The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1862-10-18

effective strength, ,................. 641
Section of lst Conn. Light Battery,
Lieut.. CANNON, effective strength.... Al
Detachment of lst Mass. Cavalry, ~
Capt. CASE, effective strength, see. 6o
Toto, .. 1878
The Expedition left Hilton Head, S. c on the
afternoon of the 3Oth of September, 1867, on the
transports Ben Deford, Boston, Cosmopolitan,
and NEPTUNE, and arrived off the bar of st. Johns
River, early on the following morning, October the
lst. but was unable to enter the river until I.
NJ. the same day, owing to the shallowness OF the
channel This expedition was joined by the 1ol-
lowing feet of gunboats, Captain Charles Steed-
man. i. S. N. commanding, ordered to cooper
ate with it.-Paul Jones, (Fiag-ship,) Cimerone,
(Capt. Woodhull,) Wa.er Witch, (Lleut: C0md,g.
Pendegrast,) Hale, (Lieut Comd'g Snell,) Uncas,
(Lieut. Comd'g Crane,) PATRON, (Lieut. CHma 2,
Wrann.) On the expedition coming within the
river, three gun-boats were sent up to feel the
position of the rebels, and were Immediately and
warmly engaged by the bate les, apparently OF
heavy armament, on st. Johns Bluff. A LANDING
was effected at place known as Mayp1rt Mills,
short distance from the entrance OF the river ana
the entire troops, with their arms, horses, and
rations, were on shore by nine (9) O'Clock on the
night of the lst.
The country between this point and st. Johns
tation Cf troops, being intersected with lmpassa-
BILE swamps. and unfordabe creeks, and presenting
the alternative of a march-without land transpor-
tation-of nearly forty (40) miles, to turn the head
of the creek, or to reand up the river, at strong
" guarded position of the enemy. On further IN
vestigation of the locality, landi e was effectei
for the infantry, about two (2) O'CLOCK on the
morning of the I'd, at place known as rs buck
Horn Creek. between Pablo and Mount Pleasant
creeks, but owing to the swampy nature of the
ground it was found impract.cable to land the
cavalry and artillery at that point. Here the
sunboats rendered most valuable assistance by
transporting the troops in their boats, and in send
ing their light howitzers to cover their landing.
Colonel T. H. Good, with the entire infantry, and
the marine howitzcrs, was ordered to proceed
Immediately to the head of Mount Pleasant creek
and there establish position to cover the landing
of the cavalry and artillery. This movement was
executed with great promptness and skill, surpri-
sing and putting to fight the rebel plckets on
that creek. Indeed, the landing OF the troops at
Buck-Horn Creek, and their rapid movements on
Mount Pleasant Greek, proved to be most fortunate
for us.-such a proceeding being so unexpected
on the part of the enemy entirely to dsarrange any
plans they may have formed to prevent our land
ing The pickets retired in such haste ana trep-
idation, as to leave their camps standing tnelr
arms. and even great portion of their wearing
apparel behind them, and the men themselves
NAV thank the intricate nature Of the ground,
together with their superior knowledge of coun-
try almost impraeticable to stranger, that they
effected their escape.
On the afternoon of the Sd the command of ar
tlery and infantry were in position, at the head OF
Mount Pleasant Creek, distance about two (2) miles
from the enemies works on St. Johns Bluff.
Here the statements of those belonging TO the
locality, though conflicting and unreliable in the
extreme appeared to snd in
addition to the heavy batteries, which they repre-
sented as containing nine (s) heavy pieces, two
(2) of them being columbiads: Under these cir
cumstances, deemed it expedent on consultation
with Capt steedman, U; S. n. Commanding Ma: Ma,
val Forces, to call upon the garrison of Fernandna
for renforcements. To this call Colonel Rich,
9th Regt. Maine Vols, commanding that garrison;
responded promptly. by sending three hundred ,s