Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-03-20


jams Adger, Bienyille, Alabama, Keystone
State, Seneca, Huron, Pembina, Isaac Smith,
re guin, Potomska, the armed cutter Henret-
Ia, the armed transport Mcclellan, the latter
having on board the battalion of mari es un-
DER The command of Major REYNOLDS, the trans
ports Empire City, Marion, Star of the South,
belIldere, Boston, and Georges Creek, con-
tIa,inihg brigade, under the command of Brig
we came to anchor in Cumberland Sound at
hali-past 10 on the morning of the I'd. to make
an examination of the channel and wait for Tho
tide. Here learned from a contraband. who
nau been picked up at sea by Commander Lam
Ter, and rom the neighboting residents on Cum
berland Island, that the Rebels had abandoned
in haste the whole Of the defensos of Ferdon-
dina, and were even at that moment retrea,ng
from Amelia Island, carrying with them such
OF their munitions as their precipitate flight
would allow.
The object Of carrying the whole fleet through
Cumberland Sound was to turn the heavy works
on the south end of the Cumberland and the
north end OF Amelia Islands But on rcceiv-
ing this intelligence, detached the gunboats
and armed steamers Of light draft from the
main line, and placing them under the COM
mand of Com. Draytun of the steam sloDp
Powrec, | ordered him to push through the
Sound at the utmost speed to save public and
private property from the threa ened deSruc-
ton, to prevent poisoning wells, and to put
stop to all those outrages by tie perpetrat,n of
which the leaders Of this nefarous war hope to
drive and exasperate the Southern people.
In the meantime | went out of the Sound
and came by the sea to the main entrance of
The horbor. In consequence of bad weather.
was unable to cross the bar till this morning.
Commander DraytOn, accompanied by c. r. p.
Rodgers, with the armed launches and cutters,
and the small armed companies from the Wa.
bash, had arrived several hours before me-
Immediately on his entering the harbor, Com
mander Drayon sent Lieut.. White of the OF
tawa to host the Flag on Fort Cnch, The first
of the Notional Forts on which the ensign Of
the Union has resumed its proper place, since
the first proclamation of the Presiden. of the
United States was issued. A few scattering
musket shots were fired from the town by flying
enemy, when it was discovered that q railroad
train was about to start Commodore Drayton
on board the Ottawa, and Lieut. Commanding
Stevens, chased this train for two miles, and
fred several shells at il, aiming at the locomo-
| tive some of which took effect.
1t was reported that the Hon. David Yulee
/ late Senator of the United States from the
State of Florida, escaped from this train and
took to the bush. Commander c. r. p. Rod
gers pushing ahead with the launches captured
the Rebel steamer Darlington, containing milt-
AIRY stores, army wagons, mules, forage &c,
snd fortunately secured the draw wbridge, which
was held during the night by the second launch
Of the Wabash.
There were passengers, women and children,
in the Darlington, and the brutal captain suff-
cred her TO be fired upon, and refused to hoist
white flag, Notwithstanding the entreaties If
the women. No one was injured. | send the
captain of the steamer home prisoner. His
L.,
mont, but he has been resident Of Florida
for twenty-thrce years.
The same night Commander c. r. p. Rod
gers assembled the St. Mary's with the Ottawa,
and took possession Of the town, driving out a
picket of the enemy's cavalry. Early in the
morning the town of Fernandina was also oc-
cupied by a body of seamen and marines from
Commander Drayton's command. In both
places the inhabitants had fled, by order, it is
said of the Rebel authorities. A company of
seamen and marines, under Lieut. Miller, was
sent vet the Mohican to hold Fort Clincn.
Il is reported to me by Lieutenant Command
/ ing d ,wner Of the Huron, that the whole
structure OF the railroad on the Fernandina
side, acluding the swinging drawbridge, is
, quite u injured. The Rebels have done some
' d,m1.. by fire TO the tressel work on the other
side - the river, but am not quite informed
Of It's extent.
Several locomotives, baggage cars, tenders,
I freight cars, and some other property beside
that found in the steamer Darlington, have been
l recovered The whole number of guns discoy-
cred up to this time is thirteen, embracing
= heavy 80 Founders, eight inch guns and one So
and one l20-pounder, rifled guns. The towns
e of St. Mary's and Fernandna are uninjured
+ | visited the town, Fort Clinch, and tn,
earthworks on the sea face OF the island. 1t II
. impossible to look at these preparations for a
p, vigorous defense without being surprised thai
Il they should have been voluntarily deserted
= The batteries on the north and north -eas
II shores are rs complete as art can make them
< Six are we'll concealed and protected by
: ranges of sand-hillS in front, contain periec
: shelter for the men, and are so small ant
u thoroughly covered by the natural growth ani
by the varied cantons of the land, that to strlk
u them from the water would be the mere resul
{ of chance.
A battery Of six guns, though larger ant
affordng therefore better mark, is equal,
l. well sheltered and masked. These battere:
s. and the heavy guns mounted in Fort Cllnch
command all the turning OF the main ship chan
e mel, and rake an approaching enemy. Besld
le these there was another battery OF four guns o
d the south end Of Cumberland Island, the fire o
which would cross the channel inside Inc oai
The difficulties arising from the indirectness
. the cnannel ana from tne SHOhlHtsS VI 'hS NN'
N would have added to the defenses by keepln:
y the approaching vessels a long time exposed L
: fire under great disadvantages; and when The
at ships of an enemy had passed all these detenses
!, they would have to encounter wel-cohstuc'
Il ed and naturally masked battery at the Town
n, which commands the access to the inner onch
/ orage
= We had in the expedition Mr.. W. II. Dennis
2, an Assistant in the Coast Survey VINO pos
r sessed accurate local knowledge of part
s. the ground we passed over, OF which, ndeed
De he had made the Typographical map under th
" direction of the Superintendent. He was zeal
at Gus and active, and it gives me pleasure
er mention him.
The Empire City, on board of which wa
Gen. Wright grounded on the bar. As 500
as he arrived, in another steamer, immediat
stems were taken TO transfer to him the fort:
ami all authority and possession on the land
desire to speak here of the h3rmoniou
counsels and cordial cooperation which hay
marked throughout my intercourse with IN IN
Of have hpe