The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-03-08
CHARLESTON.

Report OF the Capture OF Fort White
Fiftcen Guns Takcn-A Force Sent Up
Black River TO Open Communication
with General Sherman, &c.
WAsHN ON, March I, 1865
The Navy Department has received Official report
from Admiral Dahlgren OF possession of Georgetown
The report dated "Flagship Harvest Moon George
town, c., February 2s in which he says:-Under date
Of February 20 appraised the department tat the naval
forces under my command had taken possession of
Georgetown As soon as the occupation Of Charleston
left my thoughts and means at liberty gave my aten
ton to this point as likely be tho preferable comnu
ncation for General Sherman such desra
bic before entering North Carolina Accordingly soon
began to collect suitable force from this station.
The McDonough, Geranum and two launches were or
dered into the santee riverbcng the only ones OF the
class OF vessels which pass tho bar Of the river
On tho I'D the Pawnee ordered 10 Georgetown,
and all the marines could collect were embodied in
battalion the object being to pass up the santee with
this body Of men, take the road to Georgetown that ira
verses the Of tho rebel works. and assault It while
the vessels attacked the front The infantry TO DO
under the command Of Commander Stanly assisted by
Lieutenant Commander Williams.
On the 23d Of February the Pawnes crossed the bar
and joined the Mngoe and Nipsc within, upon which the
rebels abandoned the battery. The White and Nngoe
steamed up the bay and took possession.
The marines were landed, and tho municipal anthori-
lies rendered their submission to the government Of the
Union
The battery mounted fifteen guns
Admiral Dahgren calls the special attention Of the do
partment to Lieutenant Soddard Of tho Marines who
acquitted himself with credit and has command OF
the largest force OF marines that has been collected to-
gether for some mo He did good service in the field
with the marines Of the feet brigade a Birds Neck,
Tulinnny
Commander Stcllwsgen, Of the sloop Pawnee, In hls
report says has sent detachment Of marines under
Lieutenant Breesc Of the United States Marine corps to
occupy the fort He also says:-1 have directed Com
mandsr Creighton proceed carefully up Black river,
and have despatched the tug Catapa with Lieutenant
Commander Henry and Ensign Glass prepared to open
communication by the army Gods Of signals, with Gen
Sherman, who is said to be some twelve miles off,
Admiral Dahlgren has issued an order for the main
OF the authority OF the United States in George
town He first says-"Conformably to the laws Of the
United States slavery longer exists within tho limits
OF the Union Persons residing there who thus become
freemen will In future enjoy the fruits OF their own
labor"
The department has received Information OF the cap
ure OF the blockade Dcerprse TO the Monad mock
and others-lu Charleston harbor, on February Is
Arrival OF the Steamship Savannah.
The steamship Savannah c. @. Comstock commander
from Hilton Head c., with dates 70 the 4th inst, hes
arrived She experienced strong gales from the northward
Mr. Daniel Leary 10 o passenger, and II the special
bearer OF very important dispatches from General CHI
moro 70 the War Department. Tho Savannah brings So
vannah and Charleston papers Of tho LIST and I'd instant
which contain nothing new OF importance.
The steamships Fulton and Commander arrived cut on
the I'd instant
The Charleston Courier of the ID says:-An olnccr Of
shcrmans army in Charleston taking initiative stops
towards raising regiment OF white troops there
number OF families, which had removed b9yond the
city limits had returned with their household goods
The Savannah Republican OF the I'd contains Governor
Browns message In FULL OF which abstracts have been
published from Richmond papers.
Arrival OF the United states Steamer KEN
sington.
Tho United States steamer Kcnslngton Acting Master
John r. Rockwell commanding, arrived ~ this port yes
terday morning from Port Royal Sd inst The health Of
tho squadron Is good Tho Ksnsington left New York
February o., with passengers and four hundred and
ninety -four FOR the South Atlantic squadron, arriving
In Port Royal March T. where she detained twenty
four hours to make necessary repairs TO engine.
The following is q list OF her otncers:-
Acting Master Commondiny--John E. Rockwell.
Act,ag Xcstr and Ecscttir: Ofcer--Thomas ID. Babb
Acting Lssist1n Pdyma,ter-JohnF Wood.
Acting Ass,siani Su geo,s-yohn Flynn.
dcing Elsigns-Isaac ID Pease, William II. Williams,
Joseph y. Stctson, Henry Curwen and G. A. Babcock.
Frgif.ssrs-Aciing First Assistant IN charge I. W.
Conner; Acting Second Assistants, Robert Wallace aud
Harry Miller; Acting Third Assistants, Thomas u. Bar.
rctt and Rob'rt Whitehii
ldptaias Cicrk--char KnappmanD.
Pdynaaer's Clsk-Frederick q. Kiider
Ao.iag Masters Aa,es-James West and Eugene Nc
Carly.