New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-12
OPERATIONS IN FLORIDA AND GEORGIA.
RECENT CAPTURES BY DUB NAVY.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF COW. DUPONT

w,suryGro.., Mopdsy, March 10, 1862
Can't Davis. late feet Captain OF the South Az
antic squadron, arrived here tonight, bringing All
Official dispatch from Commodore Dupont, OF which
the following 70 copy:
FLAG SmP MomcAS,
H,Ruot ov FEgyAsoIS,, Flo, March j. 100.
SIR: lad the honor 10 INFORM Won III my mh'
dispatch that the expedition for fornandina was
oaaivped, aud waiting only for sn'aoie We1tner 10
! .ajl rom P0rt Royal i have now the pleasure 10
inform you that am in fall possession o. ounuer,
land Island and the Sound Of fernandua, ana
Amelia Isand ard tho river and town oil ~. Mary =
smiled from Port ROYAL & G last day OF Febrn-
arv in tie Wabash, and on the ID inst. entered
/ Cumberland Sound by ~. Andrew = inlety III Tie
Mohicau Commander =. w. Gordon. On board Oi
/ which .hio have boosted my fog. The feet COM
rrised the following yesses sailing IN the order IN
which tIey are named: Ottawa, Mohican, aeeompa-
MED By Tie Ellen, Seminole, Pswnee, Po,ahohca''
/ Fig. Florida james Adger, Bierriie, Ahnan''
Keystono state seneca, Huron, P.mbina, iSt"
Smith, Penguin, PotOmska, q armed c.'ler ~
IA The arred transport Mcclellan, the latter bnv'h
on board the battalion OF marines under me co'nin,u
of N,ior l.ey nolds, and the transports Empire |ny
/ Marion Star of the South, Belyidere Boston, and
| GEORGES Creek, containing a brigade, uhuei 'ne
command OF Brighten. wright. ~
We came 10 anchor in Cumberland Sphho a' ha'.
na.t 10 on the morning OF The ID, 20 MAKE an exam
ioaiion of tie channel and wait Tor the tIde. mere
learned from q oontraband. VINO had been picked
M AT .ea By Commander Lanier, a1d from me
ueigLboring residents on Cumberland leland, thai
the Rebels had abandoned IN has'o me "oie Vi ''o
defsn,es OF Fernandha, aud were even at that mo-
mept retrsatiog from Amelia Island, carrying WIN
them such ofiher munitions rs their precphte igh'
would allow.
The object OF carrying the whole feet through
Cumberland Sound was 20 turn the heavy works on
the south end of the Cumberland and the north eud
Of Amelia Isands. But on receiving TINS intsh-
renee | detached the gunb0ais aud armed steamers
of light draft from the main line, and placing them
under the command of COM Drayton OF the ttesh'
sloop Pawnee, ! ordered him to push through 'lo
Sound at the utmost speed TO public and priys1e
property from threatened destination, TO prevent
poisoning wells, and to put stop 10 all those out
races by the perpetraton of which the leaders OF this
nefarons war hope 10 drive and eAaspera'e 'he
Southern people.
by the sea 10 the main entrance of the harbor. In
consea uen 20 of bad weather, was unable 10 cross
the bar till this morning. Commander Draytoh, "a
companied by C.. X. Il. Rodgers, with the armed
launches and cutters, and the small armed companies
from the Wabash had arrived several hours before
ma. Immediately on his entering the baIbor,
Commander Drayton sent Lieut.. White oi the
Ottawa 10 hoist the flag Fort Chnch, the frst OF
the National Forts which the ensign Of the Union
has resumed its proper place, since the ir-' ptoca
ton of the President OF the nited States wa
issned. few scattering musket shots were hfed
from tho town by the flying enemy, when IL was
discovered that railroad tram was about 10 s'aE,
Commodore Drayton on board the oisa"si "uu
Lieut. Commanding Stevens, chased this trln 10.
two miles and fred several shells at ", mining ~
,Ls locomotive ZONE Of which took elect
n was reported that the Hon. David uiee, ate
Senator OF The United States from the state "a
ida escsped from this train and TOOK 10 'he pusi
/ C,,,ran'er G.. T. II. Rodgers. pushing aheah win
,be Ianncies. captured the Rebel steamer Darling
ron. containing military stores, army wagons, mules
forage &C.. and fortunately secured the draw
bridge, which was held during the night by the rec
ond launch Of the Wabash.
There were MESSENGERS women ana children, IN
the Darlington and the brutal captain suffered her
to lie fred upon, and refused to host u white Tag
notwithstanding the entrcaties OF the women. No
one was injured. send the captain OF the steamer
homo n prisoner. His name is Jacob Brock. lie
ia q native OF Vermont, but he has been residen'
of Florida for twenty-three years.
The same pight Commander (. X. L. Rodgers as
cended the St. Marys with tho Ottawa ana TOOK
possession OF the town. driving OUT picket oi the
encmy's cavalry. Early IN the morning the town OF
Fernsndina also occupied by body OF seamen
and marines from Commander Drayton's command
La both places the inhabitants had fed by order, 1t
ID said, Of the Rebel authorities. company OF
ecamen and marines, under Lieut. Miller was sent
vet the hiohiCan 10 hold Fort Chnch.
II il reported 20 me by Lieutenant Commanding
Downer OF the Huron, that the whole structure OF
the railroad on the FerDandina eide, including the
swinging drawbrid,e, is quite uninlnred. Ihe
Il. bel- have done damage by tire to the tressel
work on the other side of the river, but 1 am not
quite informed OF its extent.
Several locomotives, baggage cars tenders, freight
care, and some other property besde that found IN
the steamer Darlington, have teen recovered. The
whole number of guns discovered up TO this time Is
thirteen, embracing heavy 32-pounders, eight inch
guns aud one 30 and one 100 FOUNDER, riled guns.
The towns of ST. Mays and ternandina are unin-
jured.
1 yisi,ed the town. Fort Clnch, and the earth
a -. IL -. D. L..
10 look at these preparations for vigorous deense
without being surprised that they should have been
vo UNFAIRLY deserted. The batteries on the north
ard northeast shores are as complete as art can
make them.
Six are well concealed and protected by ranges Of
sand-hills in front, contain perfect shelter for the
men, aud are 10 small and thoroughly covered by
the natural growth and by the varied couoms OF the
land, that 10 stuse them from the water would be
the mere result Of chance.
A battery Of six guns though larger, and aiording
therefore better mark, is equally well shelts" sd
sud masked. These batteries md the hea-'y onns
mounted in Fort Clinch command vi ,'oe turninos
OF the main ship ohaunel, aud rake an approaching
enemy. Beside these there wss another battery of
four guns on the south end of Cumberland Island,
the fire Of which would cross the channel inside the
bar. The difficulties arising from the indirecness OF
the channel and from the sboalness of the bar would
have added to the deenses by keeping the approach
ing vessels long time exposed 10 fire under great
disadvantages; and when the ships OF al enemy had
passed all theee delenses they would have 10 en-
counter a wollconstructed ANA naturally masked
battery at the town, which commands the access 10
tie inner anchorage. We are told that Gen. Lee
pronounced the place perfectly deensible. We are
not surprised at this IL true
We captured Port Royal, but Fernandns and Fort
Chnch have been given TO us.
We had in the expedition Mr. W. II. Dennis, au
Assistant in the Coast Survey who possessed accur-
ate local knowledge OF part of the ground pasged
over, OF which, indeed he had made the tonop taph