The New York herald., 1862-02-14

Passing by Pulaski We gained enc view OF the savsn
nah river, and found ourselves IN extreme range -
far proceeded up the creek, which runs psrshh h
with Il. We saw no Indications Of batteries, as tne
marsh extended FOR miles either side, on whion f"
would be impossible 10 construct battery we LIl g p
ceeded far the plantation OF Mr.. seriven on WI
pington isand--lhe first solid ground thai We ha - M
with after leaving Little Iy bee sand-whsn ~ We M
ported that two Of piles were stretched ac'os NJ
creek enetuaiy preventing our further progress We
anchor within eight miles III uH roc. nne,
OF The rehel raa Fort jackson thiee e
distant plainly discernlble, as u naheeu w, W.
the woods IT, While lying oere ths 'eesIap ~lo
between Savannah and Fort Infski wac a,sSosve ,
stetchnl across the marsh between us ana the HaVah
uah river strung along short poles and II WAS deter
mined 10 cut t Lieutenant budd, oil the flien w's
detailed for the purpose and taking his boat he entered
htte creek ihst runs towards the river, and after
long and difficult pull reached the line and cut the WIRE
atsrruptine all communication between the fort ana ths
city. .
During afternoon Captain Rogers visited Scriven's
plantation his gig accompanied by one Of the annches
II found completely deserted. Not living Deihg
found upon it. But in dapdatsd mill that STOOD
by the waters edge was found hanginan's moose,
swinging idly in the wind which doubtless intended
by e fscetous rebels TO convey fearful suggestion
10 our forces; but We could not see II.
Just at sundown cloud OF black smoke was discovered
towards the Savannah, and after the top ot tne
smoke stark Of the Evsrgade over the woods
krtng the river, moving rapidly towards us The one
pennant Of the Commodore al the fore, snd a iarso
rebel flag 1ying tie stern discovered Atsr
the flagship appeared another rebel craft. and IA lew
moments another and still another until We could see
i've Of the which constituted Tanal squadron,
all moving rapidly down the river, emitting clouds OF
black SMOKE and al displsyn The stars and bars
as large as s From the course they we're pursuing we
led 10 believe that Ianal might design A attack
otla all went TO quarters, springs were rigged
cables ana the ottawa and Seneca sprung Their
broadsdes bear the creek and We awaited the
rebels approach. 5nt they came not ana We los, rgI
OF them the darkness OF the night. The nght was
passed quiet. The enemy undoubtedly haa picket IN
the woods and several having been observed
by the lookout the Potumsks about dark TO run INTO
scrivens house rifle proeetils was thrown into oy
Commander Watmough, and the enemy dld not again
n
During the evening leu'ensnt Barnes was des.
patched in the o''awas gig 70 se0", up 0,InS 1ne
silently up with muifed OARS and with no op-
position succeeded reaching the mouth OF the creek
fleet Of Tana lying there and approached near enough
the watch on deck. Az he too near them IN
they discovered him and as he had accomplished
the object OF the he returned and reported
the facts TO Captain Davis.
During the afternoon Monday discovered the Una
dia and Psmbina in what supposed TO be the Savan
nah river but as II has since proved they in Mud
river, anchor. Signals were exchanged between the
Ottawa and Unadla and the latter signalzed the fact
that she aground, but would get OF at high water
On Tuesday forenoon Tatnals feet were again dis
covered standing the Savannah We beat TO
We opened her with an elsven-inch gun
from the Ottawa. The shell burst short; but, as
she was still lsssening the distance, Psrrott
rifle shell was pitched at her and came very near her
The signal fer action having been given, al the gun
boats opened fire. The rebels returned few shots,
which fell short Our fire terrific from the eleven
Isaac p. Smith. and all the rihed guns. The Pembns
and Upada also opened fire from their position and the
rebels found themselves between two hres The engage
ment lasted nearly two hours, during which time the
rebel flagship struck three times seriously damaging
her. One eleven inch shell struck her her wheel
house and so much disabled her to compel the
mandsr signal for assistance and one steamer turned
around aud went to her aid The other three steamed
down towards Fort Pulaski faster than they ever went
befors-their walkngbeams bgoing up and down like
tightening, and clouds of smoke pouring out OF their
smokesscks as the pine wood was piled INTO the FUR
nAces.
While the three running for Pulaski the
Commodore's ship steamed slowly up the river to get
out OF range II as much ~ the boat could do 70
the tide and the little rebel behind her kept far
away possible, the flagship target. IL
on this return trip that second eleven inch shell burst
aft OF the wheelhorse deck and scattered death and
destruction every hand. A column Of dense white
smoke from the steamer and continued to pour ot
for the psrs; Of five minutes. and 1t was soon evident
that she was on FIRE. Finally the rebels succeeded
sxtnguishng the conagraon and out cr range not,
however, before third shell struck the vessel forward,
and went through her.
The Commodore was roughly used and when well out
OF range the vessel U anchor and damages
partially repaired. An hour two later two Of the
steamers from below up and the gauntlet OF
fire, but without damage. The third remained Al
anchor Fort Pulaski
In the Afternoon went ashore tn General Wright
and Captain Rogers at the plantation OF Judge Gibson,
a creek putting out Of Freeborn's cut The house
was good deal dilapidated; but found ind cations
that IL had not long been vacated by the rebel troops.
Although the negroes asserted that none had been there
in two weeks, happened 10 find letter addressed 10
dated the 22d--sx days before and by that letter
were satisfied that the negroes were lying TO Us.
There abundance q poultry pigs &c, on the
place but took none. In the garden iVand roses
aud japonicas in bloom and noticed several butterflies
flying about the sunshine. While here the rInboals
lying the opened fire third steamer which
coming up the river and the fire promptly
one shot OF the rebels passed little the fo-
tumska aad struck beyond il. The others tell short
One OF our sbes-an elevsn-ineh t Is sap.
posed-expioGed about six feet above the
ward deck OF the rebel, where they work
ING a large ried gun. The fragments swept the
deck Il nearly every il. and the fire OF the
gun ceased Our och outs observed the enemy carrying
or bodies apd sending them below. Tue vessel mu.t
have suffered greatly too The little gunbosi go,
cut Of range. and steamed 10 savannah.
Old Pulaski hTcd sevefal shots towards the creek Ne
came up get the range, evidently from ried gun,
which had been changed from the front face the
but as we returned 70 Warsaw in the morning before
dwight We wese little ahead Of them aud they gave
Gs no trouble
The trans ports and all the gunbosts lying in
Warsaw sound preparing for move. came up on the
Ottawa 10 Port Royal and a. sm 10 return immediately
to Warsaw must close
beg TO acknowledge the kindness shown your special
by Commander Nicholson and officers of the Iaac Y.
smith, upon which witnessed the operations Of The no
til!e :,
tims thai this is received - mail will be before
q result IL attained.
learn that the Winfield Scott, while going 20 Daw
fu.ke got on oyster bed and broken aud wrecked
Troops put ashore safely.
The United states revenue cutter Henrietta James g.
Bennett Jr Lieutenant Commanding. arrived here day
or two SINCE from New York. She experienced very
heavy weather Throughout the passage All on board well