Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-03-19
MILITARY OPERATIONS In SOUTH CAROLINA

ausion the great negro orny into the interior oil the
Southern Military Department" which was prematurey
announced the New York Tribune's Hilton Head corre-
spondencs of the 18th ultlmo and which, according to
that surprise the rebels with the
reality serve nsurrecon by the sudden appearance IN
arms of We thousand negroes who to be berang
host that would induce the slaves to rise by thousands and
sweep both rebellion and slavery out of existence wher
ever they moved This great African army, appears
composed of the regiment called the First South
Carolina Volunteers aud its point of operations the
shore of the St Marys river the southwestern ex-
emy of Georgia No tidngs have yet been heard Of its
progress The two counties within short reach Of the st.
Marys river Camden and Glynn, which contain about
three thousand whites and about nine thousand slaves
The Hilton Head correspondent Of the Boston Journal
writing under date Of the h instant makes the follow
ing reference to this expedition
.Co Higginson will probably be heard from with bis
regiment obtaining volunteers the main land before
days begins to be apparent that for inland service
the negroes respects will be far superior to any
white man Col HigRinson has men in his regiment who
acquainted with all the country OF Northern Florida
and Southern Georgia They are not surpassed IN wood
craft 1t will be easy matter for the First South Carolina
to set one section Of rebellion fire. do not
application of the torch to houses but general commoton
among the plantation hands The visions which are con-
jured up by among you OF massacre OF blood and
horror will not be real zed unless the masters begin it,
l have talked with many who were formerly slaves IN
regard to it, aud they all confirm opinions formed year
ago in Southwestern Tennessee that the slaves will not
attempt an inurrection They will join our armies, and
will fight under white officers but will not attempt to
organize rebellion against their masters unaided by us
Those who expect to grand uprising OF all the negoes
in the South at will be disappointed; equally dis.
appointed will those be who believe that negroes can be
organized to fight Col Montgomery will soon a have his his
gment complete. The recent rider OF Gen. Hunter Tor
the enrolment of all the ablebodied negroes will give
more material"
The newspaper correspondents do not mention any
of the army proper and evnce much impotence
at the delay in the anticipated attack Charleston
Savannah letter dated at Hilton Head the llth in
slant says:
at with extreme regret that your correspondent does
not chronicle by the steamer about to leave for the North
the capture of either Charleston Savannah With still
regret will be received the dngs that the gigantic
for the reduction of both of these cities
suddenly TO have been brought to stand still When
Gen Hunter returned we were to be in Charleston III
fortnight The iron-cads came and the work Of reducing
Fort Sumter was to be speedily accomplished. Foster
arrived and then we were to get away in week ut the
farlhest The prophets have all been at fault Time has
sped but the expedition ags Foster has got away and
has his staff but the army has not Sumter invites at
tack but menace has yet been made Savannah yet
uncaptured and things look IL the people of that city
might for time to come, enjoy the security which
year and half of oriyng has insured them with none
to moest them make them afraid here is no knowing
when movement will be made and there is certainly
in guessing The man who appoints no time for the
beginning of forthcoming operations will not endanger his
reputation prophet; but he who writes the least and
knows the least is on the safest side"
Another letter. addressed to the Boston Journal and
being of the date the above assigns
for the delay in active operations above complained Of
We copy also what this writer says:
week ago every body here expected that by the 10th
the expedition would be in position facing the enemy
Charleston Savannah Every thing indicated that the
grand trial of strength to begin this week but there
is unexplained delay for which various are
One is a al IN haps on
Saturday afternoon satisfactory that Admiral Du
Pont determined not to proceed till he had procured
Of them The rebels have numerous torpedoes in Charles
ton harbor and they not to be despsed destructive
agents. They to be feared quite much the rebel
batteries. 1t the Admiral knew where they located
the ronclads could avoid them but not knowing the dan
ger Of being thrown sky high instead of being knocked
pieces by the shot from the shore. Ii they be de-
stroyed monitors advance, great point will be
gained Another assigned that the coal vessels
have not arrived another that the ronclads not all
here. Whatever may be the reason, Admiral Du Pont
does not divulge it. have friend here who believes
the beatitude Blessed they who expect nothing for
they shall have it, but having faith in the ultimate triumph
of right over wrong, prefer to wait in hope"
The writer, after chronicDg the departure OF Gen.
NaQee and the accorded to him by his officers and
troops on that occasion, says
at plain that need vigorous minds in this
department If accomplish any thing of moment
with the land forces there will need to be propelng
and directing forces put into operation which do not
exist"
The Port Royal correspondent of the Associated Press
furnishes the following account of the difficulties which
have existed among the Generals in the department If the
South This letter is dated at Hilton Head the 18th
instant:
Inasmuch the dssensions of this Department have
become theme of newspaper controversy, which pro-
ducng impression detrimental to the exped
ton s due to all concerned that correct statement OF
the facts, which gathered from official papers should
appear order that the responsibility may rest where
LEFT he
have nothing to do with the matter
When a movement first commenced in this depart
men Gen. Hunter asked the Secretary of War to allow
Gen Foster to take part it, owing to the that
General Foster particularly well qualified for the
work he having full and complete knowledge of the fot
cations and streams and about the point to be attacked
This request at granted and accepted by Gen.
Foster with the understanding that he and his forces
10 be separate command under Gen Hunter to execute
special duty after which he Foster) with his troops
to retire to North Carolina.
'On arriving here Gen Foster ascertaned that it would
be several weeks before movement wouli be made,
owing to the that there had been no concert
action between Gen. Hunter and the navy to the
time when the attack should be made. Ii appeared
that it would be two months at least after the arrival of
General Foster before the navy would be ready, which
grieved him much because Gen Hunter had apprized
him of this fact before his forces left North Caroline,
which would have enabled him to take Wilmington long
before the services Of his troops would be needed here
there being at that time enough iron cads at Beaufort
IN c. accomplish this work with Gen Fosters troops
who then resdy for movement
I" Gen. Foster remained here few days when he was
called to Newbern to look after it's defence. Soon after
his departure Gen Hunter issed order consolidating
all of the troops from North Carolina into the 10th Army