The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-17

bHios HEAD, D. u. June IL, 1867
Great Excitement a, Hilton HeadA0ars at Beaufort aud
Sono-Whas Has Been accomplished Usheal,hy Posi-.
ton Of Oar Camps and.3ad Water, de-, at .Soro--7ae
Missionary Hegira from Bsawoyt-7ervgle Fright and
Plight Of Non-Conca;aatS-Rcar,s u Ms ionoris TO Ne,c
FWk-7he ScseDae Exploded and ,ohoi he'adins--D Dean
Ct a Herald Correspondent, de-, &c.
We have experienced all sorts Of excitement during
The past two weeks, and but just settling down TO
old quiet mode OF life. In The first place the opera
lions James island by forcos, and tho naval
Affairs in the waters Of Stone and noighborng streams
have kept on tiptos Of expectancy for long time
and in the several places have had little excite
mont in consequence Of the enemy's movements
towards Beaufort. Your special correspondents at
stono with the land and naval forces will furnish you
full details Of the progress Of affairs in that direction
which are now about closed. There has been q rood
deal of skrmshng between forces and those OF
rebels resulting in success The rebels have been
on the aggressive since ceased to advance have
given us one or two very pretty fights. They in
very strong force upon James island have large
reserve IN Charleston and ON gbor ing islands The
failure Of Colonel Christ to destroy tho railroad bridge
nj Pocotalgo, and thereby sever the main artery be-
tween Charleston and Savannah has enabled the rebels
20 concentrate very largo orce in and about Charles
ton, with ample TO Increase IL at short notice IN
this they have the advantage OF us. They
troops with greater rapidty and concentrate more easily
than Still wc have managed thus far ~ get title
ahead or them, and would to-day have been in Charles
scb if littls transportation could have been
procured. Ore brigade ailnd 10 be the ground as
signed IN consequence OF lack Of transportation
the moment which found Charleston nearly unprotected
ON that approach forever lost, and when the
mont was anAly attempted the OF approach
found almost impregnab The cause of the failure OF
the movsment, presume, will DO investigated.
We shall not 70 into Charleston very coon. That Is
enough 70 say ~ present Meanwhile propose TO hold
what we have got II sickness and death ID drcmste
she command The location Of camps is not by any
means healthy IL s surrounded BY swarnps and the
water which the men drink IL OF the worst description.
Any who has drnGe the surface well water the
Sea Islands IN this department will got slight idea Of
It's exocrsbs quality when say that the common sur.
face water Is pure end delicious In comparison with a.
q wiA prove prolific OF sickness and death TO
our troops. May they get out OF tho hole.
ceedingy ludicrous, although at the tac IL seemed
FEARFUL small detachment OF rebels cross ed
broad river at night at Port Royal ferry in largo fiat
adopting very clever expsdont 70 prevent discovery
ntii the propar tmc They placed number OF contra
bands In the front OF the ana Obliged them 20 null
them across whiis they lay sight Of our picks in
the boat. The boat was discovered by tn. pokcts
hailed, and allowed 70 approach tho shore az the no
groes answered that they were "nigQers on de 10
Treedombress de Lord for that masslr Tho nict ~
did not discover the ruse until they had received hot
Ore from the rebels, VINO rose vt the command ana
over the negroes heads. The rs was eobly returned
and the PICKET fs back and continued TO ri baol uni
they had arrived At ssfe distance Tho report was
eant into town, each tree on the roadside bspR con-.
edered, doubt rebel, and when IL reached heal
quarters II had assumed immense magnitude Thosandu
Of the river crossing and marching towards
thc town of Beaufort Tho colonel commanding rshad
his troops inset the enemy and received on his
march additional reports from the exterior line ncreas
mug tia excitement. Cavalry artillery and infantry were
sweeping the island aud the destruction OF things
An general Orders sent 10 town TO throw
the arInory and arm tho citizens. This Of course
startled tho said citizens and they strashtway began TO
book for Of retreat steamer was on hand,
men, and children took TO IT, aud Hilton Head was
soon overrun by fucves They did not lnger long 10
beaufort 10 pick up stray traps, and they What
destitute On their arrival Atsrwards. vhsn the manic