New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-19
OPENING OF THE HIGHWAY 10
SAVANNAH.

OPENING OF T&E HIGHWAY IO
SAVANNAH.
We have now sufficiently ample accounts Of
the siege and capture of Fort Pulaski, to
enable us to Judge at once of the nature Of
the enterprise, of the worth Of the labor
employed, and the measure of success achieved
for the National cause. The reports which we
publish this morning, embrace our special cor
respondents narrative (Which we can safely
recommend for It's cearness as well as its
cornpleteuess); the telographic announcement
OF the capture of the Fort b. Gen. Hunter;
and the admissions of Rebel journals as to the
essential facts of the campaign and its pros
pectye results. Altogether, the reports Of but
few of the Expeditions which have marked the
progress Of the war. so well bear examination
, ss this: and those who may be disposed to
regard the work accomplished, as having been
performed with superAuous caution, or even
too tardily commenced, will find ample com
pensation for any such misgisiDgs. in the
energy which characterized tho operations
during the month Immediately preceding the
surrender.
II was 20 long ago as the beginning of last
December that Capt. (now GeneraD Gilmore
made bic first reconnaissance in the vicinity oil
the fort from Tybes Island. Immediately
thereafter plan for the reduction OF the place
was submitted 10 the Commanding General.
This plan, however, had TO be sent to Wash
lington for approval, and the middle OF Febru-
ary had arrived before the ordnance necessary
for the commencement of operations had
reached Port Royal. After this. not an hour
was lost in proceeding with the work. On the
10Th of February, Capt. Gilmore was ordered
{ TO Tybee Island, aud was there invested with
d the powers Of General Commanding The Sa.
. yannah River having been blockaded on the
J. 18th, the blockade was rendered complete by
the 22d, and on that day the landing of ord
nance ON Tybee was commenced. la the eI-
il traordinaTy labor required for this task, in the
e performance of which a whole month was
consumed. We are reminded of the labors OF
the Allies at Balabsya before the tram.road
: enabled them 10 move their trains to the high
grounds in front Of the Malakof and
Redan-the difference being that Gen. Gill
more lad no means of constructing rail-
. way, while the heavy guns and NOR
ltsrs Of the besieslpg army had 10
be dragged over the sond ridges on the north
side of tie island. And, as our correspondent
informs us, the ground over which the heavy
ordnance was carried was mere crust Of
sand ou bed of mud. Through the heart Of
this slough mortars weighing 1900 pounds
& had to be forced By the sheer muscle and en-
: durance of The brave Northern lads, in some
instances o. far as three miles. And 10 add
: stl further to the difficulty OF the ta,h, the
movements had to be 80 conducted as 10 con-
o ceal, as far as might be, the nature Of the
operations from the Rebels. Inch by inch such
e passage rs could be made on such soil was cut
= out by the energy and perseverance, Of the
q men. in this way eleven batteries, mounting
= in all thirty six guns, were ultimately planted
where the commanding officer desired. And
special record is most surely due in these col
unns, Of the fact that the labor, not only Of
Transporting the ordnance but Of constructing
d the earlLworks. was done ia great part by the
, Seventh Connecticut Volunteers, under Col.
Terry Other regiments receive honorable
mention in our correspondents narrative; bui
e Connecticut appears TO have carried OF the
Louors which belong 70 the hardest and most
enduring labor.
On the morning OF the 10th inst. the usual
T formal demand was made by Gen. Hunter
? now NJ the head of tie Department--ior the
b surrender Of tie ioSt b. the Rebel commander,
p Col. Ohastead. Tie reply was sufficiently
, spirited % be met, a. it was, with a vigorous
and prompt attack BY the National forces.
Esrlv IN the morning of the sqme day (the
10TH TIE order was given to FIRE, and the guns
and mortars were worked on our side with
more than ordinary yigor until late in tho
Afternoon. when tIe FIRE began to slacken, and
after sunset until daylight on Friday only q
gw shells were thrown on either SIDE. Fri
DAYS work opeued with even greater spirit
than that Of the previous day. ard az o'clock
p. n. of The Jith, Pulaski, with its sarrfon,
Lad sl-rerdercd. Jho services Of Lleui. Porter
are soolen of with special and deserved com.
O. umlatoa, md tie Beet appears to have Wed
with the land forces in pursuing the enterprise
. 70 a thorough and decisive result.
! A positive view OF the Importance Of this
siege and The surrender following it is seen in
Tho Rebel correspondence from Savannah,
Which we publish in other columns can
" rive" says a writer in q Richmond paper,
bat a faint idea OF the CONSERVATION the
" capture produced. The blow has been sud