Year: 1862

night was lost My object TO get into the river so
as to make dash up to Daren by early daylight. We
got through this obstruction between the OBJ
ktructions, midway battery had been built OF mud
with the seeming object OF firing at the vessels employed
in removing the piles, but which could not be observed
from those vessels AS we passed the second obstruc
tion and turned the river, We saw the steamers
moving of from the wharf at Darien, with full
head OF steam, going up the Altamaha river. At
sundown anchored both vessels at Doboy Island pass
ing TO reach that spot which is the Aitamaha river.
through Mud river at high water with twelve feet
We remained that day at Doboy the wind blowing quite
gale from S. w. ow. As had lost all hope Of the cap
ture OF the steamers and observing several large fires in
the neghborhood OF Darien, determined to proceed
farther at this time, more particularly as l found
that the brasses OF the Petomskas shaft bearing had
broken, and feared she might become disabled
! had indeed accomplished my object, which
TO open the inland to Daren and il the Potomska
had not been IN what fear crippled condition should
have placed her at Doboy. which commands the river
outlet or at Sapeow Island which commands the entire
entrance to the Altamaha the inland passage TO
vannah. Darien has been deserted was Brunswick.
This we learned from contrabands who or to
u.s. company OF horsemen only remaining town with
the intention OF firing the place should approach it,


lhave been from one end OF st. Simon s Island TO the
other. Bus one white is left IT, saw him. He
s with ht1 aged mother and little child. He had
never been IN the refused to leave his house. and
was IN mortal dread OF coming, the military had
informed him that camc for the purpose Of destroying
even the women and children We procured beef for the
vessels at his plantation for which paid the price he
asked and furnished the family with articles such
Coffee salt, &c.-which articles they had not even

tations on our way back. All were deserted but had
been tenanted by the military at various times, for
late as November some 500 troops quartered
st. Simons. We found Of the places TO contain
large quantities OF cattle; and at Kinds plantation,
three miles from this anchorage, counted fifty
head near where We landed AL the blacks have been
removed from St. Simons and at Doboy met the only
negro seen, who old and alone on the place. Ho
had been the father Of thirteen children but he informed
me that every had been sold they reached
eighteen years of age. and as he graphically expresses
IT, "for pocket money for his master" Your orlerd
did not embrace the reconnaissance have
just made, and which has caused delay of
several days in communicating to you my progress
to Brunswick. / hope, however, you will approve my
conduct in the matter have now cleared the passage
TO Daren from inside, which bo performed rapidly
by gunboats Of feet draft The draft Of the 70.
cahonas and Polomska rather great they might be
caught and delayed for higher tides.


now beg leave sir, to express myself in warm terms
OF commendaton for the energy and skill OF Lieutenant
Commanding Balch and Acting Lieutenant Commanding
Watmough, and for tho aid they have rendered in
the active work have been engaged in for the last
eight days, and take equal pleasure in mentioning the
cheeruness in the work Of the officers and Of tho
thr ee vessels engaged have the honor to be. &C.,


s. w. GORDON, Commander.


Flag Officer s. f. Dupont, commanding s. A blockading
squadron.