The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-06-25
From South Carolina.
Col. Montgomery Late Raid.
of the N. Y. Tribune,

QdYB IIOHl NtW 1OIh5 dillNON OF ~
on the evening of the 18th, bringing as pas
sengers Brig. Gen. Gilmore the new com
mander of the Department of the South, Brig
Gen. Strong, Col Turner, and number OF
officers.
Gen. Gilmore is already well known in the
Department as Chief Engineer on Gen. Sher-
mans Staff; as the officer who had charge OF
the brilliant seige of Fort Pulaski and as the
hero of Somerset, Kentucky. His presence
would seem to indicate more active opera
tions.
THE LATE RAID on THE CoMBAHEE RIVER
We take from the Free South a sketch OF
Col. Montgomery's raid
What Stoneman and Grierson are upon the
horse, Col. Jim Montgomery is upon foot
With but 25O negro soldiers, on board the
punboat John Adams and the transports Har
RET A. Weed and Sentinel, he left Beaufort
on the evening Of the 1st inst, and at 2 IL
on the following morning nachored his little
feet in the Combahee River, 20 miles distant
from the point of its departure, 20 miles from
Charleston, and 10 from the village Of Ashe-
poo on the Charleston and Savannah Rail
road. The Sentinel, unfortunately got aground
at the mouth Of the COOsaw river, and was Of
no service to the expedition; the troops on
board Of her were transferred to the John Ad
ans and the Harriet A. Weed
The village of Ashepoo is approached from
the Combahee by three different roads, one
from Fields Point, where the rebels had CON
structed battery, but had deserted it-one
from Tar Bluff, two miles above Fields Point,
and one from Combahee Ferry, six miles fur
ther up the river.
In accordance with the plan fully determin-
ed upon before his departure, Col. Montgom-
cry, almost at the same instant, took possess
ion of the three approaches to Ashepoo, plac-
ing L. n. Thompson with one company in
the earthworks at Fields Point Capt. Carver
with company + in the rife pits at Tar Bluff,
and then with the balance Of his force pro
ceeded to Cambahee Ferry, and with the guns
of the John Adams and two howitzers, under
command Of Capt. Brayton, completely cover
ed the road and the approaches to the bridge.
These points were all occupied without OPP
position. To deceive the enemy, and lead
him to suppose that his force was much Iarg-
er than it really was, he Instructed the officers
in command at the different points to retain
but few men in reserve and throw out near
ly their entire strength as skirmishers
At Ashepoo the rebels had three regiments
of infantry, one hundred cavalry, and full
battery Of artillery, As Capt. Thompson ad-
vanced up the road leading from Fields
Point, cavalry came in sight, but a few well
directed volleys soon sent them galloping
back in confusion to their stronghold at Ashe-
poo.
At half past p. IN. battery of six pieces
arrived and opened a brisk fire Not man
dinched, but, from such hiding places as they
could find poured volley after volIey upon
the gunners, killing and wounding number
In the midst Of this little engagement the
Harriet A. Weed came up, and a well directed
shell from her guns, under the direction of
Captain Hudson, caused a retreat of the rebel
artillery. The raid upon this road then COM
menced in earnest. The soldiers scattered in
every direction and burned and DESTROYED
everything Of value they came across Thir-
ty-tour large mansions known to belong to
notorious rebels, with all their rich furniture
and rare works Of art, were burntd to the
ground. Nothing but smouldering ruins and
parched and crisped skeletons of once mag
nificent old oak and palmetto groves now re
main of these delightful country seats.
After scattering the rebel artillery, the Har-
riet A. Weed tied up opposite large planta-
ton, owned by Nicholas & Kirkland Major
Corwin, in command of companies 3 and c.
soon effected a landing, without Opposition.
The white inhabitants, terrified at the sight
OF negro troops, with loaded Ic,us1ets in their
hands, ran in every directjcn N. while the slave
population rushed to the boats with every
demonstration of joy and gratitude Three
nee houses Yell filled with rice large
amount Of r.cks in the yard and four large
inllis o. different kinds, were destroyed. Man
siSp Is, negro quarters, and everything inilam
mable, was consigned to the flames. Sluices
were opened, plantations flooded, and broad
ponds and lakes made where, but few hours
before, luxuriant crops Of rice and corn were
putting fourth their leaves.
Capt. Carver with Company G, landed at
Tar Bluff, After a skillful disposition Of his
pickets the enemy's cavalry appeared in sight,
and threatened to Overwhelm his little party,
but upon throwing out his whole force he
succeeded in repulsing every charge, and
finally drove them entirely out of sight. Up
on this road several large steam rice mills,
three cotton-gins, and fine saw mill were
destroyed, together with an immense amount
of other property.
Capt Hoyt, Company n, landed at Comba
hee Ferry at IL a. m.-encountered caval
ry picketsat the moment he began to advance,
but after a short engagement, drove them
back in disorder. The fine bridge across the
Cambahee river was then destroyed, together
with all the adjacent property
Capt. Brayton, of the Sd r. |. Artillery,
who was present with a section of his battery,
took part in this engagement from the John
Adams.
Having brought within his lines nearly
800 valuable slaves; having destroyed prop
erty to the amount Of two millions, most of
which belonged to notorious leaders of this
rebellion; having demonstrated that negro
soldiers will follow and fight wherever bold
and brave man dares lead them, and that the
slave population of South Carolina are eager
TO embrace the opportunity to escaps Col.
Montgomery returned to Beaufort early on
the morning Of the Sd inst, without the loss
of man
Col Montgomery has made another expe-
dltion down to Darien, where he destroyed
the rebel salt works and captured a cotton
schooner. The town was destroyed.
The department is remarkably healthy
The oath regiment of Massachusetts, (col-
oredD had arrived safely at Beaufort in good
condition, and were encamped near the city.
Subsequently the regiment was sent to Flori-
da.
-s0S
From south Carolina and GeOrgTn.
Huron HEAD, June Is,
va NEw YORK, June % {
Montgomery's negro troops are operating
IN Georgia. On Monday, June Sth, they she'll
ed the batteries from rihe-pits near Brunswick,
took the town, passed further up the river, |
and destroyed the Brunswick Railroad bridge
across Buffalo Creek. Next day they went
to Darien and burned the town, captured
schooner and flat boat with nearly hun
dred bales of cotton. The negroes were anx-
ious for more expeditions.
The rebel steamer Fingal surrendered after
a short fight in Warsaw Sound with the two
Monitors. Only five guns were fred at her |
One hundred and eighty prisoners were tax
en-.
At day light, June 18th the rebel batteries
ON Morris Island fired upon the Union works