The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1862-10-18

them as they advanced, Wnen inc batteries were
found to be evacuated. After which Lieut.. Smell,
u. S. Navy, sent boat ashore and raisel the
American fag, finding the rebel flag in the
battery.-the U. S. Steamer Water Witch, re-
tanning possession of the batteries until the ari-
val ofthe land forces. The command imme IL
ately advanced from the position on Mount Pleas
ant Creek, and occupied the batteries and late
camps of the enemy, at about o'clock on the
night of the Sd. The cavalry not having landed
with theotherpotio Ofthe troops were here disem-
barked. found the late position ofthe enemy on
St. Johns Bluff to be one of great strength, and
possessing heavy and effective armament, with
good supply of ammunition, as will be seen by the
accompanying inventory Of ordnance capturcd-the
works being most skiifully and carefully construc
ted, and the position greatly enhanced by the
natural advantages of the ground, 1T being ap-
proachable from the land by bit one route, which
would lead the attacking party through winding
ravine, Immediately under the guns OF tho position,
and from the narrowness Of the channel at this
point and the elevation of the bluff, rendering the
fighting of the gunboats most difficult and
dangerous.
Most of the guns were mounted on complete
traverse circle, and, indeed, takingeveryhng into
consideration, Ihave no doubt but that small party
of determined men could have maintained this po-
sition for considerable time, against even larger
force than was at my disposal. On the day fol-
lowing my occupation of these works October
4,h) | proceeded to dismount the guns, and to
move them and the ammunition on board the
transport Neptune, which work was completed on
the 3th. when l forwarded them to Hilton Head,
and caused the magazines to be blown up, and
otherwise destroyed the entire works on the bluff
On first occupying the bluff, Capt. Steedman, with
his gunboats, proceeded Immediately to Jal kson,
vile, for the purpose of destroying all boats, and
info no rebel
troops across the river. On the 5th, leaving the
work of removing the guns from st. Johns bluff
to Colonel T. II. Good, 47th Regt. Penna Vols,
NV second in command, L proceeded up the river as
far as Jacksonville, in the Ben Deford, with Io5
infantry. observed large quantity of.corn and
other crops on the banks IF the river, which 1t
was at first my intention, either to remove or
destroy; this purpose afterwards abandoned as
mpracticabe, not having either forces or transpor
t,tion sufficient to remove it, and seeing from the
communication of the Major General Commanding,
that he did not desire the delay necessary to de-
stroy it. The rebels had light battery of eight
(8) pieces, and position in readiness to receive
heavy guns, at place called Yellow Bluff, which
they an; ear to have lately evacuated Jacksonville
| found to be nearly deserted, there being but
small portion of lis inhabitants left, chiefly old
men, women and children. On our first arrival
some few rebel cavalry were lowering around the
town, Lut tiey lnmedlalely relreu vi iny os'ao
fishing a picket line. From this town and Its
nei ,hborhood, bring with me several refugees
and about 276 contrabands, including men women
and children. =
On the 9th, hearing that some rebel steamers
were secreted in the creek up the river, sent the
Darlington, with 100 men of the 41th Regiment
Penna. Vols, in charge of Captain Yard, with two
24-pounder light howitzers, and crew OF 70 men,
all under the command of Lieut. Wilkins, U. 5.
NJ, and a convoy of gunboats, to cut them out.
This party returned on the morning of the 9.h,
withthe rebel steamer Governor Milton, which they
captured in creek about 230 miles up the river,
and about q. miles from the town Of Enterprise
Lieut.. Bacon, my Aide-de- Camp, accompanied the
expedition. Finding that the Cosmopolitan, which
had been sent to Hilton Head, for provisions, had
so injured herself ir returning across the bar, as
to be temporarily unfit for service. sent the Ith
Regiment Conn Vols, to Hiltvn Head, by the
steamer Boston, on the afternoon of the 9TH inst,