Evening star., 1862-03-11

Official Report Of the Capture Of Fsrnan-
dina, Florida, and Brunswick, Georgia.
Capt Davis, late feet captain Of the South At
lantic squadron, has arrived here, bringing an
ofacial dispatch from Commodore Dupont, Of
which the following IN copy:
FLAG SHIP MoHIcAN,
Ha,bor Of Ersa.dina, March 4, 1so2.
srn: I had the honor to inform you in INV last
dispatch that the expedition for Fprnandina was
equipped and waiting only for suitable weather
to sail from Port Royal. have now the pleasure
to inform you that am In full possession Of Cum
berland Island and Sound Of Fernandina, and of
Amelia island and the river and sound Of St.
Msry's. 4 sailed from Port Royal on the last day
of February, in the wabash, and on the ed fpsf
entered Cumberland Sound by St Andrews In
let, in the Mohican, Commander 6. w Godon, on
board of which ship have hoisted my flag a
The fleet comprised the following vessels sail.
| ing in the order in which they are named: Otto.
wa, Mohican, accompanied by Ellen, Seminole,
Pawnee, Pocahontas, Flag, Florida, Jam Ad-
ger, Blenville, Alabama, Keystone State. Seneca,
Huron, Pembina, Isaac Smith, Penguin, Potoms,
ks, armed cutter Henrietta, armed trans port
Mcclellan the latter having board the battalion
| of marines under the command Of Maj Reynolds,
the South BeIvidere, Boston, Georges CreeI. s, u
containing brigade under the commander Brig.
General Wright. s
We came 70 anchor in Cumberland Sound at
half-past ten on the morning Of the Cd, to make
an examination Of channel and wait for the tide
Here ] learned from a contraband, who had been
picked up at sea by Commander Lainer and
from the neighborng residents on Cumberland
| Island, that the Rebels had abandoned in haste
| the whole Of the defenses Of Fernandina and
were even at that moment retreating from Amelia
Island, carrying with them such Of their mum.
tions az their precipitate fight would allow.
The object of conveying the whole feet through
Cumberland Sound was TO turn the heavy WORKS
| on the south end Of Cumberland and the north
n ax.I Nf alt vala lR,,NN
intelligence directed the gunboats and armed
| steamers of light draught from the main line,
and placing them under the command Of Com.
| mander P: Drayton, Of the steam sloop Pawnee,
| ordered him 70 push through the sound with the
utmost speed, to save public and private property
from threatened destruction, to prevent poisoning
the wells, and to put stop to all those outrages
by the perpetrating Of which the leaders Of this
nefarious war hope to deceive and exasperate the
southern people. u
In the meantime went out Of the sound and
came by sea to the main entrance Of this harbor
In consequence Of bad weather was unable to
Cross the bar till this morning. Commander
Drayton, accompanied by Commander c. r. p
Rodgers, with the armed launches and cutters
and the small armed companies from the Wabash
had arrived several hours before me = :
Immediately on his entering the harbor, Com
mander Drayton sent Lieut., White, of the Ottawa
to hoist the flag on Fort Clinch, the first of the
national forts on which the ensign Of the Union
has resumed its proper placesnce the first procla-
nation Of the President Of the United States was
issued.
A few scattering musket shots were fred fromI
the town by the flying enemy, wAen Il was dis.
covered that railroad train was about to start
Commander Drayton, on board the Ottawa, 1t
Com'd'g Stevens, chased this train for two miles
and fired several shells at it, aiming at the loco
motive, some Of which took effect II was re.
ported that the Hon. David Yulee, late Senator
Of the United States from the State of Florida,
escaped from this train and took to the bush:
with the launches, captured the rebel steamer
Darlington, containing military stores, army
wagons, mules, forage, &c, and fortunately Sc
the night by the second launch Of the Wabash
There were passengers, women and children,
the Darlington, and the brutal Captain suffered
her to be fred upon and refused to hoist white
hag,. notwithstanding the entreaties of the
women. Moo was injured. Isend the Captain
OF the steamer home a prisoner. His name is
Jacob Brock. He is a native Of Vermont but has
been resident Of Florida for twenty-three wears
The same night Commander C. r.. p. Rodgers
ascended the st. Mary's with the Ottawa and took
possession of the town, driving outa picket Of the
enemy's cavalry. 80 =
Early In the morning the town Of Fernandina
was also occupied by party Of seamen and
marines from Commander Drayton,s command.
In both places most Of the inhabitants had fed by
order, II is said, of the Rebel authorities A com.
pany OF seamen and marines under Iiept Miller
was sent from the Mohican to hold Fort CIinch
II Is reported to me by Lieut.. Commanding
the railroad on the Fernandina side, ipcludine
the swinging drawbridge, is quite unfniured
The Rebels have done some damage by tire TO the
tressei work on theother side of the river, but
am not vet Informed Of Its extent Severai loco
motives, baggage cars, tenders, freight cars, and
some other property, besides that found in the
steamer Darlington, have been recovered.
The whole number Of guns discovered up to
this time 10 thirteen, embracing heavy 81 pound
ers, s-inch guns, and one 50 and one LOO FOUNDER
rifed guns. :
The towns Of 81. MarY's and Ferraadina are
uninjured :
visited the town, Fort Clinch, and the earth.
works on the sea face Of the island Il is impos-
sible to look at these preparations for vigorous
defense without being surprised that they should
have been voluntarily deserted The batteries
on the north and northeast shores are az complete
as art can make them. Six are well concealed
and protected by ranges Of sand hills In front
tanning perfect shelter for the men. and are 40
small and thoroughly covered by the natural
growth, and by the varied contours of the land
that to strike them from the water would be the
A battery Of six guns, though larger, and az.
fording, therefore. better mark is EQUALLY we'll
sheltered and masked. These batteries, and the
ne nsavy Guns mounted on Fort Clinch, command
ed all the turnings of the main ship channel and
rake an approaching enemy. Besides these there
was another battery on the south end OF Cumber
lsnd lsland, the nfe of which would cross the
channel Inside Of the bar. =
The ditculties arising from the indirectness
OF the channel and from the shallowness of the
bar would have added to the defences by keen.
Ing sno oPPfodCulng vessels q long time exposed
to fire under great disadvantages, and when the
ships OF an enemy had passed all these defen .es
they would have to encounter a well Constructed
ana naturalY masked battery at the town. which
commands the access to the Inner anchorage. :
We are told that General Lee pronounced the
place perfectly defensible We are not surpr,sed
at this, II the Information Is true. We captured
Port Royal. but Fernandina and Fort Glitch have
been given to us. .''"-'-' ''
We had on the expedition Mr. w. H. Dennis
the assistant In the Coast Survey, who possessed
accurate local knowledge Of part of the ground
passed over, OF which, indeed, he had made the
typographical map. under the directions of the
suPerlntendent he was Jealous and active, and
IL gives me pleasure to mention him
The Empire City, on board Of which was Gen
Wright, grounded On the bar As soon as he ar.
rived In another steamer immediate steps we've
taken TO transfer to him the posts and all author
ity and possession on the land desire to speak
mere OF the harmonious counsels and cordial co..
operation which have marked throughout INV i'm.
tercourse with this able officer Our plans Of ac-
ton have been matured by mutual consuItstion.
help. - N''~A y AnN'uat
take great pleasure in reminding the Depart.
ment that the principal and ultimate object Of the
naval expedition which have the honor To com