The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-10
SAVANNAH, GA. Feb. 4, 1862.

fTopheE-I@ Ck o. ldahSk aN-o0Hes oS.
SAVANNAH, Ga. Feb. 4, 1862.
Nothing very interesting had transpired
since my last letter TO the Dispaieh. until yes.
tsrday, when the people were much exer-
eised to know ths reason of a heavy and long.
continued cannonade on the Carolina side
The flashes Of the guns and the smoke could
ba distinctly feen from the battery, and II
appeared 80 far from Wallis Gut that all
con lectures centered upon the little fort at
Red Bluu, on New River, a. the point Of
attack. The difficulty Of receiving any au.
tGentic reports from the other side OF the
river rendered 1t useless to guess at the
cnuse. Nevertheless. a tho ousand and one
reports were soon in circulation, some pur.
porting to be reliable. and detailing circum.
stantiaily the burning Of q Federal gun.
boat.
have just been ems abied to learn the truth
in regard to the affair, twenty. -four hours
after its occurrence. The snemy's gun boat.
advanced up New river, aud for thI ee hours
expended large quantity Of ammunition In
shelling the site OF the fort and adjacent
woods, and after having most thoroughly
satisfied tnemssiye that no "masked ba l.
tSiy VI icOtt iOINt lui ACu IA bho AclkLnOI.
hood, they landed and burnt the remnants
of the camp which the Beaufort artillery
had evacuated on the Friday preceding -
After having achieved this feat they aban &.
donsd the position, and retired to their gun
| boats, which soon after returned down
| stream, bu: have come up again TO- day. The
object OF the attack it is difficult to determine
! cannot think 1t any more than a desire to
drive us from q position which prevents all
possibility of marauding upon the planta-
tions in the vicinity, and which are within
| easy reach OF their small steamers.
We are almost entirely cut of from COM
l munication with the forces In this vicinity
l on the Carolina side, and though we may
| see the fash Of the cred artillery" and hear
| the revarberatng roar of its deadly music,
| we are cut off from any participation in the
| struggle, and are forced like Tantalus, to see
| the favorable moment pass away and leave
| us only the same parchins thirst for the re.
| freshing drought. Like some wandersr, who,
| hidden in the mazes OF q wood, hears the
| battle clang, the shouts Of the victors, the
| groans Of the wounded and the despairine
l agonies Of the dying, and yet rem aims cut OF
| from any knowledge of its cause, SO we fire.
| quently are here. To await the report from
| the railroad at p. NJ, brought from the ac-
| count OF a courier at Hardeeville, frequently
| garnished with novelties, affords but little
relief 10 the anxiety Of the searcher after
| knowledge. We need a seacoast telegraph
liae-a line under military supervision and
for tho service of the commanders on a widely
i extended line OF defence. It is not urged by
me for the first time; the subject has received
aF
Charleston Courier has several times advo-
| Gated it's construction as a means OF speedily
concentrating our forces upon points assailed
| where SO msny weak places must occur on u
line of neai one hundred miles. BY the pres.
ept system Of courier messages, it takes some
times three and four hou-s to send the news
| to the headquarters at Hardeevile, in which
time vigilant and enterprising officer Nigh,
rong lodRmsnt.
On Sunday the bodies Of the OGlethorps
Light Infantry killed at Manassas during the
battle OF the 21st July, were received by de.
tachments from tho various companies re-
manning in Savannah, and, escorted by a very
large concourss Of citizens, were laid in state
in the Exchange building, preparatory Il
| the public funeral ceremonies which tool
place on Monday. The military Of the city
! not on duty were assembled at 8 p. NJ, ane
drawn up before the ch urch where the eulog,
] of the gallant deceased was delivered, and q
the procession mo we'd of, lead by tho clergy
| who were followed by the catafalQus bearini
| the bodies, and this by the relatives Of tn
deceased, and q great concourse Of sympa
/ thizing friends and mOurners. The sad occa
sion brought back fresh to the mind the stir
| ring day of tha victory, the hurry and ex
citsment Of the joyful news, and to many tn
sad note of grief midst all their country
gladnsss and glory. But what a consolation
to know that with their blood they had wol
the first halo Of glory which illumined th'
new banner of their country, and baptized
1t in laver which never fails to bear gOoC
| fruit In the honor and courage Of their coun
trymen.
The window Of the Dspatch office hav
| seen frequently the object Of curious specu
iation, especially after the famous battles o
Bethel and Manassas, when the wonders o
the battle. neld were exposed to the admira
| tlon OF the passing crowd. Since my arriva
in Savannah have seen more of the love O
antiquarian research III the term can he per
| mitted,) evidenced by the appreciativs gust
with which the % tronns Of q defunct Zouav
or the forearm Of a Yankee officer is re-
ceived. In close proximity to the prominen
and strikingly brutal skull Of q Zouave, an
the more intellectual and we'll. balanced CT,
mum OF some New England soldier, eac
appropriately labelled, lies the hoof OF Bar
| | tow's horse, killed in the same engagement
the figure. head OF Yankee brig, gone I
pieces upon our bar. originally designed a
! blockade TO the channel, and other NO les
! curious evidences Of the Ill fate which ha
| befallen the luckiess sons Of the ad venturou
North Some Of these curiosities ore nc
| without intrinsic value, as / saw demon
strated by q utilitarian purpose to which tn
lower Jaw bone, gracsd with full set of ivo
| ries, had been submitted
"To WI st base uses may We not come II CRATIC /!
II Cusnrs dust should finally come to stop
bung- hole, why may not a jaw bone sub
serve the more honora Vie purpose OF spur
This spur had bssu very carefully prepared
| taking a. little from tho natural bone as pos
sibls, and upon 1t ! saw-nsy, forgot, viii
| not say to VIII ON saw prssenssS. but at least
| General not nkn0wn to fame.
The Charleston Courier came to us yester
| day clothed in the most tunereal garments
| though the shafts Of the destroyer pierce
equally the young and the old. feared tha
l the venerable senior proprietor had bee
taken from the scene OF his busy lab0rs rip
for the cleaner. Though but little Will
since saw him at the advanced age Of nearl
81 year., he still frequentsd daily the qofhc
! where hs had 20 long labored. and where b
had built up Journal which has daily In
creased In usefulness and public esteem fr0r
the hour when his untiring hand gave tn
| Arst stsrt to the enterprise. Mr.. Willingto