Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-01-30

WV
where active service may be rendered.
| EIGHT THOUSAND MEN - Pennsyvanians
ready and anxious to march forward when
enlistmeGts are progressing slowly and in
Hplaces entirely stopped and this too, when
Dearly one fifth of our grand army in the field
over enc hundred Thousand men-are from
Pennsylvania / And oil volunteers ! Well
done for the Keystone of the Union Arch
1.-The most important intelligence brought
from Port Royal by the steamship atlantic,
which arrived at New York on Thursday, re-
lates to the new expedition fitting out at that
point, under the direction of Commodore Du-
pont and General Sherman. Its destination
is supposed to be Savannah. The utmost Sc
crecy, however, is observed by our officers in
regard to the details of this movement. 1t is
known that q successful survey of a new wa
ter-course' has been made, and that by means
of this channel (Which, for obvious reasons, we
do not name) Savannah can be reached with
out passing Fort Pulaski. Our troops are
now engaged in the work of removing logs,
hulks, and other distractions, including piles,
which the rebels had placed in the stream, un
der the impression that they had thereby Sc
cured themselves from attack in that direction
At last accounts this work was rapidly pro-
crossing, and it was thought when the atlantic
left Port Royal that the work had been ac-
eomplished. The rebels had, however, taken
of the water course, and information had been
received to the effect that this battery, as well
as the defences of the other approaches to
Savannah, has been strengthened. But it is
believed that their position could not be so
fortified as to prevent the advance of the ex-
pedition.-In fact, report has already been
received of the evacuation of Fort Poaski by
the Febels-that position having become use,
less. Before the departure Of the atlantic,
three of the gunboats (such, at least, was the
understanding at Hilton Head( had passed
beyond the line of Fort Polaski The depth
of water through the courses was stated at ff.
teen feet
There were evidence at Hilton Head of
the adVance.-All the floats and launches, of
which there were great numbers, were col
lected or collecting, and Preparations were
making to transport troops. Two of the reg
ments at Hilton, with whose officers some of
the passengers on the Vanderbilt had been in
communication, had received not only march
ing orders, but orders to move, and they were
preparing to go, towards what point was of
course not stated The understanding was
general among the officers that the movement
would be made speedily-certainly this week; ;
and that TIE force to be left at Hilton Head
would not exceed one or two regiment The
forces at Hilton Head thus at command was
ten to twelve thousand men.
But it was doubtful if any attemp whatever
would be made to advance on the mainland,
out Of the range of the fire of the gunboats
inasmuch as the forces under General Sherman
would be unequal to the work of maintaining
itself. phe object Of the contemplated expe-
ditiOn would be accomplished with the occu-
patton of Savannah. The city, however de-
Tended by nearly twenty-five thousand rebels,
would not, it was confidently asserted, be at
tackled, unless our gunboats succeeded in reach
ing it, which there was little doubt they would
be able to do
If movement against Savannah shall not
at once be made, and the reconnaissance and
preliminary operation prove, like the occupa-
tion of Tybee Island, to have been made sim,
ply for the purpose of diversion, the real pre-.
paratioDs may result in another movement
more dangerous, and possibly more important,
that would be the capture Of Savannah.
I Il. u