The New York herald., 1862-04-02

mounting -four guns barbette, magazine and hot
fhot furnace were attached Both ST. Smons ana Jekyl
| islands had been deserted.
After examining the batteries the vessels passed up
the sound 10 Brunswick and anchored of the town.
fire discovered the wharf, which proved to be
the railroad depot and wharf, the work of the retiring
soldiers.
| Lieutenant Commanding Bach, with q large force
covered by the guns Of the Potomska landed
wick without any show Of opposition, and hoisted the
American flag on the Oglehorp House. The town
was entirely deserted. and nearly all the pro-
perty which could be removed had been taken
away The lenses belonging to the lighthouse at St. An
drews and the lighthouse at st. Simons-the latter
building having been destroyed by the rebels-could
not after careful search, be discovered The channel
buoys for the river are still there but out Of place
Proclamatons posted on several Of the public
buildings urging the inhabitants their houses
and promising protection property all good citi-
zens and the landing party then retired to their
sells.
Nothing from any Of the houses, the
ing from inqrng taking away the private effects Of
the inhabitants enclose copy of Commander G0rdon's
interesting report Very respectfully T,Ia &C., H.. om
Hon. GIDEON wElrs.
CoxMANDER GORDONs REPORT.
UNITED STATES SHIP hoHcAN, OFF BRUNSWICK, GA,
March 10, 1862
sR-I have the honor to report that in obedience to
your order Of March left Fernandna the morning
Of the Sth, accompanied by the Pocahontas Lieutenant
Commanding Balch, and the Potomska acting Lieutenant
Commanding Watmough, and crossed Fcrnandina bar
with just water enough to comfortably float the ship.
made the best Of my way st. Simon's bar reach
cd 1t at dead low water passing and getting into St.
simons channel through which carried about
feet to within two miles Of the forts, which could
plainly see commanding ST. Simon's entrance Here
sundown, anchored for the night.
After dark shifted the anchorage OF the ship alter
the range Of that might be left in the batteries
At daylight made preparations to pass the batteries
and at sunrise weighed anchor and stood in soon dis
covered that the batteries evidently abandoned
and anchored my little force inside and beyond range Of
the guns and made signal to land from the vessels.
liant anA nalc nf tbo D,cnk
hrce boats took possession OF the fort st. Simons
Island consisting Of strong earthworkof considerable
solid ten inch shot found in the fort would indicate the
calibre Of some OF the guns there enclose detailed
report Of the taking OF that battery by Lieutenant Com
Lieutenant Miller, Of this ship at the same time occu-
pied the fort Jeky Island, which was. it seems,
casemates finished covered railroad iron and very
well built and two unfinished cssemates the iron rail
channel for long distance, and their Are CROSSED the
entrance, which is mile or little more wide. Once
the batteries were passed they could oler but little
difficulty in i've minutes the guns Of all the vessels
could have en6aded them, and could fire directly
in the But they would have given . number OF
vessels trouble in getting beyond them. enclose
the report Of Lieutenant Miller OF the fort Jekyl
Island
As soon as the boats returned went on III.
Potomska, and proceeded in her up the river to
Brunswick So soon as we opened the town
to view heavy FIRE commenced, and at the same
ment perceived the railroad moving full speed in
the woods at determined TO bring up the ships
and myself OF the town, in the hope Of preventing BY
my presence the place from being burned and At
returned to the Potomska, had the pilot with
Both the Mohcan and Pscahontas under way before
reached them, and wo proceeded TO Brunswick, on
which place anchored as the sun went down.
The had returned but again started our ap-
proach The Pocahontas anchored or the but
side Of Bazsard Roost Island the Potomsk. st hshor
town. The following morning sent the Potomska into
the branch opposite the towns Neither this ship the
Pocahontas well get as at high wafer Aat twelve
feet OF water found in the bukheaA and the
wharf and Buzzard Roost Island The river about
four hundred feet wide. .-.,' .,.., w t.
with the Potomska Lieut. Balch took charge Of land
ing party consisting o twenty Ave marines from this
ship and the Poeahontas and the two twelve FOUNDER
guns with forty rfemen from the different vessels, hand
cd aud hoisted the faG The place deserted, and
most OF the furniture Of the houses removed S there
wharf ready TO b. renewed After careful examine
ton Of such buildings might be surprised 70
PUBLIC property and careful survey was had visited
the town. and then directed tho command to retire
the ship, having posted notice urging the inhabitants
to return, and promising protection to all pro-
sperty for all good citizens. l enclose Leute-
nant Balch's report Of his landing &C. Nothing in The
place touched by the landing party and such houses
as were not open were not even entered. sincerely
hope that some good citizens at least may be found
willing to resume their houses under public notice,
and shall not allow the place to be visited except
duty.
The fire we notised was the work Of the retiring
soldiers and proved to be the railroad depot wharf
The lenses belonging TO the light houses not found
The channel buoys the river but out OF place. and
the light house destroyed.
Tho town is closely surrounded by woods generally
well built and extends considerable space. Ss-
veral contrabands have board. Soldiers arc
said 10 he in the woods not very distant,
and most OF the inhabitants said to be
fourteen or sixteen miles back encamped
have sent the Pocahonas and the ka up the river
far Us they could to reconnorc There schooner
Of considerable size the stocks unfinished Fires have
bssp burning about US, but believe it is the brush being
sSass%ss that @ IL Wiling e ss: se ss 's
Messrs Toombs and Cobb, by placing the torch tho
hands OF the children 10 consume their
that is done In that way to be done by order Of
military commanders, who, having no local interest in
the Doghborhood Of their command have the TO
consume tho property in which they have immediate
interest.
lam, very respectfully, your OOsdent servant.
Commander and Senior Officer
To Flag Ofbcor s. y. DuPoSr Commanding South Allan.
tic Blockadng Squadron.
Reconnaissance or the Inland Passage
from Brunswick to Darien.
FLAG OFFICER DUPONT's REPORT.
FLAGSHIP wARAsu,
on ST. JOHNS, Fla, March II, 1862.
sR-Since my last despatch the 10Th inst have re-
ceived another interesting report from Commander Go.
don giving the details Of reconnaissance by the inland
passage from Brunswick Daren copy OF which en-
close.
Commander Gordon, with the Pocahontas, Lsutonant
Commanding Balch and the Potomska Acting Lieutenant
Commanding watmough, with the launch how,zer Of
the Mohicau in charge Of Lieutenant Miller, proceeded
to open the interior communication between 81.
simons Sound and the Altamaha river. He soon
encountered an obstruction cons sting Of double row Of
heavy piles, with their tops just above water a, low
tide In few hours . sufficient number were removed
the Pocahontas and Potomska passed through bu,
had advanced only nve miles further when another OBJ
strucion Of the same kind met with After an un
syoidaolc delay, owing to the rising Of the tide, this
also was removed and both vessels entered the AItamaha
and ~ they turned into the river, rebel
were seen moving OF from the wharf ut Dariep with
full head " steam, rendering pursuit useless partjcu
larly the brasses Of the Potomskas SHAFT bcarus
had broken, in q measure disabling that vessel
Commander Gordon learned from some coutrabands
who OF from shore that Dareu like Bruins wick
deserted company OF horseinen only remaining M
the town. with the intention Of firing the place should The
steamers approach.
owing 10 the crippled condition Of tho Potomska Com
mandsrGordo did not deem advisable TO push his re-
connosance further and accordingly returned through
the passage he had cleared 70 the anchorage At
wick. He visited number Of plantations on ST. snou,s
Island but, with one exception all were deserted though