The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1862-01-09

despite its firing, advanced TO within o
hundred yards of it, acting with great
GOODNESS and courage, and succeeding en-
tirely in discovering the position of the
guns, and also ia drawing a heavy fire
from body of mu-ketrg. HaviOg thus
accom- plished their object. they retired os
Skirmishers, rapidly, but in eo0pleto or.
Ger.
By this time the Ottawa and the PEN
bina bad gotten up within range of the
feldwork at the Ferry, and opened fire
on it. This was done with such effect
that if any force had remained until theu
in the battery, it was driven out before
our troops arrived, the eneu.y not attemp-
ting to come from under cover Of the
woods, nor manifes,lng any desire to in
terrupt our farther advaDcc--haviDg
wounded nine or ten of the MichigaD re
giuent, including Major Watson serious
ly and one man who has since died. The
10th New York was sent forward as skir-
mishers to enter the fort first, Gen. Ste.
vens, as yet, being unaware Of its dessr
ton.
This regiment emulated the Behaviour
of the Michigan soldiers; it's advance also
proved a complete success for the new sys-
TEN of sigualizing. Lieut.. Taft, of the
signal corps, was in charge of this depart
ment. and arranged men who carried the
signal flags, SO that they were able to tel
egraph constantly to the gunboats which
had now come up 10 line with our own
troops. Capt. Rodgers was informed ex
actly what range to give his guns. AMI
was able to do effective service 10 cover
ing the troops in their advance. shifting
his aim as the men proceeded. The firing
from the gunboats was monty ascu
trate during the entire engagement.
When the 18th Regiment reached the
fort, it was found to be entirely deserted !,
the guns that had been there were re-
moved, with the exception of one iron IL
FOUNDER; but platforms for others rem aim
ed. aud had evidently been recently used.
Indeed, Gen. Stevens reports that bis
pickets had observed the Disappearance
of several of the heavy guns previously
visible in this battery day or two before
the fight. When the other Union regi
meDts we're in possession of the fort the
gunboats we're 81 gnaIed and im mediatcly
closed in, SO as to completely coser the
troops, who at once proceeded to destroy
the work.
The gun was secured and the battery
leveIed; some remains Of camp eqoipage,
tents, &c., we're dem olished; one or two
public buildings, originally planters res
licences, bat latterly used b. the retel, for
military pnrFoses, we're set fire to. See
ing this, the rebels 10 the back ground set
fire to numerous other buildiDgs still in
their possession, evidently anticipating an
edVanee of our force, and with su liar
result to that which had already occurred
A small force of UBioDists, which bad
been appointed to cross at Sesbrook had
in the meanwhile ascomp plisbed It's passage
under cover OF the guns of the SeOeca
and Ellen, and completely demolishe the
foytiGcaton there, which had also been
deserted This entire body (either aD
entire regiment or stll smallar force
he'd then joined the Dlain portion o. the
command; and at Di1 1bt the whole force
was at Port Royal Ferry. completely GOV
cred by the guns of the four men of war.
The pckets of the two CON lands we're
within five hundred yards of each other
all night.
At about midnight fag Of truce was
brought to Gen. Stevens and request
ID sde that the enemy be allowed to euter
within our lines to bury their dead. Gen.
Stevens gave them one hour in which to
this purpose, but when bis
messenger returned to the flag with bis
reply, the flag aud it's bearers were Mss
ing; nothing IN ore was heard from then
20 of course Gen. Ste7eDss message new
er reached the enemy. Whether the flag
was a ruse or not is unknown. I
In the morning the batteries had been
lem molisbed, and the insult to the May
lower suitably punished, the troops were
'euoved Oh to Port Royal island the gun
'oats covering this movement by heavy
which was answered by the
ebels. Not man vas lost By our force i
n the withdrawal, which occupied three {
ours, and was performed in a manner 4
ighly creditatle to officers and men, Y
)ne regiment, the 47th New York, re- d
urDed to Hilton Head BY a trsn-port t
'ithont crossing Port Royal Island; the il
theirs proceeded to march to Beaufort, i,
18th the exception Of the Rouudhead aud Y
no 55th Pennsylvania, which we're left {
o the other side Of tho ferry, to guard ii
gainst any other offensive movement "
f the enemy. b
AT the time at which | write 10, word j,
as reached Hilton Head of the return of i,
le guoboats, which may possibly be re- Il
aiming for a similar purpose. The 4Stb Il
ew- York is now disembsrking at this
ace. having marched to Beaufort and b
sched the wharf at Hilton Head since u
ossing Broad River this morning a dis %
nee Of ten miles By land, and uftcrward ri
fifteen down the Port Royal River. Sc
By this exploit, several objects have ra
en- accomplished; the men have been a. G,
e to show themselves we'll behaved un. ty