The New York herald., 1862-01-07
THE BATTLE NEAR PORT ROYAL FERRY.

Quartermaster and also the result Of the battle.
THE BATTLE NEAR PORT ROYAL FERRY.
Tho battle OF Port Royal Island took place on New
Years Day. 1t brought about from the fact that
week days previous the United States steamboat
Mayfower, while reconnaissance and making Cir
cult Of Port Royal Island, fred upon by a
rebel battery, and killed For this insult Gen.
Sherman, acting in concert with Commodore Dupont,
planned tho expedition which has proved complete
cess to our arms and discontinue to the rebels
After the defeat Of the rebels at Hilton Head they
treated Port Royal Ferry, and there strongly fortified
and inrenched they awaited attack federal
troops. t...
COMPOSITION OF THE EXPEDITION.
The military portion Of tho expedition consisted Of Gen.
Stevens brigade namely-the Roundhead regiment, Col
Leasure Eighth Michigan, Col Fenton Fiftieh Pennsy
vania Col. Christ the Seventy ninth New York,
Major Morrison, together with the Forty New
York, Col Frazier, and the Forty eighth New York, Col
Perry the entire force beng under the command Of Gen.
IL. Stevens.
The naval portion by the gunboats Pembina, Seneca
Ellen Ottawa, all undor the command Of Capt. Ray
mond Rogers, of the flagship Wabash.
MOVEMENT OF THE TROOPS.
The troops wero marched from Beaufort, during the
3lst December the mouth Of Brick Yard within
which had been prepared fts and other boats for the
transportation Stevens command. They
early New Years morning, having accomplished
the passage by eight A. NJ They had then some four
Ave miles 10 march before reaching Port Royal Ferry
The Ottawa and the Pembina meanwhile delayed
by the state Of the tide at the mouth Of the
creek, Of them getting aground. delay also
CURED in the Of tho troops, owing, 1t is
stated, misapprehension by Colonel Fenton Of the
orders issued him; this delay, however, but
slight and occasioncd serious Inconvenience The
In hi hadp perfor har noft ttS
task, fred into Boyds Neck in alarming manner, and
afterwards in conjunction with the Ellen, shced
the work at Seabrook mile TO the Of the
ferry.
THE ADVANCE OF THE TROOPS.
The troops under General Stevens advanced towards
the principal battery (a the erry) in advance Of the
gunboats, and the way skrmshng took place that
still longer impeded hem force, judged by General
stevens to be about thousand strong posted in
some woods his right and the first knowledge he OBJ
taned or its existence by firing from light bat
terry part (at least ha) Of the Michigan Eighth was
depoyed skrmsbcrs, to ascertain more particularly
the position and strength Of this battery and despite its
firing advanced within hundred yards Of il, acting
great GOODNESS and courage and succeeding entirely
discovering the position Of the guns ,and also in draw
ing heavy fire from body OF inlantcy. Having thus
accomplished their object, they retired skrmshers
rapidly but in complete order.
The Ottawa and Pembina being range of the ferry
opened upon with such effect that if any force
NAMED then the battery driven before
our troops arrived they bcirg completely bewldercd
to attempt TO from under Of the woods
attempting offer any further opposition 10 tho
advance Of troops. of the Michigan
regiment wounded tho skirmish including Major
Watson One Of the wounded has died.
GALLANTRY OF TIE NEW YORK HIGHLANDERs.
- on and enter the fort, which they did the
oraerly Manner but reaching the fort found
IL entirely desertcd-aIl the guns, except twelve
FOUNDER, having been removed.
When the Union regiments in possession Of the
fort the gunboats sgnazed and they immediatey
closed order troops; and they at once
commenced the destruction Of the fort. Tho gun was
secured, the battery ieveled come remains of camp
equpage tents, &c, demolished and two buildings,
used for military purposes by the rebels, were burned
Tie rebels seeing this, and evidently anticipating asa ad
Of force, set FIRE other buildings
Resell RoRTIrrCATIONs DEMOLISHED. ,
small force OF Unioniss also crossed 10 Seabrook,
under of the of the Seneca and Ellen, and
completely demolished tho fertilization there; but it was
deserted before troops arrived
Az night our whole force Port Royal Ferry,
completely covered by the guns Of men OF war
The insult 10 May flower suitably punished ard in
the morning forces were removed Port Royal
island Not a man lost the Union side during
their with drawal
TIE GEOGRAPHY OF rHE SEAT or OPERATIONS.
Port Royal Island, which Beaufort is situated, Ia
thirteen mites long and miles vide, and is formed
by The river side and the Port Royal
on the eastern shore These connected at tho norm
of the island by the river and The Port Royal
ITSELF which really only strait loses its name In its
upper portion, and Is called Brickyard crock Opposite
te junction Of the B oad nd the Coosaw is Boyds Neck
10 the north Of Port Royal Island s the main land and
halfway between the two points where the Cocslw
ntersccts the Boad and the Port Royal (or Bgickyard
crock) Fort Royal ferry distant ten mics across the
ISLAND from Hoa fort. correct apprehension O. the
geography Of he country NECESSARY TO cnder intclg
bic any account Of the nght.