New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-18
Coucspoudenee Of The y. Y. Tribune.
HILTON HEAD. 5. {,

y. I.
HILTON HEAD 5. c.. May IA, 1854.
The most interesting news from this Depart
men at present is the destruction Of the Harriet A
Weed armed transport IN the -. Johns River by
torpedo ON the 9Th inst and The present and prospec
tive changes In command Of the Department and It's
several posts
In regard the latter II is definitely known that
the next steamer to arrive from the North is expected
to bring MaorGon. Foster, who will assume the chief
command On Monday last May 9. Brig. Gen. VIM.
Birney relieved from the command OF the District
Of Florida by Brig Gen. Gordon. Gen Birney has this
day taken command OF the forces upon Morris Island
Probably. III successor % Gen. Birney could
have been selected than the officer who has relieved him.
Brig. Gen Gordon. during his stay upon Folly Island.
distinguished himself by the mnuteness of detail be had
acquired In hs knowledge II the position and forces Of
Island be contemplated no one could be more competent
to direct II than he.
Among the minor changes recently made is the appoint,
ment OF Col. HIM Hoyt I'D Pennsylvania. to the com
mand Of the post AZ Hilton Head rics Cob {. L.
Brayton. III II. l. Artillery whose duties Ms Chief Of
Artillery upon the staff Of Brighten Hatch Justly
claim his whole time and attention The fitness Of both
officer In their several positions is generally conceded
DESTRUCTION OF THE HAERIEr A. WEED.
About $3.50 q. m. on Monday last May 9, tile Harriet
A. Weed. army transport, armed with two guns, was
blown up and sunk by collision with two torped0es In
the ST. Johns River of Cedar Creek far from the
military post Ut Yellow Bluff. about ten miles from
Ills is the first instance known Of orpeaocs having
been planted below Jacksonville in the seward route
The Maple Leaf and Gen. Hunter were destroyed above
Jacksonville. In regard 10 loss Of life this has been
the most serious disaster Of the kind Five lives were
lost. and three men were wounded Among the bodies
that rescued one that had the ring oi chain
forced through it, thus proving the force Of the tx.
plosion. Immediately after tie shock the vessel sank
in mid channel
The Harriet A. Weed was commanded by Capt
Nichols and had beca Of great use as patrol boat
She was built much after the fashion Of "a New York
harbor tug and very strong and swim. When the
accident happened she had In tow the COast Survey
schooner Caswe. Capt, W. II. Dennis Of the latter
Immediately lowered bis boats and picked up the sur
yyors.
The large steam-transport Boston. Capt Farclcth
had passed very To the spot where the Weed met
her fate not many minutes before She a less than
800 yards distance AZ the moment Several Indies, in
GLIDING the wife Of Mr. Severance Collector Of the Port
AT Hilton Head board at the time their way
10 ST. Augustine, from Jacksonville. Had tho Boston
been the victim, instead of the Weed the loss Of life
would probably have been much larger.
Gen. Brney had arranged for the patroling If the
river, between Jacksonville and the bar; aud had he
been properly seconded BY the Commanders Of the
Navy gunboats the destruction OF the Weed might not
have happened. The MaLa,ka gunboat had been de.
tailed 10 guard this pat Of the river and TO picket with
small bouts Cedar, Dunns aud Trout Greeks. On sun
day afternoon she went TO Jacksonville, for coal of
which mono there 10 be had One OF the officers on
board took the opportunity 10 get married IN Jackson
Vile aud the officers Of the gunboet present the
ceremony While the Mahaska was away from her |
station the Rebels stole out OF Cedar Creek, and planted
the torpedOes where they next morning, exploded. |
Instant investigations foot by Gen Brney elected
the that fourteen torpcd0es had been conveyed
the Rebels andward 10 Cedar Creek and from some OF
these, Is supposed the disaster resulted force OF
the 9Th u. D. C. 4. have since explored the country
the north aud sides of tho rNe err 10 lind the Rebels
who are engaged In planting internal machines; and
portions Of the regiment picket and watch other
points the mouth Of the river not under the guard
Of the gunbOats.
PARTIC 4 LARS OF THE LATE RAID BY GEN. BIRNEY
On the morning of the Goth Of April Cen Birney
vile in the army transport Mary Benton followed from
Picolna by three companies of the l57th ~ v under
command OF Lieut. Col Carmichael boar, the Harriet
A. Weed. Arriving of Pilaka, recently evacuated by
the Union forces the Rebel pickets were seen 10 rn
precipitately. The force landed at a point called
Weacca about Is miles above JaoksOny He ON the east
side Of the st Johns River. To this point Col Harris
Df the 18th Ohio. Il mounted regiment had been or.
iered with portion of his command. lie was detached
10 ST. Augustine, and thence by the upper ST. Augustine
road into Volusin County. Gen Brncy with his In.
antry. followed to support the mounted force nor.
lion Of the nth Connecticut under Col. Noble also
marched Ia the immediate OF the 18th Ohio from
81. Augustine over the lower road aud in their nrog
Tess captured outpost Of the enemy near Volusia
making prisoners Of the Rebels there stationed Union.
SITS not interfered with the march bur the
portable property OF all ayowed Rebels WINS con6scated
and large amount of cattle, horses vehicles &C re.
aimed for the u. ). Quartcrmasters department
The Rebel partisan ranger Dickerson cor Dickinson)
With 400 Of his native Florida cavalry rode as far as
Fort Gates and crossed part Of his force but ON learn
ng forces, he prudenty withdrew his men from the
'ast side Of the river and betook himself westwardly
With all venent dispatch. The forces having com.
lined penetrated far as smyrna the east Of
forida aud seized two schooners laden with cotton
repaired " run the blockade Here also was captured