New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-04-03
Official Report Of Flag Officer Dupont
DETAILED REPORT BY COM. GILLIS
Sklddaway and Green Island Bat
teries Abandoned.
WASSAW AND OSSlBAR SOUNDS IN OUR POSSESSION
Interesting Statement by Ccntraband.

w,sHISeroS. Wednesday, April ., 1862
The following dispatches were received at the
Navy Department to-day:
FLAGSHIP WABASH OPP PORT ROYAL
March n. 1862.
SIR: On being boarded this afternoon, while en-
tering Port Royal haIbor by Commander ellis Of
the Seminole, have the satisfaction TO hear that the
formidable batteries on Skiddaway ana "reeh
islands had been abandoned by the Rebels, the guns
having been withdrawn in order 10 b. placed nearer
Savannah. The abandonment OF these batteries
gives US complete control OF Wassaw and Ossibar
Sounds, and the mouths of Vernon and Wilmington
Rivers. which form important approaches 70 that
city. inclose the report Of Commander ellis, and
also memoranda OF information given by contra
band, which may be Of some interest 10 the Depart
meut.
Very respectfully yonr ob.dlen, servant.
ST DUPONT Fag.Ofirer
Commandiug South. Atlantic BlocEsdns squsdron.
To tho Hon. GIDEON WELLEs. Secretary OF the Navy.
u s STEAMER SxxISoIY March %. Ip67.
Abreast Skiidswsy Battery NilniUgtcn River, Ga
SIR: In obedience to your order dated "a met,
we proceeded from Cumberland Sound 10 Wssssw
Sound, Ga, 10 blockade as directed. Having waited
some days lor tho weather to settle And the wind 20
iui, We this af emoon felt our way with lle lead
up tue narrow channel of the Wilmington River 10
tie battery on Skiddsway Ilard accom- panied by
the Norwich, Lieut.. Comdg j. NJ. Duncan, snd
Wyandotte, Lieut.. Comdg w. ID. Whiting. i sent
our launch with the Lowitzer and crew, under
charge OF Master McNair ana Acting Master Steele,
alongside the Norwich, and Went on board OF her
She icing the shortest yessel and Of hghtes, draft
was sent ahead After firing shell or two al SOM
horsemen near the house on tue left and picket
guard at the fort we approached, proceeded
in the gig with Paymastcr Sands 20 the shore, fol-
lowed by the launch, and found the battery
u strong Fashioned work for ten guns, with bomb
proof trenches, &c. The enemy hud abandoned II,
leaving imitation guns covered with canvas IN nori-
ton. The other boats from the vessels coming on
shore, destroyed the works, boats, lighters Ne.
Of tie enemy and having hos,ed the Union flag
the fort and house with the red cupola WI re-
turned ON board our respective vessels. learn that
the COnieds rate battery on Green Island n aban-
doned. Several houses in sight are burning this
morning. the red cupoa house included. sent 10
Port ROYAL prisoner taken in the marches by the
Release. His statement accompanies this.
.m Sir, respectfully &c.
JOIN r ellis. Commandani.
To Fsg OiBcer S. ,. DrrosT.
TT srENsnlr SEMINOLE w,'..w sorSp.d De.
Ma 2t. l5d2. !
Sir: Tho following statement is derived from
Loudon Middleton, contH,band picked w this after
noon by the Norwich, and sent on board this ship,
viz:
His master was WIN. i. Fulton OF Savannah. lie
lefi that city the I'D iust Saturday, coming by
way Of White Bluff and Green Island 10 Raocoon
Key., from whence be expected 10 reach . saw
min, which, II was said, We bad on on " aihiw
Island, win 5000 troops.
All provisions are scarce st Savanna ali, and very
dear. uarticnlaflv, bacon, rum, liquors, and
" s"sb Ike" Fa.h beef /. plenty, but co,,.
% to 30 cents for what used 10 cell at o, s. aud 10
cents Ter pound. Eggs were selling at 20 cents per
dozen. Chickens Il - per pair. lea scarce; coiee
selling at II - TO 81 - per pound. They are very
tad of for rum aud hquor-, and "alfnost baye 10
gave them up,' and these with bacon they expected
from the Wet, "somew where's where tie Unoniri-
now odd pJssession'
Folks are going aud coming. Some who had lcn
A - lin Ia. Al fyr.a.Ha
and co ton inland, and sending all tie cash
money " to Macon, and threaten to burn the city II
they should be unable 10 hold il, and are 10 daily
ex, ec'Gtion Of our attack. They bad gwen up the
dea Of defending The Savannah River by t0rredoes,
because enc of the principal men who was sinking
them got drowned, while down IN a diving bell and
they now talk Of ping the river across lie knows
of no raft near Fort Jackson near which Iainall u
ON board the Savannah late Eyerglade. When lie
wac last near ThuudeIbOlt, some tine since, they
had eight guns mounted. There il battery num-
her Of guns unknown) at tosian's Blnh, md they
said thew were mounting guns al the old fort, above
Fort Jackson below the gas-house, and near The
frat ferry wharf; but be knows bat little OF the
rart Of ne river, having been hsherG an around
about White Bluff and Green BLAND, but more re-
Gently waiting on the soldiers.
All the approaches % the city, not only By The
min channel but sso The byroads, are being ori-
fed and they told him that they bad one hundred
thousand men,.
Green aud SkidlawGy Irlsnds are abandoned eS-
cent bv a few cavalry. The gum from Green Island
were iilen 10 foTify Bewley, and tbo.e from skid
daway to Montgomery, n part OF Bewieyj bn'
About three-quar,ers Of mile separate, both on
he Wy miugberg River, which runs from Raccoon
KEYS M, mabiug Green Island the fret band to the
northeast, going ur, and thence running ny 10 Dew
lev. Montgomery, and White Blum.
They expect us 10 eros Skiidaway leland, and
have cuns and lickcis at The two bridges 10 cut
tlcm away, and fight our forces on their arrival.
The first bridge Ieckoned 10 be five miles across
from the Cupoh Home, lat night burned by The
Rcbel. ucsr The Skid1nway abandoned battery.
He,lertfly. &C.. JOHN 7. ellis, Commander
Ilas OniceI 3. j. DrroSr