, 1862-01-10
Interesting Statements Of II Federal
0mcer enTybee island.

tAa l4OfttcACe H. - JpuFua OH.
An interesting letter treln one Of the Off
this city on Saturday. The letter was written
of Tybee Island, and dated Dec = and 50,
before the reported engagement Of the OttoEa
with Tatnalrs mosquito fleet. The writer
says "the screw steamer Fingal, loaded at
Savannah with 1900 bales Of cotton, las been
trying 10 get to sea ever since NC have been
here. Old Tatnan comes down occasionally to
take look ut us and sec if there is chance
for the steamer to get ont.
On Monday, {23d, one Of our gunboats put
three shots aboard Of him, and as we have
capped from Fort Pulaski, Killed three Of lis
officers. The FiDgal is armed with four rifed
cannon and commanded by al ex-1ieutenaRt
of the navy, who swca1s f- viii run the block
ade OF sink the ship. He will be likely to re-
get out. The Ottowa and PaWnee are guard
ing the main entrance to Savannah. Tue
Penbina, Mohican and Seminole are keeping
watch and ward over Warsaw Sound, and the
Seneca and Henry Andrew over the Vernon
and Ogecchce rivers, which latter arc the back
entrance to Savannah.
The deserters from Pulaski say that forty
five guns are mounted there, and the fort is
garTisoncd By 1000 troops. The enemy are
now busy IN erecting batteries opposite the
points we have taken On Tybee {for want Of
forward movement Of the army and have
AV uDuIt tuE 4EUN16 " Al bHEt1 us 0Hl III buESE
without something is done very soon. We
have had about 200 men at work on Trbec for
four weeks, and all that they have accom-
Plished il that time is the mounting Of ten
guns.
Yesterday morning, at half past five O'Clock,
took boats crew OF eix men and started III
pursuit Of some wild game, in the direction Of
Daufuski Island, lying about north, and in
range Of Fort Pulaski, three miles distant,
We landed opposite the plantation Of one
stodda1d. IInaIehed mJ men in sinActi1e to
where the negro l1uts were huddled together,
and surrounded them in order to prevent any
alarm being given. This island lad not be-
fore been visited by our forces, and deemed
it prudent to ascertain before exploring
who occupied the island, and found only
eight negroes, all except one, q gar-
was fine one; said to be one of the most
beautiful along the coast. The Planters
honse gave evidence Of having been magnifi-
Gently furnished. Every room in it had a fire.
frame Of the finest Egyptian marble, and the
house was built IN The northern countrY-ety1e.
Tie adjacent grounds occupied several acres,
and we're as nicely laid out Us any you can find
in NeW England. Juponicas, magnolias, cae-
tuscs, &c, were in full blnom. The house had
been stripped Of every valuable thing which
could be carried away. Attached to it was
splendid lot house, which still contained
large quantity Of pot plants. got some
sweet potatoes and chickens, and took away
some Of the laxuziant japonicas, gcraniums
and cactnsc5.
Unconsciously, however, I had created quite
. stlr with the blockading vessels. The act
ing flagship Pawnec saw GIT boat when near
the shore, and taking us for secesh, signalized
Lieut. Stevens to lower boat and give us
chase, but he signalized in return that it WAS
his beat. We, naistakng his signal for US to
return, the 0ttowa Afterwards stood over
toward the island to bring us under the pro-
lection Of her guns, which proved unneces-
sary, as learncd there had not been white
person on the island since the battle Of 7th
November
Ne hear reports from the rebels that they
don't care a curse for our aTmy-they only fear
tile navy, and Tatrau says he wishes those in
1trnai gunboats were sunk lower than hades.
I think the steam gunboats have proved to be
the most valuable vessels Of the squadron.
They behave admirably at sea, and arc handled
very easily in rough weather. Their light
draught enables them to penetrate any sound,
river and creek along the coast which is at all
accessible, and they are very swift, which Gu
ables them to ay from one point to another in
remarkably short space Of tine. Capts Du-
pont aud Rogers hare awarded high credit TO
the gunboats, and the service which they hare
performed and will in the future perform, will
occupy no inconsiderable space IN the record
Of naval operations Oh this coast"