Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-04-08
0Oreestet @aiIg Spy,
THE DAILY SPY.
AFFAIRS NEAR CHARLESTON.
OCCUPATION OF COLES ISLAND.
Coles ISLAND, S, c..
Nine miles from Charleston. March 28

DGCll commenced IuC DlOllGHT corps OF Ile
grand expedition-the Tooth New York vol
unteers, Col. &. B. Dandy, (brevet major
United States army)-took undisputed pos
possession of Coles island, nine miles from
Charleston, this morning. | write this letter
from their camp. On Friday morning, the
2Sth inst the Belvdere 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 boats, with those
from the gunboats, were all brought into use
at eight o'clock A. NJ The troops commenced
disembarking, Major d. ID. Noah, of the Tooth
regiment, with three companies of that regi-
ment, were the first to land. The movement
was promptly made. The troops formed in
line as they landed, with muskets loaded
reaoy for any attack from the enemy. The
enemy did not come, and the regiment was
safely landed in one hour from the time the
Decentralization commenced.
While the troops were disembarked colonel
Dandy OF the one hundredth regiment; COM
mander Balch, OF the Pawnee, and Capt Rice
OF the seventy-SiXth Pennsylvania volunteers
Con special duty on the Pawnee,) landed on
the island and reconnotered in the vicinity
They discovered a rebel battery situated near
the end of the causeway 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 numer-
Gus concealed works on Folly and James is
lands. The rebels are in force in this vicini.
ty. We look for an attack at any moment.
Coles island, now occupied by our troops, is
at the confluence of the Stone and Folly riv-
ers. 1t is about two miles long and one
eighth Of a mile wide. 1t might be considered
part OF James island, as the dividing line Gf
1t may be so Called is a marsh. A causeway
connects Coles with James island. The is
land is in proximity to HAWAII, Johns and
Folly islands, and Stone, Folly and HAWAII
rivers.
CoLE's ISLAND, March 20, 1894 scout
ing party under captain l.. S. Payne, of the
one hundredth regiment, proceeded in the d.
recton Of Charleston to-day. The party pro-
ceeued with caution, got an excellent view of
some Of the rebel corps and forts, and return
ed to this point at night with valuable infor-
nation The Union gunboat Isaac z. Smith,
recently captured by the rebels in Stone river
was taken by them through Waupau creek to
Charleston, where she has been metamorph-
osed into an iron-clad gunboat. She is near
ly ready for service, and it is the design of the
rebels to send her back to Stone to try and eff
feet the capture Of our wooden blockaders
there. The water in Waupau creek is at the
present time too shallow for the Smith to pass
through; but the rebels are remedying this
drawback, and are now dredging the shallow
parts OF the creek.
The rebels have been very busy of late IN
erecting new and improving the old fortifica-
tons in Stono inlet. From Legareville to
Waupau creek there are no less than ten earth
batteries. Between these points the batteries
are placed at such distances on each side of
the Tn ab oh 70 ii,
in case of an attack. The rebels have also OBJ
structed the river at numerous points.
LETTER FROM NORTH EDIsTo.
NORTH EDIsTO, S. c., March 29-As the
rebels at Charleston are acquainted with our
whereabouts, | presume it will not CRATE
harshlv upon the ears of the government if
l tell it to you. The iron clads Weehawk-
en-, Nantucket, Catskill, and Nahant, are
here. The Passaic, Montauk, Patapsco and
Keokuk will be here in a few days, and
then from this place will start for Charles
ton harbor. We shall have to fight-but as
your readers have been made acquainted
with the defences of Charleston, the num-
Der OF guns, &C., they will hardly credit it
when L say that they know no more about
Charleston and its defences, than they did
before they read the many letters. These
correspondents write mostly from heaysau.
am astonished when l read so much from
TINS heet as facts, which have not a shadow of
truth to support them. As | said. we shall
have to fight, and all necessary precautions
are being taken to make the attack success.
The rebels daily come within sight to look at
the iron-clads, and by this time Beauregard
himself probably has seen the iron-rafts =
His mind is doubtless made up as to their vul.
nerabllity l will state for the benefit of your
many readers that naval officers say in regard
the number of guns mounted for the defence
OF Charleston, that there cannot be more than
two hundred and fifty in the harbor, and at its
entrance, and they would not be surprised if
we should lind much smaller number New
ertheless, that number may be too many for
us. gentleman from Baltimore on board
our vessel this morning, stated that the people
expected the Monitors to take and hozd
Charleston. 1t is hoped the people do not
expect t0Omuch.
Some weeks since the gunboat Flambeau
had boat captured by the rebels, in which
was the hiefengineer and acting master. The
engineer has since taken the oath of allegi-
ance and enlisted in the rebel navy. 1t is said
he can give valuable information to the rebels
III regard to iron-cladS and the Ironsides As
the correspondent of one Ofthe New York pa
pers says, ''the iron-clads have found that
their machinery works well" and now it will
be expected that this fleet, small in number
VIII do more than all other fleets and armies
combined.
There is little village named Rockville
close to U.S. but it is deserted-not a human
beng to be seen in the streets the blinds of
houses swinging to the wind; windows omen
to all KINDS OF weather; a handsome church.
with It's WINDOWS broken out; uncultiyated rice
plantations, and cotton fields in sight with
buildings going to ruin; and were il not for
the few rebel soldiers occasionally seen ono
would think himself truly in depeopled conn
try. More anon.
p. S.-Since writing the foregoing the
steamers Cahawha and United States have ar
rived, bringing Gen. Stevensons brigade from
Port Royal, which, after the iron clads Cats
kill and Nahant shelled the woods, landed the
troops, who sought encampmentfort the night.
Boston Traveller.
LETTER FROM HILTON HEAD.
Huron HEAD, S. c., March 81, 1868. But
for a violent gale that arose suddenly last
night, and has been blowing with undated
fury since, | should probably have been able
to announce definitely the day on which the
army and navy are to commence their long
delayed offensive operations. Still, | can as
sure your readers with the utmost positive
ness, that the rough weather is now the only
obstacle to the immediate consummation of
the aggressive plans OF Gen. Hunter and adj
miral Dupont. Old mariners predict that the
present blow will have exhausted its force by
tomorrow morning, and hence | confidently