parts Of the 47th and 18th New-fork
Regiments on board, proceeded up the Coosaw 10
within about two miles Of Brckyard Creek and an
chored On this rreek the troops were TO be embarked
The Seneca and Ellen left Por Royal In the alter
noon. went up Broad River, and the next morning
approached the ferry from the other side The gen
eral plan was as follows The troops were TO embark
at daylight, the Wabashs boats to meet them In the
creek and cover their landngon the oPPose shore OF
the Cootaw; the Ottawa, Pembnn and Hale TO FOL
low up the river early Us practicable, covering the
advance Of the troops after they had landed; the
Seneca and Ellen to approach the ferry from the
other side of IT, when the firing OF all tho guns might
ne concentrated on the fort and tie causeway leading
10 il. by which the re-enforcemenis OF the reoeS
would advance. As 10 field guns could be Trans
ported Lieut. Irwin was 10 land with his howiizerS
and crews and accompany the troops.
AT A o'clock on the morning OF New-fenfs ChP''
Rodoer. left the Ottawa in his gig with the launches
nod cutters. Ar he was kind enough to let me 30
with him am able TO write Of what followed as
,necator. The boats pulled up tho river with mnied
oars, the gig leading. 1t being about deed 10"
,y,,er and our contraband pilot not entirely ainilAr
9TH the channel, the heavy launches were several
times aground; but Notwithstanding tho delays the
hoo,s reached tho mouth Of the creek fifteen INMATES
hefors o'clock, the hour fixed for the crossing
Can't. Rodgers went on in lis gig, leaving The 0'ner
hoats near The entrance, out Of sight from tho oppo
alto sbor,. over which the gray of the early dawn
family lighted the sky. Almost immediately we met
,he bys Soat laden with troops, rowing slowly down
ag,r,, tho strong food tide. They hailed VA with q
{" uaopv New Year" and announced t~d Gen. SIC.
.n. ,yss iust behind. From neaTy every Coat
'nhI.h to,owsd tho ssms salute oaao cheerhy oTos