The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-19
4 Skirmish Near st. Angus.
time, Florida.
NEW YEARS DAY In SOUTH CAROLINA,
ks., Ice. ~.

NEW YEARS DAY In SOUTH CAROLINA,
The United States transport steamer Arago, Captain
Gadsden arrived at this port yesterday, with dates from
Port Royal and Stone Inlet January Is. The Is
unlmportant. General Gilmore is about TO his
headquarters to Hilton Head where he will quietly await
the spring to his operations The rebel
rams al Charleston threaten naval forces with
raid, which Admiral Dahgren is preparing for.
Tho Arago brings sevcnty-four first and hundred
and ninety second class passengers and the usual mails
Among the Arago's passengers Brigadier General
vogdes, Brigadier General Aiken and Captain Ammen OF
the United States Navy, and seven rebel prisoners
letter from Doboy Sound, Georgia. dated January 3,
announces the capture by the gunboat Huron OF the
British ship sivanus After being repeatedly sheiled
and well ridded the silvanus ashore and sunk
in fathom water and low tide leaves her nearly dry
and may DO repaired She about four hundred tons
burthen and is loaded with salt, spirits Of all kinds
cordage, sc. She trying TO run In and suddenly
changed her mind upon seeing the Huron and tried
run out Her papers made her out to be from Nassau
n p, and bound osensiby to Bermudas. Her captain
acknow lodged that sho is a blockade runner.
Joseph strobcll, Of the Fifty fifth Pennsylvania volun
teers, shot for deserton at Beaufort the 9th OF
January. II Is stated In the narration Of his execution
that while in jail under Of DEATH strobe was
offered by Of the guards opportunity 70 escape,
which he refused.
Purser Granejean viii accept our thanks for late pa.
pers and other favors.
mr.. Oscar q. sawyer's Dispatches.
FOLLY ISLAND, 8. O., Jan. 10, 1864.
IHB SITUATION.
Charestonwards there has been but little doing since
my last communication We have not fred upon Sumter
for several weeks past as that work about well
maintained indefinitely.
The rebels, who cling to II with so much tenacty have
evidently not lost great deal Of time erecting some sort
OF defences protection within the work. which will in
measure them, 10 Of another bombardment
II may not be considered beyond the bounds Of possibility
that they have succeeded in placing some
guns 10 position behind these new dcfcnces,
by which they will be enabled to hold the
fort against assault escalode. We
ment at all; but bombproofs or Sartello towers
within the work, whatever the deierccs may be,
which may be discerned without the aid OF glass, arc
large enough TO guns small cabre such could
DO ell used against stormng column. However,
do not propose TO attempt take tho fort IN tho mode
suggested the abors Of the reools not likely inter
fore with any plans that may have been formed by Gen
Gill more.
Is somewhat desuory. Further experiments have been
made with Col. Bells method OF using nccndary Shells
and they proved decidedly successful COL Bell has
succeeded in exploding ipcendary shells in the city
with the and certainty that observed 10
ordinary shell practice There TO be trouble
attending his experiments, and II tffc composition
worth a copper gratifying results might follow. As u
s the damage inflicted by hre is comparatively insignia
can't when Get hold Of the right kind Of Dcendiary
composition, and explode IL in the right spot may be
able to start ccnlagration that will leave nothing bu,
mass Of ashes and rubbish to mark the spot which
the proud city Of Charleston stands There good
for ingenious chemists the
oy which this desirable contamination may DO attained
II has not yet been discoy ercd
RAID MEAN 81 AUGUSTINE.
Small parties o. wood clippers under gu,rd, have
been 10 the habit ~ gong out INTO the country from ST.
Augustine and beyond the picket lines for the purpose
Of gathering fuel for the Of the garrison. They have
never been attacked nterferred with until Wednesday,
the 30th OF last month Toe usual fatigue party then
out attended by guard double the usual strength made
up OF details from the Tenth Connecticut and the twenty
fourth Massachusetts, regiments there had been
Of an intended attack the party by Dckesons company
Of cavalry from the 81 Johns The guard numbered
twenty i've men, and tho wood-choppcrs, also armed,
tbes The fatigue party in wagons. % reach.
ing point about five miles from the town sudden FIRE
was opened Oh the party from ambush both sides the
road, which wounded one two. Lieutenant Walker, Of
the Twenty fourth Massachusetts, who command
Of the guard attempted 10 make successful light but
avail. The rebels hundred strong and bad the
advantage Of o surprise. Tho result 81 the adair
was that Lieut.. Walker mortaily wounded and a
private named Burns, Company ], Tenth Connecticut,
killed; two others In the detachment we're woun ded
and twenty Eve taken prisoners Of which the Tenth
Connecticut lost twenty.one and the twenty soifih
4assscEusetts four On Information bong received
Of the AFFAIR a strong force was sent out from tho
town 70 overtake the enemy; bot tho latter, teins
mounted, escaped Lieutenant walkor found and
brough. into town, whore he died two days after. Hls
remains 90 North on the Arago to-day. he had been
recently promoted 70 his position from sergeant for
general good conduct and nnc soldierly quales Thc
rebels treated our wounded, whom they paroed with
great kindness. They made no attempt 70 rob hs but
left watches and purses the bodies 81 the dead Dick
erson placed his saddlebass under Lieut. walkers
head, and expressed bis regret that be was enable 70
make him more comfortable
a NAVAL kavspuos.
The navy sent an expedition q three steamers 10 Nor
rcs Inlet little south % the North Carolina lice, for
the purpose OF chasng the rebels Whereabouts for their
capture OF OF Tho brig rcrrys beats time ago
The feet rlst with gales all the way up and while there,
but succeeded IN throwing ssbore through tho breakes
after much labor, detachment a marines and sailors
and couple Of guns. The rebel cavalry post ~
fed after mssinga chow Of defence, and cur force I'd
vanced large schooner observed al anchor The
inlet, and had boats by which they could
reach II, IL determined 10 destroy a. half adose0
sholls were thrown into H. the third o. when sct ne
vessel Ore and destroyed i, The schooner
loaded with cotton, turpeainc and rosn and was worth
hundred thousand dollars After this matter
accomplished the party returned 10 The chip and
tho expedition came back 10 Charleston,
HEADQUARTERS 10 M Rsao,Ep.
II IL understood that headquarters 70 DO removed
in few days frcm this island 70 Hilton Head. Active
operations are sbou. suspended IN she quarter, and