Evening star., 1863-03-25
FROM PORT ROYAL,
The Proposed Attack on CharleStOn-Th
Negro Brigade in Florida.


Negro Brigade in Florida.
A correspondent OF the New York Tribune,
writing from Fort Pulaski, under date 18th
inst, says:
The Rebel ram Savannah viii be ready for
offensive operations this week. Commodore
Iatnall has expressed upon several occasions
MS determination to push his way out to sea
the moment the grand expedition fitting ont at
Port Royal sets sail. Drawing but II feet of
water, he will avoid Fort Pulaski, and at
tempt TO escape by the way of NASSAU Sound.
Once upon the ocean his rayages will COM
mence All wooden crafts he expects to de-
Royal harbor will furnish him work for a
Week-if the Monitors are only out of the way.
But, ah ! that 'sif'! The Monitors will not be
out OF the way.
Daily the iron clad fleet is increasing. Was
sau Sound can be watched, the harbor of Port
Royal protected. and enough will still be LETT
to batter down good many of the forts, if n OF
all, in front of Charleston.
We shall have a grim time in these waters
before long. Commodore Dupont against Com
modore Tatnali; General Hunter against Gen.
erai Beauregard-braln rerSus brain, and
matter versus matter. Who, which or what
will win, God only knows.
The Port Royal correspondent of the New
York World gives the following particulars Of
the operations of the negro brigade in Florida:
The two negro regiments have taken and
now n3sy,.o occupy I the town of Jacksonville, in
totally unopposed, but the next day they were
attacked by the enemy in some force, but sue
cessfully repulsed them. Such are the bare
facts OF the case; the details are RS 1oliows:
The darkies left Port Royal on the evening
OF the 9th instant, the steamer Boston being
very properly selected as the transport OF the
expedition. Next day they reached Fernan-
dina, and on the eth they waited at the mouth
of the St Johns river for the armed transport
John Adams. At a. m, of the 10th they
were Joined by the Y. S. gunboats Norwich,
Captain Duncan, and Uncas, Captain Watson,
and shortly afterwards started for Jackson
Vile, which place they reached at 8 a. m Two
companies OF negroes were Immediately landed
on the dock, and before the inhabitants of the
town were made cogniZant OF their fate pickets
were placed on guard at all the approaches.
very few maie inhabitants were found in the
town, every body capable OF bearing arms be-
ing conscripted into the Rebel army.
The news of the Yankee irruption into Jack
sonville quickly reached the enemy outside,
and next day, (the llth,) at 1G,z O'Clock in the
morning, morn the alarm was given by the pickets
being driven in towards the town The Con-
federates were estimated to number 500 cayal-
ry Dismounting from their horses, they
fantry, and marched in confident manner
upon the position held by the First South
Carolina Volunteers. Colonel Higginson, COM
manding the expedition, Immediately dis
patched the Second Regiment, under the orders
OF Colonel Montgomery, into the woods sur
rounding Jacksonville, for his scouts made
MIN cognizant Of a second body Of cavalry in
the forest whose design was evidently to out
Hank his main force while the latter was at
tackled in front by the dismounted horsemen.
Colonel Montgomery arrived at his destin alton
not a moment too soon.
Throwing the two hundred and thirty men
composing the regiment into line, ne received
the cavalry with a yolley, which threw them
into confusion, and Immediately ad vanced upon
their disordered ranks before they had time to
recover. Meanwhile, the main body OF negroes,
under Col. Higginson, stood their ground man
fully, stopped the march of the enelny's in
tanry, and finally drove them back into the
woods, thus closing the events of the day. Ths
casualties on our side were triding, and doubt
less not very great on that of the Rebels, for
the engagement did not last over half an our.
so far as have been able to learn, negro
only was killed, although many Were wounded,
and IT would be difficult to estimate the enc my $
loss as he left no dead on the field and carrie d
off most of his wounded.
There was little il any sknlking on the part
Of the darkies, ,owpg dou bile to the pre- 81 ice
of the gunboats. When, however, tn. re he )
retreated, they seemed forgeLful of ali discip-
line, and il was as much as their officers could
do to prevent them breaking ranks and pur-
suing the retreafing foe into the woods Pro-
badly the en-my's intention was merely for
reconnaissance in inrce for tn purp ose OF ex-
aInininG the true position of riiss. Tals was
certainly :hf opinion of officers in com
mand, and tltey therefore attempted nothing
further than holding the "a ;tuTed town