The New York herald., 1862-02-14

RIDGE p. + Stout, A. Harteau A. O. Toos, E. L. Pierce,
agent Treasury Department W. J. Bansy, Swampscot,
Mass.
Also two hundred steerage passengers among whom
are the following prisoners Of war, viz
John Cruise Co. d. Ninth South Carolina regiment Levi
Mobiles, VIM. Mobiles Company C, Ninth South Carolina
regiment John Mathews Bailey Mathews, Patrick Lang
ou Sa1ou. rss
meat.
The prisoners are in charge Of Lieutenant G. c. New
man, Forty ty-ssventh regiment New York Volunteers.
Our Hilton Head COrrespondenee.
HrLroS HRAD. 8. c., Jan. 81, 1862
Recommsissance in Warsc,c Sound-A NortheaH Gale-
Composition Of the Epeilionary F7ea-O1seyratioa Of
As Re6e Batteries at Skidacdy Island-Approach 10
Souannah-Visitt TO Wilmington kiond-1eiesrcph Com
munioation Bet,ceen ScrcRnah and Fort Pulaski Cut
OT-Sighting of TIE Rebel FloMo--The Unodla
Agromsd-An Engagement Bereen ae Cnioa and Rst<l
1lctllas-TAe Rete's Beat Observation-Disclosures Mat
tess, &C., dc.
Ireturned on Wednesday evening, on the gunboa, ota
va from Warsaw Sound, where had been for several
days important expedition, the progress of which
shall report. The movement had long been con-
sdercd and everything ready for its inauguration
Monday the goth inst On the afternoon Of that daythe
troop which 10 compose the land force OF the
expedition embarked safely upon the transports
and there seemed be fair prospect OF early start
for the unknown scene OF operations. But the night
rapidly on, and it apparent that before the
thousand and details necessary to be carried cut
could be completed the day would be gone and the De
parture OF the feet postponed. The transports lay at
anchor the shore and though greatly crowded the
made themselves quite comfortable, and INDUCED in
complaints growls, as they expected TO sail on the
During the night the wind and weather changed
and daylight there fresh breeze from the north
This increased to gale and the transports
compelled 20 change their anchorage TO deeper
water and more comrnodious positions Throughout the
day the gale continued growing severe every hour
until all hopes OF getting of faded from the minds Of the
hopeful, and all concluded that in for
tedious Imprisonment; and we were quite right in ouf
gloomy forebodings, as unfortunately proved The gale
continued with unabated violence until Friday night, when
II subsidized and a small Bit Of blue sky larger than
ones hand revealed ITSELF and sent CLEAN Of joy and
satisfaction throughout the feet The crowded state Of
the steamers and the npossbli'y Of sndng The troops
70 enable the decks be cleaned up made the trans
ports most foul and dsagresabs How the troops en-
dursd the tedium foul and other dscomforts without
loud and general complaint, am unable to conceive
But the Ninety Pennsylvania Volunteer Colonel
Guss who dsnsey packed upon the Boston, rarely
uttered complaint or sxpresson Of dssasfaction and
from personal observation say that their behavior
was excellent through the whole Of my stay upon
the steamer Captain johnson and the officers OF the
Boston did everything they could TO make the troops
comfortable possible but spite Of their Efforts the
passed dissgrssaby and uncomfortaby enough.
On Saturday, the weather being propitous. it was
thought that would be able 10 start but the unoru
nate detention Of the feet long by the gales made
necessary repsosh the supply of water and commits
sary the vessels and the day consumed be-
fore ths work accomplished. On Sunday morning
the Wabash hoisted an American ensign at her fore
signal for getting away, and Immediately the Ottawa,
Commander stevens; the Seneca, Commander Ammen
the Unadla, Commander Collins and the Pembina Com
ander Bankhsad got underwsgh followed by the Isaac
Smith, Commander Nicholson; the Potumska Command
er watmough ths Ellen, Acting Master Budd the West.
ern World, Acting Master Gregory. and the Mary An
drews Acting Master Mathews The transports follow
cd towing schooners and stood out to seattle Una
dnls Pembina and Mary Andrews, with several trans
ports taking inside or skull creek purposely
refrain from naming the transports or the regiments
composing the land force, or giving their strength as
what has already been accomplished s merely prepara
tory and might be detrimental to the service reveal
anything at present in relation TO them. When the
proper time comes shall give me fullest details OF al
operations and the forces engaged But 10 return TO the
feet. After pleasant sail we entered warsaw Sound
and TO anchor for the night. We found a, the
upper anchorage, at the mouth Of the whining
ton river the soop.of.wsr Seminole Commando
ellis, and the gtnbost Norwich, guarding tha'
avenue of escape from Savannah The Fingal
coming through this passage when our gunboss
took their position there. The gunboats lie Just out OF
range Of a powerful rebel battery skidawsy Island
which was building when visited warsaw some thns
since n the gunbost ottawa full Of which Won
published about that time, and they enectuay blockade
the river.
On Monday morning q reconnaissance made In
force towards Savannah in which all tue gunboss were
engaged The Go,iiia was underwegh shortly after day
light and after slowly feeling their way over bar
tered Fresborns cut, narrow creek Of considerable
depth which winds through the low marsh that lies be-
tween savannah river and Warsaw Sound leading to the
river near Fort Jackson But little was known Of the
character Of the creek, where II would lead to, Or
whstlsr defended not On entering the creek
the Ottawa, board &c which was Captain Charles H.
DAVIS. commanding the naval portion Of the expedton
aided by Commander c. r. r. Rogers, of the Wabash
took the advance position towing OF the Wabssbs
launches IN command OF Iieutsnant irwin. Next fol-
lowed the Seneca, towing second launch in charge of
Lieut. Barnes aud then followed the Isaac smith, tho
Totumsks, Ellen and Western World In that order
steamed slowly UP the creek which seemed hardly wide
en- ugh 10 allow the large rass through wind.
ing through tornous channel Jui hnding water enough
ct all points " nost frigate.
We passsd within range Of Fort Puask W the rear Of
o. but elected no shot from IT, AS the rebels dcbtlss
never sJssnsd tAea w esule nnd pssssss 50 psss v