Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-01-29
THE EVENING STAR.
DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH.

Arrival of General Hun.er-vigerou. Prep.
Ready for Serviee-Ths Msntnuk and
Tive 6uneoats on Secret Expedition,
BY the arrival Of the steamship Arago, Capt
8adaden, from Hilton Head, we have dates to
Saturday last, At four p. m, sixty.nine hours
rom port TO port Gen. Hunter had safely
arrived there and resumed his command. Oar
active operations will soon take place, and
events Of the most cheering character may be
expected Brig adler General Brannan and 8
portion OF his star returned in the Arago, and
viii report at Washington forth with
ACTIVE OPERATIONS IAPEspInG-pREPAgA
f1oFs FOR AGGRESSIVE HOyEHEETs-REII-
roEcEkESTs FoR TIE ARMY AND NAVY.
PORT ROYAL, :. e., Jan. 2L-Since yesterday
morning continued violent winds and heavy
rain have rendered out door mo yemsnts almost
impractcabie. There has been no yisible stir
ring Of either the land or naval forces. Sail,
while there Is no sign OF activity in the camps
or among the vessels in the harbor, the head
quarters OF 10th branches or the service are
eusy with the direction of preparations for the
Eot elaPse without inaugurating all the hustle
AID excitement incidental TO the approach OF
an active campaign in these parts. knSw
Mat do not act contrary TO the wishes Of those
in command BY stating that n more formidable
concentration Of troops and nen.of is
about taking place than has been witnessed
large feet of transports loaded with troops
OF all arms is now on the Way 10 this por:, and
may make it within the next forty eight hours.
In addition to the iron -clads already arrived,
other cUirasscd and turrettPd monsters arc ex-
pected at an early day. To provide for tho
reception and proper disposition OF these in
waller is now the duty that keeps the time of
GeneI Al Hunter and Admiral Dupont fully &C.
fupled.
1t would be both thankiess and imprudent on
ind tf.sr
or positive assertions as TO the character OF the
Work about 10 bv undertaken con Jointly by the
commanders justnamed. feel only warranted
IN giving the assurance that great events viii
soon nx the attention OF the country upon some
point OF the coast within the limits OF the de.
partBent
GREAT ACTIVITY IN THENAvY-THE MoNTACK
DONE UPON An EIPEDITION-MORE MONITORS
EXPECTED FROM THE NORTH-THR REIN
PROPONENTS FOR TIT. ARMY.
FCRT ROYAL, Jan. %4.-The steamship Arago
leaves this afternoon, with the mails for New
York, and avail myself OF the opportunity to
ADD TO my letters summary of the latest oc-
currenrcs of interest.
The fine weather now prevailing is improved
most diligently by the navy in preparing for
tie approaching days OF action The Ncw
iIonsides IS being pat IN complete fighting
trim. Her tOpmasts and spars are being taken
On, and she Is assuming q most grim appear.
aDce.
The Montauk passed out OF the harbor this
morning in tow OF one gunbOat and escorted by
tour of practice to Warsaw Sound.
The Monitors Weehawken and Nahant are
expected to arrive within the next forty EIGHT
hours.
The achievements for the army have not vet
arrived, but the transports carrying them may
appear in the ofing at any moment Generals
HAY be, Vessels, Stevenson and Hart Command
tlrm.
A grand review of all the troops on this
Island was held yesterday afternoon. General
Hunter has ordered that semi weekly reviews
yRfo OF oil <,rSl
d' partmf Mt until the beginning OF active
operations.
The campaign will probably open within
Two weeks after the arrival of the reinforce
meEts. Much will depend on the relative
proniptness with which the various Depart
ments in Washington will respond to the heavy
IequisiIion for supplies of every description
that Will go North to-day.
Another Monitor-the Pdssaic-arriyed last
EbSat, raising the numb II of irOn-ciadS now in
pert 10 three. The New Ircnsides is nro-
nonneed by her COMMANDER Il thorough sea-
gong vessel. She encountered very rough
weather but behaved spendidly. Her speed
however, Is not 80 great as expected, seven
Mont lux as well as Passaic. were subject TO
the test OF rough sea and strong gales on the
way here. The latter, especially, had to
fHuEgie with weather Of unusual violence
Both tossed fearfully At sea, and their COM
manders express the conviction that, without
The assistance OF the towing steamers, they
would have been unmaL ageable and hardly
able 10 reach their destination.
1be M ont;;uk and crew also suffered exceed
lngly from the heavy leakage of the upper Dor
lion OF the craft. The Passaic proved less de-
ectiye IN this respect. Upon The whole, nauti-
cal men consider IL rs settled that the Monitors
are unfit for independent navigation at sea-
Admiral Dupont was very apprehensive OF
disaster 10 the iron -clads during the prevalence
OF me almost continued storms of the last week
Ano was extremely gratified by their safe ar
rival
have seen Savannah papers OF the Doth. lint
contain nothing iL..iy to-
already known TO your readers. Dispatches
from North Carolina to them announce the ar
IiFai at beaufort, and sailing further South, of
the Monitors-so that the appearance of the
iron-ciaGs IA these waters can hardly be a sur
prise 10 the enemy.
From the last issue of the New South, pub
nsned the DAY before my arrival JANUARY I71
j extract the following items of news 1f tho
preceding week:
DEsERTERs FROM CHARLEsroy.-Since our
Hast issue seven deserters from the Rebel forces
a. Charleston have reached Hilton Head The
nrst arrival YVES private A. p. Palmer, of tn,
2lst South Carolina Volunteers, who left his
regiment at Merris Island on the 18th nit and
escaped to the eun-boat Ottawa, reaching this
point on the 5th inst. The Others COMPRISING
Sergeant Andrew Riley, Corporal Thos. Wood
LOCI, and prlvates Thos. Kearns, Martin Ford
Robert Tumkin and John Murphy, were ali
Members OF the Guest q uard, an artillery COM
pany stationed on Morris Island, and deserted
IN small boat on the evening OF the 18TH inst
In the thick fog which prevailed at the time
They were secure from the scrutiny of the sen
fineis, and rowed unmolested to the Canaan
Galgua, whence they were subsequently trans
1erred to the Marblehead, and delivered over
10 Inc Provost Marshal here on Tuesday last.
Inc intelligence brought by these desdrtsrs,
though not of much importan &c in the main,
IS nevertheless interesting They tell us thai
ABOUT 5,t5e troops are now massed In and
around Charleston, of whom three regiments
are ''regnlars" OF the Confederate army JJpon
james Island are stationed from 5OO0to ofi ON
men. Sulllyan's Island bristles with batteries
Earrsoned by two regiments of infantry and
Two artillery companies. Fort Sumter holds q
force OF $50 or 1GO men, under Colonel Rhett
and the fort on the middle ground il also we'll
manned The force on Morris Island numbers
ABOUT l,UO men, and the entire shore of
Charleston harbor is lined with heavy guns
Inc TWO lron-clad batteries constructed for
harbor defence are afioat. and il is generally
supposed that they will prove very effective
These soldiers deserted mainly On account
of the severe treatment 10 which they were