Evening star., 1864-12-13
ARRIVAL OF THE UNITED STATES
STEAMER DONEGAL.

General Fosters Expedition-Affairs Sub.
sequrn: to the Battle Of Honey Hill-Po-
cotaIise Bridge Destroyed-1he Charles
ton and Savannah Railroad Cut-Foster
Comm unicates with Sherman.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.]
This vessel arrived at this port yesterday az
ternoon, from the South Atlantic Blockadiug
Squadron, in command Of Acting Lieutenant
W. II. West. The Donegal left Port Royal on
the 7th inst, with the barquentine TiIly Van
We learn by this arrival that joint naval
ard land expedition under Admiral Dahlgren
and General Foster, roCeeded from Beaufort
object being to destroy the Pocotaligo bridge,
on the railroad between Charleston and Sa-
vannah. The Donegal, which brings this news,
accom- panied the expedition. There were seven
gunboats In the expedition, and soon after
reaching proper position, fire was opened
A force was landed and an action COM
menced, the full particulars OF which have not
reached US. But before evening the Pocotaligo
bridge was reached and destroyed Our troops
were then intrenched for such future opera
tions as might be needed.
The Donegal came down to Port Royal the
same evening, and could not bring details con-
cerniDg the losses on either side; but of the sue
cess of the grand object of the expedition there
can ne no doubt Our informant speaks in the
highest terms of the energy and activity OF Ad-
lniral Dahlgren, in organizing and directing
the movements OF the naval brigade in this
When the Donegal left to come down Broad
River on the evening OF the 9th, shells were
seen flying and exploding, indicating that our
forces were determined to drive the enemy out
of any DOsition they might have taken after
being driven from the bridge.
General Fosters scouts had communicated
with General Sherman's forces, which were
marching on Savannah. The belief was that
Sherman would be in Savannah on Wednes.
day next, the 1ith inst. The POcotalgo bridge
is about thirty i've miles from Savannah. 1t
being destroyed, and Sherman having cut the
other railroad communications, Savannah can
not be relieved by reinforcements from any
any point north OF it.
The Inquirer says editorially:
The United States steamer Donegal, which
arrived at This port yesterday, brings news of
the destruction Of the POcotaligO bridge, which
Is assumed to be upon the railroad between
Charleston and Savannah. We hope that the
news is true, but we have some doubts wheth.
er there is any PocOtaligo bridge upon the rail.
road. The Pocotaligo runs toward the rail-
road, but according to the Government survey
map OF 1863, the head waters OF the river ara
east OF the railroad, and the latter does not
that stream. There is bridge over the POGO
taligo at the village of the same name, which is
two miles south OF the railroad, and upon the
common road between Charleston and Sdvan-
nah, but unless the railroad crosses the road
from Pocotaligo running north by bridge,
which is possible, there can be no bridge at that
point. There are railroad bridges over the
Tulafinny and Coosawatchie rivers, the FORM
er crossing the railroad about eight and half
miles west of Pocotaligo, and as the Donegal
accompanied the expedition to the mouth of the
TnIaflnny, up which stream the vessels pro-
ceeded, the probability'is that il any railroad
bridge was destroyed it was over the latter.
There is another railroad bridge over the Coo
sawatchie, but Foster was repuised there some
days ago, and il he has succeeded ia making
demonstration against the Tulafnny bridge, il
the motto Try, try again" is industriously
oteyed.