The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1863-08-01

INTERESTING FR,M SAvANNAH-TuE CITY De-
rEScELEss.-IIie have late and interesting intelli-
gence from Savannah, concerning its defenccs,
troops ami the excitement among its inhabitants,
but for want Of space we con6ne ourselves to the
following b:ief summary:
lbe batteries defending the Savannah and Viii
mngton riverapproaches to the city are as follows:
On Wilmington river the rebels have but one bat
tery-Thunderbolt battery mounting fourteen guns
and distant from Savannah five miles opposite
this battery distractions have been sunk. At
Beeventua mAe above ThuRdeFbOlt, and t. e cUn-
mencenlent Of the shell road Leading 10 the city,
there is snail fOrtifcaton, but OF little ST. engl.
The rebels some time since evacuated | Owelful
battery on skiddaway Island.
The first fOrtihcation on Savannah river IS Carn
ston's Bluff battery, which rather being situated on
st. Augustine creek, commands also Wilmington
river This battery mounts twelve guns two
thirtytwO Founders two ten. inch CO!umbiads, two
ten-inch mortars, and the remainder are small
pieces. Next in order comes Fort Jackson,
mounting ten guns, opposite which, III the Savan-
nah river are Instructions consisting Of piles, old
hulks and torpedoeS. Next is fort Lee, ten guns,
then Fort Boggs six guns, ahd finally Fort laWtOn,
situated ON Hutchinson Island and mounting eight
guns. All these batteries with the exception Of
Fort Boggs, bear directly upon the distractions
Around the southeastern part of the city is large
breastwork the product of slave labor, which
/ mounted with gun. of various calibre forms the
| immediate defense of the city.
The ram Geo,sis, square built and mounting
fourteen guns six each side and one each fore and
aft, is perfect failure, though used as floating
battery and lying under Fort jackson near the OBJ
structions. new ram, the Savannah, built after
the plan of the .Atlasta and Moanting eight guns,
has been completed and is at the wbarves awaiting
her crew and outfit II is thought that she antici
pates passage via the old and fatal route of the
Atlanta The rebels have two more rams build
ing one has her hull completed and is receiving
! her arMor, the other is in its commencement.
Savannah itse.f is deserted of troops several
regiments had been sent to the relief Of Vickshurg
! before our CharlestSn demonstration, and since
| the latter event three regiments of infantry aud
Col. Anderson Artillery numbering twenty-four
brass twelve Founders have been sent via Augusta,
to Charleston, leaving for the defense Of the city
but nine hundred cavalry, three hundred infantry,
and battery Of light artillery. All the extensive
batteries and fortlficatons before mentioned are
for this reason only pick.ted and not garrisoa d.
The people of the cls thus lett with batteries and
guns but no troops to make them available, have
become greatly alarmed lest We should avail our
selves of their condition and capture Savannah.
| They have been for the last two weeks sending
vauables, &C., into the interior of the State, daily
expecting to see a Yankee chcese-box'' III sight.
fanked by a land force. General Mercer, who -
in command, has repeatedly te:egraphed to Gov
Brown for troops but has invariably received the
answer that .sthere are no troops to send, the in
habitants must protect themselves" The Erer-
glade steam r, is loaded with cotton ready 10 run
the blockade and the only other vessel beside the
rams in port is the Iseadaker, navy boat mount
ing three two hundred pound rifed guns. There
are two canal boats which the rebs. have mounted
with few light pieces and call them sfoating bat
teries.'' The inhabitants are afraid to arm the
negroes, and as the remaining population consists
of aged men, boys and women, We must conclude
that the people of Savannah are not only wisely
scared, but that slight effort on our part would
place us in possession ofthe city, ,andcensideraby
enlarge the Department Of the South.