, 1864-07-16

NEW YORK, wednesday, July 15.-An off,
elol cispatch from the rebel General Jones,
July 4th, reports the repulse Of the Federai
forces near Charleston, with the loss Of GOO
men. 1t confirms the capture Of two rebel
gubs, but states that the rebel picket line is
reestabllshed, the Federals hastily falling
back. Five monitors and gunboats were In
the stono, and firing on the rebel lines
heavily,
DETAILS OF RECENT OPERATIONS.
S1oSo R1yEn, S. C. July 8, 1864.
ACTIVE OPERATIONS.
In my last correspondence I mentioned
that an expedition was on foot, the details in
relation to which were ut that time contra-
band. presume you may hare learned
through rebel sources that that expedition
week, md that It was on quito an extensive
scale. By permission Of Gen. Foster, I had
the privilege Of accompanying him In his hag
steamer, the Cosmopolitan, Captain Cannon;
md OF visiting every point occupied by the
troops composing the expedition.
OUR FORCE.
The troops assembled at Hilton Head
from several points and made quite respec-
table force. 1t Is not proper as yet for me
to give the details In regard to its strength,
although 1t Is sid the rebels were well in
formed about it through spies aud observa-
tion from their lookouts. Gen. Foster re-
tanned the command OF the whole force, and
D1lE. Oeus. a. E. uatcH, cCu1mmelpteAulT,K II.
saxtop, VIM. Birney, and Col ". VIII.
Davis commanding q brigade,) had COM
mands under him.
TIE DESTINATION
Of the expedition was a profound secret. and
none Of the troops could get clue to II.
The very wise Winked significantly and
whispered Savannah, and Pocota1tquo, Bulls
Bay, the Georgia coast and Su1Iiyan's Island
were ali confidently guessed; but nobody
hit on the right spot.
TIE TRANSPORTS,
some twenty In number, received their stores
on Thursday, and their troops on FRIDAY, and
weighed anchor together Just before dark
that evening. As they passed the foot of tho
pier an Immense crowd was assembled, and
1oud cheers were exchanged. All the boats
passed ont safely except two. The Wyoming
and the Collins got aground on Port Royal
bur, In the confusion occasfoned by SO many
bonts going ont together. By this accident
they were some twenty -four hours late in
arriving ut their destination; but no serious
interference With Gen. Fosters plan was
caused.
ARRIVAL OFF TEE EAR.
The feet arrived of the bar at the mouth
Of the North Edisto River at about two
O'Clock Saturday morning. The night was
quite dark, and some difficulty was OCCASION
ed in finding the buoys. Cap!ain Boutelle,
Of the coast survey steamer Vixen, who
AASu1 WY Au4AV "a Lu13 COiAL QY LQlTGY
Jears'' experience, had gone in to pilot naval
vessel, and haste was not Of sufficient Import
ance to warrant any great risk, so the truns-
ports did not so In till the high tide after
daylight.
LANDING OF TROOPS.
On reaching :;e anchorage inside, a por-
ton OF the troops were at once disemb arked
ut seao1ook 1sland, at pier built when the
lamented Gen. Stevenson occupied the point
over year ago.. The remaips Of his camp
were there, and the troops who first Landed
soon had shelters from the sun constructed-
coiiee fires going, and everything very com.
COL. ". ". Il. DAVIS,
as soon rs It Xas practicable, WAS sent for
over Hau1orer Greek, known as the Sugar
MIL He marched across Seabruok Island.
subsequently Gen.. Hatch made another
march across the island to his LEFT, and be
has eince made other movements which It ia !
not proper for me to describe as vet. ~ -
EXPEDITION Up TUE NORTH EDIsro RIVER,
On Saturday afternoon Brig. Gen, Birney.
with troops on the transports Canonicus,
MaydoTer, and Croton, went up the North |
Ed,sto River. The gunboats Fawnee and
Dai Ching, and the navy tug Geranium, were
sent qp by Admiral Dau1gFen to assist, aud
Flora Gen. BiEney landed ut White Point,
and early In the morning started to march
inland. A few miles on he encountered a
neld battery Of ritled pieces on the opposite
side OF the creek. He reported to Gen. Fos-
ter and was directed to innk the battery If
possible. Gen. Foster also went up to The
UaWbo Greek, IN the revenue cutter, accom-
panied by the Geraniu,n, with Capt, boute1le
as pilot, to endeavor to flank the battery on
that side. He engaged it for some time, and
gnHes ggas the .e., rebels good Smelling: They re-
Geed In hitting either Of our boats. Gen.
BirDey reported that 1t was Impossible 10
take the battery or funk It, owing 10 the
peculiar formation Of the ground, and It was
finally deemed expedlent to Withdraw the
being few wounded. Gen. Foster returned
to the North Edisto larbor, and subsequent. !
y went to stono. Gen. Blrney the next day
fe'embafked, and aleo went to Stono.
EXPEDITION TO JAMES ISLAND.
On Saturday morning, the I'd, rs q co-ope-
fatlVe movement, Gen. mmelpfenninr.
commanding 9 the district Of Morris and Folly
1siands, crossed over to James Island from
Y oily, with part Of bis force, aud drove II
the rebel pickets after skirmish. The
troops Were then formed into column and
advanced toward IN old battery. not unti1
recently occupied. The SD U. s. colored
infantry and the 103d New York, were placed
n the eta ad.ance; tat When they arrived very
BRASS field pieces, with canister, creating CON
y ,lderab!e havoc and causing come confusion,
! he 55th Massachusetts, Ind been formed In
inc Tor the purpose Of charging on the fort,
ND rs soon as the flse had been drawn they
'dvnnced at douhle-4utck. Theirs was DEL
cate duty to perform Tor they had to charge
through retreating white and black troops1n
ne iace OF amurderouB fire. But they never
ilnched: The rebel fire was quite high, and .
1earIy all Who were wounded were hit In the
lead. With shout and the intrepidity Of
.'ei!erans, they rushed over the pa1apet,
irving the rebel forces before them Into the
woods, and capturing the two guns. As
MS VAS the first time this regiment was ever '
lnaer hot fire, their conduct was especially | .
p 3nfaiseworthy. They have nobly sustained
'olored troops by the 5ath at Wagner and At
General schimmclpfsnnig held tais position
bout Q day, and then fell back about a mile
nd half, With bis two captured guns. :
ae,. nd 1nttenehed: m The reason Of the falling
ack was TINT the position was an 1nconve,
lent one to bold, and was no more ndVan.
ageons than the one now occupied. General \
has since been 1oined hV Il
'eneral Blrney and his force. q
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON FORT JOHNSON. d
On . Saturday night the 1a7th New York u u
o. 4qIneg, ana the SD Pennsylvania, Col :
!. NJ. Aoyt-all under command of Col. Gur.
ey.Were ordered to CROSS the water frnm
!orris Island, and endeavor to surprise Fort
9hnson. They went over in boats. I but ( the the
.acb oe was as mot favorable on arriving at the
-acn, ana portion of the beats got uground 4
email bar. Col HoYt and Lieut., Col.
anntng ham, with division Of their resi.
en-! e9t, succeeded IN landing, and surprised
attefy sfmpkins, an ontwork Of Fort John-
n; pug " the accident, not being sup-
'fted, 1t Was useless to attempt Fort John II
u with it's garrison of several hundred men. =
le whole party. ashore was captured. Il 6'
1S7 enlisted men and the following
icers: Col. H. NJ. Hoyt, Lieut.. Col. Gun. c.
ngham, Capt. Treat B. Camp, First Lieu. T
d Thomas E. Evans, 'ou 81
At the time of the attack none Of the enns y
Fort johnson were mined towards the aa
ncn, but they have since been moved 40 as r
point In that direction. There is no donbt II
AZ me expedition would have been com ii
10y eaIeess1ul puI Tor the unfortunate ac- 7