The New York herald., 1862-01-11


teen in tho steerage.
The United States steam transport Ocean Queen would
leave Port Royal soon for New York.
We are ndebted to Purser Alaheus Of the Oriental for
favors.
OUR HILTON HEAD CORRESPONDENCE.
HiLroN HEAD, s. c., JAM 8, 1862.
The Brilliant Nirmish Near Port Royal Ferry on the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of Too Batteries by the Enemy
Cdp.ureof One Heavy Gun by General Seuens-Succssul
Completion Of the Days Work-shehng by tile Gunboats
Of the Woods, and Slaughter of the Reoels-Bmning
Of Planters Houses, de-. &c.
Ireurned 10 Hilton Head too late today to get or any
dispatches to the HERALD by tho Vanderbilt. which
sailed at early hour this morning for New York.
Before this reaches you you will have received brief
Official announcement Of an expedition to the mainland
and short but sharp and brilliant skrmish in the neigh
borhoQd Of Port Royal Ferry, New Years Day will
now give you q detailed report Of the affair
On Monday afternoon last it became known to few at
Hilton Head that movement to be made the last
day Of the old year, the first Of the year. by
General Stevens with considerable land force aided by
naval force Of some strength which had for its object
the capture Of the rebel battery at Port Royal Ferry stu
ated on the mainland and also the n0iton of sudden
blow on the rebels, which would show them, that
mot asleep, besides giving them proof that were
a day as New Years
But few details developed that day, and nothing
very definite the knowledge Of any Of until the
following morning.
On Tuesday morning, at early hour, the guuboat o.
tawa, Commander Thomas H. Stevens, having board
Commander c. p R. Rogers and acting Flag Lieutenant
Preston Of the wabashthe former having been detailed
by Flag Officer Dupont to command the naval portion Of
the expedition and 10 operate with General Stevens
the gunboat Pembna, Commander John p Bankhead,
and the gunboat Hale, temporarily in charge Of Leute
Barnes detailed from the Wabash left their anchor
age and steamed up Beaufort river to Beaufort. Two
punches and two cutters, each armed with Dahlgen
howtzer, and manned by full Of well armed men,
accompanied the gunboats, tho Ottawa towing the
hrst and second launches, commanded by Lieutenant
Upshur and Mdshipman Wallace, Lieutenant Luce and
Nidshipman Lowrie, respectively, and the Pembna
towing tho FIRST cutter in command Of Lieutenant Irwin
and Mdshpman Pearson and the second cutter In charge
cf Mr.. Kemp, Master and Midshipman johnson. Assist
ant Surgeon J. Magee from the Wabash, accompanied
The oa Of small boats render IL necessary, surgi
cal aid The gunbcats proceeded to Beaufort and anchor
cd until night in order not to excite suspicious when
they TO proceed to point the Of
temrlated operations.
At the Forty seventh New York regiment Lieu
tenant Colonel Fraser tho Fortyeighth New York
Colonel Perry marched down TO the wharf obediencs
10 orders received the previous evening" and embarked
upon the steamboats, Boston, Captain Johnson, and
Delaware, Captain Cannon, which in readiness
receive them Your correspondent fortunate enough
TO geton Board the Boston and accompanied the Forty
seventh regiment TO pssufort. We got under way at
ahout hafrast three and steamed up TO Beaufort.
TIE Seneca Commr,sder Ammen, and the ferrytoat
Ellen. Lieutenant Busi commanding got under way at
She time that did ard also proceeded far as
the mouth OF the Beaufort river when they seemed
take their up the Broad river instead Of
following our course. As it understood that they
were 10 convoy us, their seemed little sugu
lar as it showed probable difference in instructions.
have since learned that General sherman counter
manded order too late to notify Captain Ammen and
he proceeded up Broad river, following his instructions
until he had got nearly Of signazng distance whom
he recalled by the flagship. His instructions we're
changed ia respect only, and he again up
Broad river to the mouth Of Port Royal river where
he laid al schor for the night. But OF tho Seneca
wbsn the Boston arrived Al Beaufort she was
anchored and Captain johnson, Colonel Perry your
special correspondent asfore-tlo former for In
structions the latter sor Information. After spend
ing hour the Hotel dc Beaufort that svas,
which is occupied by Messrs Stimson and DeGraw,
agents for Adams Express calci upon Gen. Screns,
his quarters, and obtained pe@s to go overland
10 Port Royal ferry. White invited the rcpro.
scnativeo Of the press his rrvate apartment
he explaiSsd the object Of 1he expedition ami his
general plan Of attack for the He intended
TO strike q New Yoar's blow by s..ptur
. ing tho rebel battery the ferry, and after
removing ,isc guns which might bo found therc, te
destroy tho work and % tho island aeahr Tn.
movemcDtsas not intended to extend the main and
die oas towards tho interruption of tho railroad
communicated between Char, ssnn and Savannah, the
occupation Of rhe position taken lie had several rod
and sufs seasons for attempting these thugs
which 1t is nciEccossary 10 give tins account gier
fully expAnuggls plan of attack he bado good even
ing, and rctissd as he extremely busy ~ pre-
pairing every thing success aud TO prevent ac1
dents tie morrow.
largo pcssiono OF the forces had sready marched s
tho ferry, andihe remainder 1eavc at midnight
ahc Forty seves and Forty eighth Nov York Volunteers
Nvcro to leave a. daylight Boston and delaware
and go by the creek 10 Cooaw river nss rendezvous nj
briokyard and assn General Stevens there These
iwo forces. uniting, were TO proceed up The sna n
lend and attack the battery on the right, Will
a detachment woald cJ<xs in frsrt at In,
fcrry, aud mako an assault upon the work a-sd
ny tbird detachment ON lhcN leit Of the work wa
were cross above the fort aHh work up The land.
,ngs 10 be at dayigh Tha, IA the plan IN roagt
How succeeded will be seen prt> ced in myoccon
Cf The AFFAIR
At i've o'co K On Now Ycw's mo- ningI was in end
do upon Of the st spodvc ntgs ie is possible ~
imagine intended 10 go t,vnrds tho ferry hat ibe
npg thought differently, and az hour's vcSatioJf
experiments, IN which the stubborn beast performed
sone extraordinary feats much to tho qualification
sgrrr,sod sentnes along the roid tut greatly 10 NY
dsOonfort was obliged to back the stable ara
obtain fioeL' Gorse In defence OF my borsomanshp
may obse,yp that tho ar.oNards dashed ua.t,.