New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-19
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THh
SOUTH.

s,nrsn,c Of tho Plantations
p..,cr,te Negro EXpcdition-Ar-
-, .e T.heI observation-disclosures Of
., The People Rendy 10 Rise
ON Their Leaders.
srom Our sPe'' PoRT ROYAL S. c.. March IA. 1883.
Late lest night our slumbers were disturbed oy
che long roll calling the troops IN and around camp
% arms. and giving us TO understand that at last
.ons,bine ofs belgerent nsture was on the taps by
tbe soldiers who have been so long IN complete idle
,,... IN this island All sorts of surmises and con-
,sctures ran rapidly through the long barracks and
,lsepinc.rooms at Hilton Head, and every one won
dered what was the cause Of the sudden alarm. 1t
was soon learned, however, that as usual, few
bold Rebels bad stirred up all this hubbub, had
silently, to the number of seventy heavily armed
men, stolen up Skull Creek from the main iahd'
sprung ashore 1t Spanish Wells, where we bad
signal station. captured one of the signal ohcerS ""u
i've privates. then set fire to the BUILDING anu
hastily returned TO their boats and rowed oAoA "
the point from which they started One oliccf' o"'
private, and from four or five negroes inanaseu "
escape and reach headquarters. BEFORE ho"o''''
the NEGROES came in they extinguished the haihoS
and ,aved the mansion at Spanish Wells from ue
struction. Below hand you ali Official account oi
Che affair. - uv.,,.,
PoRr ROYAL March lJ 1868, }
J,vr1vy.Sr. have the honor to report that at
10 o'clock Last night this ataiiOn was attacked oy
marty of about 10 Rebels. They came from tne
soutb.east and were not discovered TIL near Tue
back door. The surprise was complete iney .n,
tered the ROOM occupied by the sgnai men, rev tiio
house on fire by fire that WAS sii burning ~ '"o
Ma
prisopers Lieut.. Rushley ran imme ilately oeiow
and was lust in time be hurried oil by the heoels
Considerable clothing belonging to the sienai meu
was DESTROYED by fire. / nave one mau ieI'' rNo
pickets were captured.
Very respectfully &c.
NJ NJ FENNER. Lleuteuan' and Signal Onlcei'
HIS T,ry1 First Lieutersni an! Ct.e sign. ocf
The sale Of the Plantations III d. heiel@ "'i'
is still progressing.
Sixty thousand acres Of the best pine and OAK and
have been purchased by the Government. Between
twenty and thirty thousand acres have been Pur-
chased by the civilians residing IN Beaufort. A
mali nartv of negroes who have been enerprising
and provldent since they obtained their freedom H.
veaed about 900 in choice and at one dollar per
acre. 1t is great pity that more OF these unioTu-
nate creatures were IT able to purchase small lots
of land. ,.
purchaser thus far, and has invested about slo,oV
In land and agricultural implements.
Some OF the Northern papers having alluded 70 the
fact that The Free South, newspaper published In
Beaufort, and owned by one OF TIE Florida lax
Commi ssioners had presented bill for advertising
Lands in but four successive issues Of the paper OF
nearly AZ O00 have been requested to state that 1t
should be distinctly understood By the public that
the South Carolina Tax Commissioners-Judges
Smith Worden, and Brisbane-are in no wsy impli.
Gated in the transaction, that they have protested
against is payment and repudiate the alleged con.
tract II strikes almost every here that u 900
for an amount of printing New.York daily would
charge but 1900 for ia rather exorbtantespecialiy
Co. when il 10 considered that the OF the paper
is an officer Of the Government upon salary OF
$1,000. II should be remembered, too that the pub
fishers Of The Free South have had no rent 10 pay,
having occupied one Of the Rebel mansions in Bean
fort and no transportation, having brought their
printing material. upon Government transport and
but light wages for their journevmen, having had
detailed for their especial service soldiers from the
ranks of the army stationed in the vicinity. To
Offset Gil these privileges, 1t is urged by the pub
hshers that they have been and stl are in conssn,
danger Of having their property captured by The
Rebels and that they should be allowed more liberal
rates in consequence. This 10 the only argument
I have heard advanced in their favor--a very pool
and weak one 10 the common sentiment.
The feet OF gunboats and transports 10 still In
ereasinp but no signs OF an immediate movemen
beyond those already indicated cal be seen. 1t may
not DO improper to say that delay IN this instance
seems to be adding TO our strength. and that wher
we do move it will be with every. prospect OF sue
Cess. But II not yet apBTeeefe, Tue DcPaitWcus W
the South is by no means idle. The rest Of infinite
motion the sleep Of the spinnng.top pervadeSe every
portion OF II. -,
The marriage of Gen. Saxton TO Miss Thompson
of Philadelphia is the most ple&sa't subject OF SOFIA
gossip Of the week. Flags We're hoisted and guns
fred in the beautiful harbor al Beaufort Yesterday
morning in honor OF the event. TIE happy couple
ere occupying tho elegant mansion OF the Rebe
Hayward.
Three slaves from tho Drayton plantation, near
-. Ia T..
order TO rea here safely they have Of
more than 200 miles, and have been nearly month
on the way. They were ragged and filthy beyond
description, being literally covered with mud and
foul dirt from head to foot distressing looking
objects never saw. They have gwen valuable IN
formation to our Generals. which they have acted
upon.
one Of the most daring enterprises of the war, and
which if successful will be Of the greatest impor
tance 20 the army before leaving this port. These
negroes, upon being told Whist was wanted OF them,
although kno wing that the enterprise would DO at.
tended with the greatest danger, and would require
the utmost skill volunteered tueir services and upon
being furnished with arms and imp iements imme-
diately started upon the expedition. by to-morrow
night il will be known whether they have all been
killed or returned 10 camp successful. IL any anti
Administration man js still skeptcal with regard TO
the value Of negro services ia this war; would TO-
commend to him trip TO and short s1journ in the
Department of the South. / doubt very much IT
there are six white in this Department who
would have volunteered TO 60 upon the expedition
those negroes started upon last night.
Three deserters from the let Georgia Volunteers,
Col Olmstead, came within our lines at Fort Polss.
II this morning. They represent the inhabitants OF
Savannah to be in daily expectation of al attack,
and 10 be in most fearful state Of alarm; that oil
the wealthy citizens have closed their maDtlons,
packed up their furniture aud left the city; that the
poor people in AN almost insurrectiOnary stste
and will hoist the stars and stripes the moment our
forces approach the city.