St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-12-11
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
A Noble Tribute to Negro Oar.
1"2 '@1tt - ing.
THEY CAN FIGHT.
col. BEARp's OFFICIAL REPORT.
BEAUFORT. s. c., Nov. -. 1862.

cor. BEARr's OFFICIAL REPORT
BEAUFORT. s. c., Nov 22 1862.
GENERAL-I have the honor to report
that, as directed by you, I proceeded on
the 18th inst, on the United States steam
er Darlington, With l60 Of the lst South
Carolina Volunteers (colored reg iment, in
quest OF lumber and other articles needed
for the department. The steamer Ben
Deford, ordered by you to report to me
at Doboy Sound, did not, owing to heavy
fogs and adverse winds, reach that point
ua,il the 10Th inst. On the 18th, accom-
panied by the United States gunboat Mag
gle, / proceeded to the Mills located on
Doboy kiver, ia. On reaching the mill,
found it necessary to reconnoi're the
land adjacent thereto. TO do this, it was
ncelfu] to cross narrow causeway lead
ing from the mill through swamp t, the
main laud-a distance Of about 450 yards.
This high land was heavily wooded except
On the SUNNI; which was cleared and &C.
cufied with houses. Ny mcn- thirty
! four In uuuiber-AaI no sooner passed
across the caus"way and through the woods
to the clearing beyond, than they were
tired on ly the enemy, who were posted
in the thicket III front and on both sides
At tie first Gre one man was dangerously
wounded, aud a III 'mcntary ranic seiz:d
the mon but it was only uomentary -
They cedily rallied and opened brisk
i.e on TIE rl;~ces occupied by the conceal
ed enemy. This fire thcy kept up with
great r. yularity and coolutss u;til ordered
by NE to rc,lrc to the cud IF the cause
way. They retired, firing as they went,
with $lowness aud delibcrateness that
could not have tecn surpassed by veteran
troops. Three others were severely wound
cd while they were retiring When my
men reached the end Of the causcwav, |
had the bow snn Of the Darlington direct
ed on the woods, after which tic fire Of
the enemy ceased, though numbers Of
them were seen during the days and nights
that W. remained. ] succeeded in loading
the steamers Ben Dcford and Darlington
with from 100000 to 800 900 teet Of su-
perior boards and planks, besides securing
u number of circular and other saws, belt
ing, corn mills, and other p"ope rty, which
was directed by You to obtain Tor the
use Of your department.
= When it. is remembered that these men
never had arms in their hands antil four
days before they started for the expedition
think you cannot fail to give them cred
) it for standing Il Calling fire from con.
cealed enemy SO bravely; for holding the
causeway referred to during the two days
: and nights required for loading two large
} steamers with valuable property 10 the
face Of an enemy. ..~'.
-.t ..a s-a.- | OLIVER T. BEARD.
Lieut.. C.l. Forty eighth New York State Vol
unteers.
Brig Gen. RUFus SAxToN United States
Volunteers. Military Governor, Department Of
the South.
From the New York Heralds Account.
While the greater portion Of the negroes
w're loading up the Darlington, Colonel
Beard took up thirty four men of the ne
gro regiment as it was just possible
t'.at his cleaners might be ipterru pied be-
fore the conclusion Of their hervest-pro-
ceeded to examine the adjacent country.
Tc add to this it was necessary to cross a
sawdust causeway some 450 yards in
length, passing which they encountered a
piece of heavy woods, with thick, tangled
uudergrowth. Beyond these obstacles
they emerged into a circular open plain
slightly rising towards the opposite timber
I Upon reaching the crest of this underwood
! space, CALLING fire was opened upon Col.
Beard end his party from every side, cx-
cept that BY which they had come.
A momentary panic ensued hhlf the ne
grocs stood firm two or three ran some
twenty yards But Col. Beard is.a fight
; ing man, and what is more, has persus.
1.ive way, which, at pinch, makes others
remarkably co,nbative. The co6trabanda
, rallied, aud after the frs. shiver Tough,
like trumps Standing shoulder to shoul-