The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1862-03-15
News Of this Command.
THE FALL OF FERNAyDINA.


in these columns, of any recent movement
On the st of March the combined national force ap
pcared Oft Fcrnandna The entrance to the harbor lies
between two islands, Amelia and Cumberland; at this
point is situated Fort Clinch, an unfinished case
mated work, with tier of guns which had never
been mounted when the place was seized by the Reb-
els year ago. Two three miles further in the
southern side of Cumberland Sound, is Fernandina;
on the same side but to Fort Cihch, lies Old
Fcrnandna the population of both places together
do not amount to than ten or twelve hundred.
batteries had been erected by the Rebels all along
the Sound, and in various other positions command
ing the approach. On the I'd of March, the field bat
tascs were found to be completely abandoned, while
at nearly the same time it was discovered that
Fort Clinch had been evacuated. The enemy
had fed without firing a gun. Fourteen heavy
pieces were left behind, all Of them spiked, and nu-
merous others seemed to have been carried off; pro-
bully as many as forty fifty; the number is by
some even estimated high eighty ninety. The
whole garrison calculated to be 5000 strong had also
dccamped and the population Of the town was hurry
ing off in railroad cars; few shells stopped the
train; some of the passengers took to the woods,
and escaped; among them, it is said, was Senator
Yulee; most Of them, however, were brought
back. They were principally women, and children,
and returned to their homes; some were unwilling,
but many expressed no dissatisfaction.
The population that remains represents that the
Rebels had fled on the day subsequent to the appear
ance of our feet and that the town to be burnt
within the next twenty-four' hours. They declare
that the place was evacuated under orders from Rich
mond it having been determined to abandon the en-
tire coast They also assert that arrival there has
-pcen nnrfcfpased sihce. .fsss rpecefn5ef.@
The prompt flight without the shadow of an attempt
at resistance indicates any thing but the chvaric
and desperate behavior We have been taught to ex-
pect and none of the unwlingness to receive the
old National authority, which has been lately incu-
Gated by the so called government Of the Rebels If
the victory was boodless it the less impor
tant, and affords indication that one Of two
circumstances exists either revulsOn in the South
feeling, originating in the recent National sue
cesses at the West; or an extension of the panic
which has begun there even to this the opposite side
of the continent.
PORT ROYAL.
The steamer Mississippi, from Fortress Monroe,
with Gen. Butler aboard and body of reinforcements
for his command, got aground Frying Pan
Shoals, Friday morning, the 28th inst, in sight of
Cape Fear Her anchor was Immediately cast and she
struck on it, knocking such hole In her bottom to
cause serious injury Accordingly she put into this
port the 2nd nst having been obliged to keep men
at her pumps constantly after the accident. She went
direct to Seabrook where the troops under Gen. But
Ter were encamped. On the 18th she SO far re-
paired as to be got off, but ran aground again within
few hundred yards of Seabrook Landing. The
Captain is named Fulton, and Southerner by birth
he has been placed under arrest. Gen. Butler, his
staff and portion of his force proceeds to their
destination on the Matanzas loaned for that purpose,
by Gen. Sherman. The Mississippi, which has been
again got off, conveys the remainder of her origi-
nal complement. Colonels Neal Dow, Dudley and
Gooding are with Gen. Butler; Mrs. Butler also ac-