New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-10-30
rRom SOUTH CAROLINA.
Aunck ON the Charleston md Savannah
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Conduct of tho SOL
dicrs-Failure of the Expedition.

dicrs-Failure of the Expedition.
Correspondence OF The n. Y. Tribune.
BsarYokT S. C., Oct 25 1907.
Day before yesterday morning two thousand u
the gallant scldiers-picked men Of the regiments-
stationed at this place went forth with The hIgbe'
hope to meet others of their fellows at Hilton iteao
and move forward on an expedition up bfo'd hN''
" the nearest point to the Charleston ana o'
Railroad. The object seemed to be 10 destroy
railroad bridge which could nH be easily repaiieu'
aud to cut off the telegraph wires, and feleNe 'ne
enemy of all slaves and other yauatles that couiu
be reached
Never did a pober set of men buckle on their
ormor for hattie. They were the picked men, not 3
Iaqcard. apparently, among them. They went out
arr Of success no such thing as defeat had been
tboarht of; and as they flied by in the bright SUI
Anime of one of most beautiful of Southern Autumn
DAYS 30 buo ysnt their step 80 high their hopes,
that even lady friends tossed tarewes to the m with
o merry laugh aud God speed The steamers Ben
de Ford and Flora wen, out maescally, their decks
bls kened with human life. The guuboat Planter,
with 800 Of the 4Sth New.York, and the Darlington,
loaded with cavairy, followed in quick succession.
II was au anxious day here, for the raid if may
30 call it, WAS to be made within 90 or % mile from
us Eme wore YEARLY away to the few who knew
villa, WAS 20 be done. Yesterday morning the whole
LETT Hilton Head. At o'clock guns were heard,
an6 csunonadng continued vt intervals till evening
A party that went ont from Beaufort returned, but
could only tell US that they saw the Flora run
aground. al low tide, with her portion Of cavalry.
A. eve came courier declaring our forces were de-
feated AZ ain another, asserting that II was not so,
but that hey Tad met All unexpected force aud were
Ii, ~, A ,lf NJ p,ign
suspense did not prepare for the FAD news that
carhe early, that friends were defeated with
l"ss Of 500 killed and wounded
All tie day various rumors stirred us to deeper
sorrow, or for moment relieved the terrible pres
euro by lifting OF shifting the weight little. But
sn hour ago e p. m.l the Rev. l.. Billings, Chap
lain Of the 4th New Hampshire, came and sat down
with us 10 tell the fearful tale.
Portions Of regiments from Beaufort and Hilton
Head the former under Gen. Brannon, the latter un-
der Gen. Terry left Hilton Head on the morning Of
the Odd, and proceeded up the Broad River and
Landed on the mainland, perhaps nine miles from
&c railroad bridge and marched in line back about
five miles, meeting no obstruction, when they
encountered a masked battery Of field artillery,
completely screened by curvug piece Of wood or
tungle bordering cotton Geld such as those low,
swampy regions alSne produce, which opened "a
destructive cross FIRE upon Them killing and wound.
Ing number Of the 47th Pennsylvania.
Our forces, nothing dismsyed by this unexpected
and fearful attack drove tie enemy into fortica-
tion which had been artn!y prepared, so as to put
our troops into the worst possible condition. mar
row road, swampy ground each side, with tangling
brush, aud often deep pits Of water. No more iD.
genious plan coud have been adopted. Thus The
enemy, whom some traitor lad undoubtedly pre-
pared for them, contested every inch Of ground
But by q bayonet charge Of two regiments, our
forces drove them from their positions aud gained
the wood, and the contest now became more equal
At length the enemy retrested across the swamp,
but unfortunately cavalry, which lost two hours
by the grounding Of the Flora, was not on hand 70
follow. 1t soon became apparent al the
enemy were being largely resnforced by the way
OF the railroad-some say from both Charleston and
Savannah the TWO cities lying about 30 miles dis
tant at the two extremes of tie road. Another
branch Of the expedition consisting of about 300 Of
the NewYork 48tb including company ofSerrelPs
Engineer Corps, on the steamer Planter, with
another gunbost in company, went forward landing
two miles from the railroad Jas supposed, and about
Eve miles nearer Savannah, to prevent Ie-eD.orce-
nents from that direction.
The engineers succeeded in landing, marching two
miles; and came up to the railroad in time to fire
into one train Of cars, doing more or less damage.
Some say they tore up few lengths Of rail- others
that they only fred into the cara But j, is certain
they did FIRE int(Dhe cars. But it is evident that
they were late to intercept the re-enforcemens.
1t was now night. and it deemed best for our
forces to retire particularly in view Of the large
endorsements of the enemy. Accordingly they re-
turned quietly TO the boats, bringing away their
wounded. Every one gives great credi, TO the SOL
diers They fought desperately, against odds; the
enemy had twice their artillery, aud was well post
cd. Who has been the traitor DO one knows; but
chat there has been treachery is evident.
Tie enemy bad every advantage, and If they had
aired their guns well there would have been great
slaughter. No prominent officers were killed, and
rs yet no distinct record can be made Of the killed
and wounded. 1t is supposed kom 800 to 700.
Several Captains and Lieutenaras are on the st.
The defeat saddens all hearts. Bot we hope that
1t will be deemed bes, at headquarters to reinforce
Gen. Mitchell (who did not accompany the expedition
DO strongly that those two Rebel cities, between
which we are so cuIiously sandwiched, will yet be
compelled to surrender; and that the Stars and
Stripes will coon float again from Fort Sumter.
After defeats come victories. T.D.G.
OFFICIAL LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED.
r0RTY-sEyESTH PENNSYLVANIA yoLUATEERs-coL.
7. n. GOOD.
Company -Wounded-Scet VIM. Fever slightly Coz p.
D ss e5Gp:, is thin Lew G sg ss
Core Aaron Fins, Benjamin Wisnd VIM Hem Hsltiman
MARIN Lsi.edIns. Obediah Pfslfer Cha. ssvitz.
,ConPsny C-kied-Geo Homer Seth Debet Peter
Wolt Wo1ndet-Sergt Peter Hsppt In ankle Corp. VIM
Y. & III