, 1863-06-12
GEN. HUNTERS DEPARTMENT.
Brilliant Raid by Col. Montgom-
erJ's Colored Troops.
THEIR NUMBERS LARGELY
REINFORCED.
Capture Of Hominy, Blood Horses,
&cy &oy DC.
Correspondence OF the New York Tribune,1
HIJTny EF&r n .1ure 1872

Correspondence OF the New York Tribune1
Huron HEAD, s, c., June 4, 1853
Ono Of The most brilliant raids since the de-
partuitn 1T of the South was created has lust
been successfully made By Col. Montgomery,
Of the I'd South Carolina. Upon Information
main land last week, General Hunter came
10 the conclusion that he could fill one Of his
negro regiments without going to Florida,
and that the rice swamps, but few miles
from Beaufort, would give him the required
number. Although about to start upon un-
other expedition, of more apparent i1npor~
tancc, Colonel Montgomery Wis ordered to
embark two hundred picked men from his
regiment, and with the Harriet 4. Weed,
John Adams, and the Sentinel, proceed up
the main land at least twenty-five miles.
How ably Col. Montgomery executed the
task assigned to him, the crowded deck Of the
ADORE named yessels aud the old Baptist
Church in Beaufort, filled with stout negroes,
fully testify. One thousand valuable negro
chaitels, several hundred bags Of hominy,
fine lot Of blood horses, and any auonnt Of
household furniture, are the trophies he re-
turns with.
Col. Montgomery left Beaufort yesterday
morning, effected Lis landing without opposi-
ton, found two deserted forts and any number
Of riGe.pite, which 1t Will be remembered had
boen used bur a few weeks since in the
destruction OF the steamer George Washing
ton, Put a few men in the forts, a few more
in The 1i1le pits, and then threw ont the |
thus completely deceiying the enemy, and
leading him TO suppose that he had large |
force in reserve, when In reality he had
not n man. The enemy was about three regi-
mcnts strong, and had infantry, artillery and
strong picket force, black heads peerinE over
the ca,1hworks, and three steamers lying off
In tie stream, came TO the conclusion that we
wcre too strong for them, and that It would
be prudvnt 10 retire, and that, too, precipi-
lately. They did retire md lett splendid rice
plantations fora distance Of twenty. five miles,
entirely at the mercy Of Col. Montgomery.
The moment the rebel force retiredt the ne
gToes from the plantations came 1ocking into
our lines by hnndrcds and thousands, fre in
stead Of one thousand might hare been
It Is impossible to describe the easerncss
with which these negroes sought the oppor-
tunf1y to escape. They were willing to come
many Of them almost In a nude state, rather
than be left behind. But Col. Montgomery,
rythirg veg cooliy, md gathered together e al u
The provisions and furniture he could find,
and after sacking every house known to be-
long to some notorious rebel, set fire to 1t,
and under its light tell back to his boats, en-
Light this morning he lay anchored of Bean-
fort, having been absent not quite twenty
four hours.
To rccapitulate: Colonel Montgomery has
| brought IT with him ~ hundred Thousand
dollars worth Of chattel property, has de-
st1oyed' fifty dwelling houses, las demon
stratcd beyond all question that negro col
diers will follow wherever braTc man dare
lead, and that the slayes on the rice planta-
tions OF South Caro1ina are eager to reach our
the service Of tie Government In the capacity
of soldiers,