The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-06-13

BRILLIANT RAID BY Col. MoNTGoM-
wRY's CoLoRED TROoPs.-HILToN HEAD
S. c., June 4, lSS3.-One of the most bril-
liant raids since the Department of the
South was created has just been success
fully made by Col. Montgomery of the I'd
South Carolina.
Upon information obtained from negroes
who came in from heInain land, last week
Gen, Hunter came to the conclusion that
he could fill one of his negro regiments
without going to Florida, and that the rice
swamps, but IA few miles from Beaufort,
would give him the required number. AL
though about to start upon another expe-
dition, OF more apparent Importance, Col.
Montgomery was ordered to embark two
hundred picked men from his regiment,
and with the HarrietA. Weed, John Adams,
and the Sentinel, proceed up Coosaw River
effect a landing, and penetrate the main
land at least rs miles.
How ably Col. Montgomery executed
The task assigned to him, thecrowded decks
OF the above named vessels and the old
Baptist church in Beaufort, filled with
stout negroes, fully testify. One thousand
valuable negro chatteIS, several hundred
bags of hominy, fine lot of blood borses,
and any amount of household furniture,
sre the trophies he returns with.
Col. Montgomery left Beaufort yesterday
morning effected his landing without OPP
number of rife pits, which it will be re-
remembered had been used but few
weeks since in thedestructiono of the steam
erGeorge Washington put few men in the
forts, few more in the rife pits, and then
threw out the balance of his little force as
skirmishers, thus completely deceiving the
enemy, and leading him TO suppose that
ne had Il large force in reserve, when in re-
atty he had not man. The enemy was
about three regiments strong, and had in
fantry, artillery and cavalry. The Rebel
artillery and cavalry advanced, but upon
discovering the strong picket force, black
heads peering over the earthworks, and
three steamers lying off in the stream came
20 the conclusion that we were to strong for
them, and that it would be prudent for
them to retire, and that, too, precipitately.
They did retire, and left the splendid rice
plantations for distance of IS miles en-
tireiy at the mercy of Col. Montgomery.
The moment the rebel force retired, the ne
groes from the plantations came flocking
INTO our lines by hundreds and thousands,
and had there been time and transporta-
ton, five instead Of one thousand might
have been brought OFF.
1t is impossible to describe the eagerness
with which these negroes sought the oppor-
unity to escape. They We're willing to
come, many of them almost in a nude
state, rather than be left behind. But Col.
Montgomery, notwithstanding the value OF
time, took everything very cody, and gath
cred together all the provisions and fGrni-
ture he could find, and after sacking every
house known to belong to some notorious
Rebel, set fire to it, and under its light fell
back to his boats, and embarked his men
aud property. By daylight this morning
he lay anchored off Beaufort, having been
absent not quite twenty-four hours.
To recapitulate: Colonel Montgomery has
brought off with him six hundred thou
sand dollars worth of chattel property, has
destroyed fifty dwelling honses, has dem
onstrated beyond all question that Negro
soldiers will follow wherever brave man
dare lead, and that the slaves on the rice
plantations of South Carolina are anxious
TO reach our lines, and the male portion OF
them TO enter the service of the Govern
ment in the capacity of soldiers.
Having but a moment to write before the
steamer sails, l cannot give you all the in
peresting details of this brilliant raid. In
my next shall send Col. Montgomery S
official report, together with every thing
else of interest connected with the affair.
Or. n. y. Tribune.