The New York herald., 1862-02-26
THE SIEGE OF SAVANNAH.
E1IERS-N1N.

We present day to the readers Of the HERALD an ac
curate map, showing the topography and hydrograpy
Of the approaches to and the progress made oy
the Union forces in the bssegement Of the city, and the
relative positions OF the federal ortncations on Long
Island and Jones' Island Access TO Savannah by wey o
Wilmington Narrows was decided, after nearly TWO
weeks Of reconnoering by the Union feet under Capt
Davis to be mprsctcabe by Of the obsructions
placed in that channel by the rebels. On the th inst
Commodore Dupont determined to reconpstre the north
bank Of the Savannah and the creeks and cuts in that
vicinity. He accordingly despatched the gunbosts Ot
terson, Seneca, Pembina, Hale, Western World, Unadia
and the steamer Msyfower-the latter with defash
mont OF the Fortyeghth New York regiment Col Perry
board Tho Maynower had aatbost in tow, with
siege guns board to be landed Mt such place AZ IL
might be determined necessary TO cut Of the rebel COM
muncaton between eavsnnah and Fort Pulaski. This
expedition started from Dawfuske Island at the mouth
Of the Cooper river and 10 the route as define
ated by the dotted marks on the accompanying map
the movement being made In the night, and IL being
dark and stormy. The gunboaa preceded the troops,
passed successfully through Wallis Cut, but reaching
the junction OF Wright ana Mud rivers five Of them
grounded (sss map-A, G. d. E) aud stuck fast in the
mud. This caused the temporary abandonment OF the
expedition, and the whole force returned few days
after General Sherman issued orders for second expe
dion TO proceed reconnaissance 10 Jones Island,
and il practicable, erect battery there, as TO COM
mand the Savannah This 10 be done without
the assistance Of the naval feet This expedition was
placed under the command of Brgadier General vicc,
and consisted Of the Forty eighth New York Volunteers
COL Perry IA graduate West Point panies Of
volunteer engineers and two compspies OF tho Third
Rhode Island artillery The troops with six large guns
thrty-two pounders), were embarked in hatooats at
pawfuskie Island and In Of light drnugh steamboats,
The expedition reached Jones Island. preliminary re
connoissance made OF all the points on the island
and site Venus Point, shown by the position Of
the Vulcan battery the map, was selected for the
erection Of fertilization The thing first sight looked
like an impossibty. The swampy character Of the
soil seemed to forbid the landing Of troops the island
much more to erect batteries aud mcunt heavy guns
thereon II determined. however 10 erect the bat
sry at the point already designated and carry the guns
a distance OF mile over swampy road. To facilitate
matters, Col Perry, the energetic commaDdcr Of the
Forty eighth New York regiment, requested In
perntend the construction Of corduroy road from the
place where the troops landed the Mud river side OF
Jones' Island Venus Point The road constructed,
by the unring labor Of the troops the guns a
last placed in battery While the construction Of the
road was going another detachment Of Col perrys
regiment attempted 70 breastworks to cover the
guns The mud ss lsst piled up for the bat
tery slipped and sunk away but the platforms laid
ana the guns mounted. The guns were landed az the
point A shown in the accompanying map, on wharf
made OF bags filed with sand and long planks laid
them Tramways laid along the marsh. constructed
Of plsuks twenty feet long, laid in parallel lines
or shese parallels used for zach gun and fast
the pieces we're dragged II taken up and
placed still further in advance. Holes drilled in
the papks and ropes ooped through the holes that
tho panhs might be easily dragged by the roops
Ia tnis manner the guns conveyed Jones
Island 10 their present position. Colonel Perry ete
pant j. H. Wilson of the United States Engineers, aud
Lieutenant Horace Porter. Of the Ordnance Department.
superintsnded the removal Of the guns On the nrst
night the heavy guns dragged two hundred yards
The second night the work proceeded aud the guns were
dragged the remainder OF the route and before morning
al rsrs In position. The work Of uggpg the guns was
performed entirely by rcrty eighth New York regi
meut who were commanded and encouraged by Colonel
Perry In the morning rebel gunboat came down the
Savannah to rcconnoitre, aud doubtless amazed to
ind Union fort confronting her. Az the rebel ersf,
approached skc work the latter opened re but by
/ buggns the western shors Of the river successfully
passed battery and proceeded TO Fort Pulaski II
| was discovered by this that the guns
Jones Island did not completely command the river:
hence IL Was determined TO erect another battery the
west end of Long Island, aud which, this
peted cuts sG all communication between the rebcs
at savannah end Fort Pulaski This accomplished, Fort
Pulaski Ia beisaguercd and Savsnnah, in ts's naturel
| course of events, must fall
The Recommesssa nee ar fhe Water APP
proaches 20 fhe Cfty-nemoval of Ob-
attractions I'm wallis Classification OF
works Commanding the Savannah
River, &C., &c.
TO TuE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
herewith send 10 the HsRALo few brief extracts
from private etier Of tho 18th inst written BY an on
cor Of Gen. shsrmas DIVISION operating near Savannah
The writer says
In rIilson Had IN counanx with The ANXanih Ton