The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-04-22
CHARLESTON.
Correspondents of the New York Herald. ]
COLES ISLAND, SoUTH CARoLIhA,l
Nine miles from Charleston, March 28 !

Coles ISLAND, SoUrH CARoL1kA,l
Nine miles from Charleston, March 28 !
| The initiatory movement toward the
rebel stronghold, Charleston, South Caro-
| lima, has been commenced. The pioneer
corps of the grand expedition-the Tooth
New York Volunteers, Colonel G.. B.
Dandy, (Brevet Major United States Ar
my, - took undisputed possession of
Coles Island, nine miles from Charleston,
this morning | write this letter from
their camp. t{s .l5,
t. The Tooth Regiment, which came from
North Carolina, in February last, is a por-
tion of the Eighteenth Army Corps.
From their arrival in the Department of
the South until they embarked for the
expedition to this place. they have been
encamped at st. Helena Island, Port Roy
al Harbor Pursuant to orders from Gen.
Hunter, they embarked from that place
on Monday; the oath inst, on board the
steamer Expounder, Captain Deering, and
were conveyed to Hilton Head, whence
they re-embarked on the same steamer,
on the morning of the 26th instant. The
steamer Belvidere, with stores and artil-
lery for the expedition, followed in the
rear of the Expounder.
On Friday morning, the 2sth instant,
the Belvidere and Expounder, steamed
into Stono River, opposite Coles Island.
Under the direction of Commander Balch,
of the Pawnee, they took anchorage within
a few hundred yards Of the center OF the
Island The steamers boasts, with those
from the gunboats, were all brought into
use at eight o'clock A. nj. The troops
commenced di, embarking; Major D. d.
Nash, Of the 100th Regiment, with three
companies of that regiment, was the first
to land. The movement was promptly
made. The troops formed in line as they
landed, with muskets loaded, ready for
any attack from the enemy. The enemy
did not come, and the regiment was safely
landed in one hour from the time the dis
embarkation commenced. 93 aiql
While the troops we're disembarking,
COL Dandy, of the Tooth Regiment, Com
inander Baich, of the Pawnee, and Cap
tain Rice, of the Seventy-sixth Pennsyl-
vania Volunteers, Con special duty on the
Pawnee,) landed ON the island and recon
noitered in the vicinity. They discovered
a rebel battery, situated near the end Of
the scauseway that leads from Coles to
James Island, about one and three fourths
miles from where the troops were making
their camps. They also saw evidences
OF numerous concealed works on Folly
and James Islands. The rebels are in
force in this vicinity. We look for an
attack at any moment.
Coles island, now occupied by our
troops, is at the confluence of the Stono
and Folly Rivers. 1t is about two miles
long and one-eighth of mile wide. 1t
might be considered part of James
Island, as the dividing line Gf may be so
called) is marsh. A causcway connects
Coles with James Island. The island is
in proximity to kiawah, Johns and Fol
Ily Islands, and Stono, Folly and kiawah
Rivers. The topography Of the island is
of. an undulating character, and is cover
ed with a sparse growth. Of pine and pal
metto trees. The ground is covered with
thick switch grass, interspersed with
cactus and semi tropical wild plants. In
the water front, or rather the sea front OF
the island, there is the debris of round
fort, occupied by the rebels at the COM
mencemcnt OF the war. There are tive
embrasures still visible, and portions OF
platforms for guns. In the rear OF the
work is1a large bomb proof powder mag
azine. On the east side OF the island
there are number Of rifle pits, close to
which is a rebel graveyard. in which are
ten. or twelve graves. From the head
boards, it is seen that the island was al
one time garrisoned by the Fourteenth
South Carolina Regiment. When oul
troops landed, they discovered water wells
were already dug for them.
From the north side OF Coles Island
two miles distant, is the pretty town Of
| '|Legareyille. 1t is situated on the Stone
River, and runs parallel with it. It has
+ many large buildings of modern archi-
lecture, and appears to have been once
if not now, occupied by pretty enter
prising people The houses are surround
ed by large flower gardens, and ornament
+! ed in front by shade trees of various de
scriptons. The town has been deserted
by its inhabitants, and is now occupiet
by the rebel soldiers. The rebels have
three forts here, two OF them OF recen
construction. The United States gun
boat Isaac P. Smith was captured by on
Of these forts several weeks ago. Sine
that time the enemy have made the aeees
f sions to these works by the addition Q
the fsrts named, beside a line Of rifle pit
2 nearly half mile long on the south sid
of the town. In addition to these forti
:. 6cations, the rebels have mortar batter
; on James Island, directly opposite tn
tom ga