The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-01-08
AWAY DOWN SOUTH.
Action at Port Royal Pcrry. :. C.. January !. Is

Action AT Port Royal Pcrry, \ C.. January 4. lS8s
The land forces under Gen. Sherman con-
nectcd with the great southern expedition
Immediately after the capture Of the rebel forts
Walker and Beaurcgard, AZ the entrance NJ
Port Royal, 5 C., on the 7th Of November 1861,
made no movement against the enemy until
the lst of january, 1862 Then a force under
Gen. Stevens, supported by a detachment Of
gunb0ats, was sent 10 point called Port Royal
Ferry, on The CO0saw River which separates
Port Royal Island from the mainland aud
whore the rebels bad erected some batteries
aud stationed considerable force 20 prevent
the landing and the passage Of the National
troops inland
This movement was made by Gen. Stovens's
Brigade, consisting Of the Pennsylvania Round
heads, Col. Lcasurc; the sth Mich, Col Fcnton:
the 50th Pa, Col. Crist, and the 79th " Y.
Highaudcrs, Maj Morrison commanding. The
47th \. T.. Col Frazier; and 4sth r. Y. Col.
James ii. Perry were detached from Hilton
Head aud placed under Gen. Stevens. These
formed the entire land force.
The naval force was under the command Of
Capt C. n. i. Rodgers, q the Wabash, and
consisted OF five Ruub0ats and four boats from
the Wabash. The guubOats were the Ottawa
Capt Stephens; Pcmbiua Capt Raukhead.
Seneca, Capt. Anmcu; Allen, Capt Budd, aud
r.. j. Hale; Lieut. Barnes commanding The
Nabash's boats had very important duty 10
perform, aud were IN charge Of three officers Of
the ship. Their boats carried a hoWitzer IN
their bows, aud their East duty was 10 cover
the landing Of the troops.
The Object " the movement was 30 cross the
Coosaw, capture the euemy's Qualifications, and
particularly those at the Ferry The main
f0ItiicatIOn here was erected across the head
Of tie causcway leading down 20 the Ferry,
] about 800 yards from the landing and supposed
10 contain eight or 30 guns.
Gen. Stevens plan Of attack was rs follows:
/ The guub0als Seneca aud Allen were 10 pro-
coed up Broad River aud distract the attention
of the enemy by Smelling BYvd's Neck. at the
4 junction Of Broad and Coogaw Rivers. and after
1 performing this feat 10 move on Scabrook.
which is nearer Port Royal Ferry, aud engage
/ the batteries "a that place
Previous reconnaissance had satisfied Gen
4 Stevens that the batteries 40 Seabrook could be
easily siIcuccd by the gunboats. and this being
done they were 10 land a detachment Of zoo or
4 500 men a this place, who were 20 finish the
destruction OF the oaIthW0rks aud push on bv
land along the margin OF the Coosaw River 10
] I0l Royal Ferry the guuboats Smelling the
/ ground before them as they advanced aud be-
You'd them inland ~ protect them from the at
tack Of the enemy. While all this was doing a
simultaneous movement was TO be made from
Bnckyard Crock, on the opposite side Of the
/ island.
The main body Of the troops, under Gen.
I Steycnss personal command, were 10 march
from Beaufort 10 the northeast corner Of the
| island, or as near as convenient or practicable
| thence 10 be taken across the COosaw By fats
aud boats provided aud placed on the main
land Then hey were 10 push along the Coo
saw shore, covered by the guns Of tie Pembina
and Ottawa, 20 Port Royal Ferry, when il was
calculated the expeditonary forces would be
able 10 effect junction in front OF the enemy 4
principal position.
All these plans were successfully carried out,
the rebel batteries destroyed, aud the rebel
forces at Port Royal Ferry compelled 10 fan
back into the interior with considerable loss.
The National losses were one killed and 10
wounded Of the latter Maj. Watson, Of the sth
Mich, MORALLY, while the rebel losses were be.
/ tween 80 and 40 killed aud about 70 wounded,
The auJoincd account Of this expedition is