The New York herald., 1862-10-10
IMPORTANT FROM FLORIDA.
Capture Of 3 Rebel Fort ct
St. Johns Bluff.
General BrannaA n Command Of tho Military
and Commander Steedman tho NavalFo
THE REB ELS HELD A VERY STRONG POSITION.
Surprise ef Rebel Cavalry and
Infantry Camps.
Capture Of . Quantity Of War Material
and Destruction Of tho Rebel Camps.
THE GUNBOATs SHELL THE FORT.
Dssertion Of the Rebel Works by
Their Troops.
a-~~~1
the WORKS TAKEN POSSESSION or 81 OUR FORCES
Destruction Of the Fort and Removal
Of the Guns.
.~@-.----~~~~~~~>>->~~~~~~~
OTHER ACTIVE OPERATIONS IN PROGRESS,
THE aUNB0ATs SHELL THE FORT.
Dssertion Of the Rebel Works by
Their Troops.
the woaxs TAKEN POSSESSION OF sY OUR FORCES
Destruction Of the Fort and Removal
Of the Guns.
OTHER ACTIVE OPERATIONS IN PROGRESS,
As., &s., &s.

Our Hilton Head Correspondsnes.
Huyos HpAp, 3. c., Oct. 8, lsea.
"GyeGt Erysdr;oa"--M Commandert--Arrivai at 81.
Johns Riso NaJaa-odrtars and DSs.1vsdion cf Retsl
Camps--Hasoi Rsonaofs ance--Caasass ~ 81. Johfs'
Bug Farb-Ose<uv of Large QSa,lifss sf xSntso'ss
Of War vandaiism ef tie Basray. DC, DO
Since my from this point the great
uxped,on which had been fitted oat by General
commapdng-who, in bis speeches TO the troops ar
sren, occasions assured them that they should not long
maintain their "mss,eriy Inactivity set sail
from this harbor the let instant ~ five O'Clock
The coxzASDsR rfs
General Brannsa commanding the expedition and
star embarked the Ben pefcrd and the
troops on board tho transports Boston, Cosmopolitan
and Neptune The naval vessels composing tie eIpe,
tion are the following vizpaGi Jones (fagshp), Port
Royal, Uncas, Cimerons, Patroox and b. g. Hale, the
squadron being under the of cotnsnder Charles
g. Steedman, o. the nagshp.
ARsIvAt rxfEpIros Al JOINS Mvsa
TIE expedition arrived ~ The mouth OF the - Johns
river and opposite Mayport Wills the morning Of the
2d The troops Immediately dieembarked--the in
aniry Gts aud the cavalry hossss usual IN such
cases were thrown overheard
. sKIRsEHEss THROWN
The foriy.sevcr Pennsylvania Volunteers. Colonel
Good, Immediately threw ont skirmshers, and the i'd
vance commenced, but had proceeded hardly mile when
they cana suddenly upon unfordable creek,
and were compelled 70 return 10 kayport Mile, when -
was decided to re embark the troops on the fats.
yosINox or IlK KEssr woaK--rrs srsssdB
J. would here state that the cncmy's work,
situated on ~. Johns BIan, cistaDt from Mag
port Mills ateut eish, miles and ffteen from
Jacksonville. commanded the river, and was
a most formidable work or itself mounting nine guns oi
heavy ealibre aside from the natural advantages iis
elevated position had; nor indeed Was tLs i,s only
strength, IL beng completely surrounded by 'b'cs un
dsrrovtb, woods and march
ux csIy ~
was a cauReway u shout a mile 10 length commanded
by he rear Of the FORT On tDs whole the enemy had
ycu may say, impreenabIe position, and suorequent
events will prove they ecfeneed the "lset ditch
ADVANCE rrr uvEn
The ateamer Neptune, with tho Cats IN low, pro-
csedea Up the river three miles, when the latter
we're cast on and In true msn-of~ar style uoops
took their cev rowing up Mount Pleasant creea three
quarters OF mic and landed ssd oiyooacked for the
night
orXRAuoSs OF the etSBoATs.
IN The meantime the eunbosss Paul Jones, with
General Brsnnsn aud stan board, Cimefone
and rstIoou proceeded up the river on . reeonSois
ssncs, occasionally shsns ue woods on s'her side q
the river
wp 0FgS Inx slLL
Anvins WITHIN range Ot ~, JOINS biFHi ths hhdl
Jones opsned the ball The enemy brisky replied but
in a manner which convinced all that they had cot the
bost artisriss in the world. After ssnnonsding o.
hak IN hours duration
GUsBcAw WITHDREW,
having drawn the euemys FIRE from the entire battery
The Reconnaissance entirely SUCCESSFUL, and attended
with no loss or lie on our side Rebel loss Unknown
HancB oy rHn rRoors--A msrt CAVALRY oAsp suSrHssp
Fary the following morning ono ADJ Colonel Good took
~ line Of march FOR the bluf, who the navy slow
" advanced up the river. on his march Colenel
cool completely surprised rebel cavalry camp, Which
90 ls entering, demonstrated most disgroc>fa ses
daide ne pat n Ge chiuay. Hare two cases Of Ma
scnusstts breeeh-losdng risa (ncw) aud tgs qu4o.
nty 81 soupie ana siuge barrslod shosGas we're cap
turcd.
an lNFASrpY C4vp AfSo trsrRssc
Leaving this camp, Colonel GcOd and his command
pushed rapidly and Surprised an infantry camp Hcrc
~ in he former Instance, Ge sasPtse mos complete
large ptufes madc consisting of haycrsacls
and equipments, aia a The eucmy's arms aud Amnint
ton.
HAs1y pGrAWues or uiE R.RGls.
The rebels left ii such haste tha, thor diunor wa;
found hot, bat untouched, ON the tables. 10 al
oacers tent WAS found dcliclOus chicken pe
! win knife in ns posuicn, where tho gallant sol
| Or the south lett IL on the Drst ol,rn. or hoy
dseisGsd i--luoaas from ths Presaepts Conases,ie