The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-12

still occupied their position opposite the
camp, In anticipation of an attempt to effect
a landing in that vicinity, 1 ordered compa.
ntes q and E, which had been Withdrawn on
Wednesday, back to q point near the earth {.
Work At the Narrows, retaining at the camp
tho four remaining companies OF the 18th
careful personal observation OF the move
ments Of the enemy, aud in view OF their
steady advance and heavy fire upon the west
ern end of the Island, l changed the ar
rangsment OF the force. throwing the four
companies at the camp in the rear OF the
sand hills before referred to, near Fort Beau
regard, and withdrew, within supportin
distance. the two companies OF the l2th
Ut the Narrows. Thus tho troops re.
mained for several hours under a
neavy lire Of shot and she'll, during
which they exhibited great coolness and
promptness in obedience to orders. Notwi tn.
standing the protection afforded by the sand.
nils, many shot and shell fell around them,
but for tunateiy without inf icting injury OF
any Kind. The batteries at Fort beauregard
We're worked with great gallautry, skill! and
energy, and tn highes. praise is due to Capt.
Elliott and his cora mand, for the manner In
which they dischaig ged heir I'M por tan. trust.
About r. N the fire Of the enemy upon our
batteries was slackened, and redoubied
against Hilton Head. A little after O'Clock
it was reported to me by AdIutant Talley
that boat was leaving one of the feet for
the shore of Hilton Head, amid loua cheers
from the former, and that Fort Walker was
silent; at once proceeded to Fort Beaure-
gard, and alter the coliuq Iiss accurately de-
tailed by capt Elliott III his report ordered
MIN to make arrangements for retreat from
the fort towards the NlIrOws.
then returned and issued the necessary
orders for the evacuation Of the island and
the force moved In good order towards the
eastern portion OF the island The only iins
OF retreat lay across the stIipC CT land known
as the }" Mario vs." scarce fifty yards wide
and one thousand long, to the main body Of
Eddings's Island: which Is itself but an ex-
tsnsiye swamp, entirely impsne trabIe save
by trail known to few, and of such ex.
treme difficulty as to preclude the possibility
Of transporting baggage of any kind bey ond
what could be borne on the shoulders OF the
men. VI the charac ter OF the rou - and the
consequent impracticability of ,ranspor Ia
tion 1 had been fully advised and tn erefors
did Eot undertake the removal OF camp eQui-
psgs, stores or heavy baggage, nor did thlnk
il prudent to destroy such pronerty by fire. III
asmuch as the retreat was at best Of doubt.
full asbihty, and ths nature Of the move
ment would have been thereby revealsd to
the enemy, and its success still further
JeopaTded, If not ntirely frustrated. be-
ueve IN II In consequence of the manner In
which the evacuation OF the island was ef-
tected, it was unknown 70 the enemy until
ii lad been fully accomplished, and this con =
vict'on is strengthened by their failure 10
Station creek and Beaufort river, TO cut of
the retreat at j Jenkins's Landing, aud espo.
ciaiiy at Whitehall Ferry.
the body Of the command reae had the
landing at Station creek and crossed to Dr.
Juhkins's plantation during the night, and
after resting snort time at tho la ter place,
resumed the march for Beaufort, where Is
arrived early Friday morning Ths town
was deser ted by tho white population and
no representative Of the q uar term aster's q or
Commissary's depar,men is, or other person
III authority, could be found 1 Was therefore
under tie necessity OF assuming the respon =
sibility OF taking for the use of the troo "
such provisions and nscessaries rs their oon-
ditioE impsrativsiy demanded; and had
known the amount and nature Of tb Q stores
might have saved much pubic property which
has pro badly fallen ITO the hands OF the enc :
my. proceeded with the command to Port
Royal Ferry, and thence to this place, regard :
Ing the latter as an important point OF De.
fence, and at the the same time one from
which could readily open communication
to procure tho necessary supplies for my
command In consequence OF the intricacy
and difficulty Of the lire OF retrsar. some
officers aud men. detained oy their duties
lost their way; but all these have eincs re-
Joined their respective companies. Tnere ID
but one man whom am under the necessi II
Of reporting as missing; as to the purtic;.-
lars OF sh1s csss, l refer you to the accom-.
panJieg report OF the efficient surgeon oi
the i2th regiment, herewith submitted -
Some mukeu were left, but only those
which had been drawn for enlisted men
ths severe epidemic which had ;hinued ouI
ranks during the previous month.
No soldier threw away his arms. In rega I'd
TO the manner in which the retreat was ar.
ranged and effected, Justice to myself and
others requires that should add a word O,
explanation.
Having received no instructions as to the
mode In which the island Of Bay Point shoulC
be defended, nor of the contingencies upon
which it should be abandoned, with no ar
1.Qvl ant fNr
signals orotherwise from headQuartar anc
totally without In formation OF any plan de-
vissd or facilities provided for the retreat O.
my command In case Of disaster, / felt thai
these circumstances imposed upon mo thu
obligation Of endeavoring TO secure some
means OF feva"uating the island in the event
such a stop should become necessary. Ac.
corGfng;y, the state c. facts above referred to
OntinuiEg, on Tuesday went in person tC
Captain Elliott, who, perhaps, was more
familiar with the localities than any othel
parson, and after learning from him in an
swer to my inqniries> that a retreat wa.
prac ticable through Eddings's Island II boat,
and fats could be secured to take the force.
across Station creek. I inatraoted him e
select some prudent and trrsty person tt
superintend the collection OF the necessary
means Of transportation at the landing OF
Edd dtness Island. The Rev. Stephen Elliot
was chosen to discharge this important duty
and left on Thursday n orning Tor that pur
poSa.
Fortunately, Captain Thomas Han kel, Mr
Henry Stuart, and Mr.. w. H. Cuthbert O.
Beaufort, had already secured Il large mum
ber OF fats at Dr. Jenkins's landing for tn,
purpose OF taking them to some point on Ed
dit gss Island for our relief MIR. ElIiott.in
formed them of the plan agreed upon an
thus, through the cooperation Of these gen
tlemen, and the valuable assistance of Cap
tain Trjpp and hfs command, the evacuation
Of the island was effected. l communicate
the plan of retreat to none save CsptsiI
lot fha a G Nd fffsIn
Lieutenant Colonel Barnes, eommandin.
the quarter portion Of n fantYy, was promp
and energetic in executing the orders for III,
movements of his immediate command
From the nature OF the attack the forces n
Fort Reauregard were the only active parti
Grants in the engagement, and | cinno
clUse this report without drawing special at
ten tlon to the high qualities of the officer ex
hihited by Capt. Elliott commanding tha
wc.k. Compelled from the necessities Of oul
position to act the part Of engineer, rdn snc,
ofj,t er, ard commander Of the fort, he exhibit
ed IN energy and intelligence in preparing
thr batteries for the fight which were only
eGailed by the gallantry and 1rmness Of tn,
dele nee.
A / the members OF my staff did their duty
Adj utant Talley, Captain Bell, quar- termas
ter, md Rev C. b Belts the chaplain, fre
qusrtly sent with orders to various parts O
the sland during the bonn bardment executes
thi' trust in manner entirely satisfacto
to Ius.
14i.utenant fonmans and his detaehmen
were efficient ia the performance Of the par
assigned them. To Lieutenant Johpsen, O
the Beaufort Artillery, the comm I'D is unde
obligations for valuable services reu dered u
the terry across Station creek, and to Cap
tain Thomas r. Elliott for similar aid il
passing whitehall ferry.
The reports OF Captain Elliott and Surgeon
Turnirseed are herewith respectfully submit
ted. Very respectfully,
Your Obedient servant,
(Signed} X. q. M. DUNOTANT,
Colonel 18th Reg'tS. V.
(Oficial copy.l
Signsd) H. Il. You've, A. A. General.
(Onicial,) JOHN WITHBRs, a. A General.
CoTroH AND THE East ISDIHs The New
York Herald says: