New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-24
rRow Port ROYAL.
Cr,crnsiens near Fort PHiaahi-Sk'r"'sn
ut ysnus Poin:-Fovor"o'e f"s'''" 'i
ao.;r.-yhc African caesnon.

q
bsu, On, 81 eesl Conespopdsit
poRr ROYAL, Feb. Is, 1862.
The battery on Venus Point, without The AID j the
yn,lts IN ihe river, proves 10 be une> pediy ehec'
1.-Two IN ruterrupliug communication between Savan-
"a, spd Fort Pulaski. Gu Saturday afternoon, Feb.
sv IS th, *, bel steamer Ida, which lsy AZ Pulaski,
.,,leayored to return to Savannah, aud Iatna came
5oNn fOui The city with four vessels 10 convoy OF
cover her passage. Tue guns from The battery, ION
clrislened For Vulcan, opened ABOUT three oco, b.
and after sharp engagement OF nearly IN boar The
Ida wss com, eed To return 10 Pulaski, while Tat
nails nsg-ship, TIE Savannah, was disabled and
,ow,d out OF action By Two Of tie otler 'tesmeis
c5e remainder retiring III company. The gunUoa's
Western VI Grid and r. Il. Hale which lay ID MH"
River shared in the action covered the Hank oil Tue
battery, and fastened Tatlalls retreat. On SUNDAY
Inorilug tu- Ida IrIoa IL again without Ieip ou'
araiu WAS iol ced 20 return to fulaskl. lie heA'
dav, taking advantage of an unusually high spring
Cdo, Size succeeded in getting through oyster creek,
us,,.ily uuravigaLle, ipto Wilmington Nanowe, aud
pa,eing the piles IN some mysterious way, finally
rci,ct cd Savannah.
No one was hurt in the battery in either engage
uent. lie suos served 10y Capt. Goulds
Company OF the 81 Rhode Island, now al artillery
re.intnt The pee zion and effectiveness OF the tife
were extremely cre0ilablc TO the ariileT.sls, who
have bad slender opportunities for practice. Unless
the rebel feet il strongly REINFORCED the blockade of
L., r.ver may be col sdered established. Mud River,
w.oa offers AL approach TO tie battery on lis flank,
is conveniently DISTRACTED, and tue two gunbcale
above mentioned remain protect it. The rest OF
d. Ns.f Las TO orr III
souuGing The entrarce through Wrgbts River, five
torpeGoes were found, sunk in the channel in ooeI
to destroy the squadron s Tbis aminble
purpose was disappointed ty he premature discovery
Gui in order 10 test The efficiency OF tue conrvance
one Of Them was discharged at safe distance by d
nusket-shot ard Ell loded With force enough to have
injured ship in favorable ciicumstaDcee. :,
The night after the battery WAS erected, large
raft OF timber came down the river and anchored
nself IN tie point. Ii in three pals, each forty
feel long BY twenty ave logs in width, and came NJ
tie mort convenient TINE, when iumber was greatly
wanted for ali purposes and could not be bsG. The
submarine portion OF tie telegraIb between Savannah
ard Pulaski has been severed, aud large quantity
OF the VIE carried OG. broad lane was cut IN the
tall marsh grass on Jones Island as safeguard
against fire, and tlen the gass IKE side eylCted
10 rebel approach was burnt, leaving cover for our
tIooIg, and compelling the Rebels, If ttey attack TO
advance over open aud d.i.eu't ground. On the
whole tie present position Of affairs Oh the river i
more favorable than could well have been hoped,
after tie failure of the naval iof,e, uuder Com
msnder John Kodgers to accomplish lis Part Of the
plan. IL few DAY = it may tie snll more 50.
Gen. Gilmore, no has ably engineered tbe diff
cult work Of establishing this battery On distai'
point over alnoet Improbable ground, recently
raiset from Captain 70 lie present rank by Gen.
Sbclman. This appointment by the latter cannot
legally coLier tie rank Of ugtder.GeneIal. tui OPP
crates 10 require obedience 10 hin az slch 10 tLis
command aud il The strongest possible recommends
ton to President Lincoln TO bestow the promotion.
Gen Gillmor.'s professional ability is beyond quer-
ton and there is noting IN tie appointment is IF 10
criticize but the circun in which il IS msce
are rather peculiar. Cop. Saxton is Ch.G Quarter
mas eG on Gen. Slerman's staff, WIS cassrnate Of
Gen. Gilmore and lis senior in rank in the regular
Lrmy. Tie value of bis service. as Qu4rteruastcr
Cannot be rated 100 highly He took charge Of the
expedition from the Start, fitted 10 out IN New-York
anc bad The responsible control Of all preparations,
char:eiing slips, and purchasing supplies, till it
landed at Pof Royal, anu down to the IreseE, time.
His extraordinary energy, ability, and integrity,
have made his department model Of adminls,ra'i II
an sup. lied cry facility for the success of the
pedirou. No duties have been more arduous, b'
responsibilities greater, no services more ehtotiy'
tlan lis. Before this Wal, tie QuarteImasleI-Gen
era Of tie Army had fewer men 10 provide for, an
far les important outies yet lie lad the ank Of Brig
adler, and brilliant staff and numerous clerks 10 a,
sisi hin. Capt. SaXton hss ali the wmle rensiue,
Captain, and his merits have Ii special claim to Gen
Shermsn's recognition, because he retained him il
his position 30 Qrarermgster against bis wish, d,
caIe0 that biz services were Indispensable ana al e
Gen. Aei.s had once given hin leave to accept the
command OF an offered regiment, the 90 Massachu.
se,ls induced him 70 recall Dis permission. Ii cir
euuistsnees required tie appointment OF Gen. Gill;
mort, Gen. SleImau's obligations 10 Capt. SAXON
and his regard Tor the etiquette OF the servce should
have led INN to confer equal honor the latter.
Professional sensibility such point In extremely
keen, and though Capt. SaxtOn would sacrifice 10
public interest to private feeling be ought not to BE-
expected 10 be wholly inseusli= to the neglect both
here ind az Washington and The css OF opportunity
for higher service. His ability az fed-oiiceI il
well known in tie army, and aslle from other con-
sdersiione it lie tie worst policy at thus hour to
waste military capacity and accomplishments IN Fol-
tine duties. 1t s easerio ind or instruct many
Quarieriaasters than one General. CAPT. Saxon
ought long lnce 70 have been a, lie head OF b,gace.
hud in TGL IaCuSE Of Febinafy Z d Litter from
Boston, dated January 80 protesting 10 sia-o The
substance Of letters received from Port koyui.
Beaufort, &c, p which are sad T. "suggest great
deai that IL gloomy aod Encouraging" Corrections
OF OF its may be ouno ia the letcre scr,
b. the Baltic, which mus have been already pIlujed