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* . -j?EVV -Av A, ?v PORT BOYAL SATURDAY OCT. *3, 1W2. The Pocotaligo Expedition An expedition was dispatched from this place last Tuesday Cot. 21srt, to a place called McKay's Point, at the junction of the Broad and Pocotaligo rivers, twenty miles from the mouth of the Broal river, tor the purpose of penetrating inland as far as the line of the Charleston and Savannah R. R., and destroying the bridges at Coosawhatchie, Pocotaligo and Salkahetchie?although the destruction of the bridges was not accomplished, still the expedition was not entirely without important re? ? ? t e.M c suits ana cannot *>.; saia totws iauure. a us lmc employed for the work consisted of nine gun-boats under command of ('apt. Chas. Steedraanand seven transports carrying trcrope. ' The land force consisted of 4500 men commanded by Gen. S. M. Bran nan. Following is a 1 istpf the vessels and the number of troops each transported :? Paul Jones. Flagship, (Sa&les Steedm.ix, Commanding. Connemaugh 350 men - Wlaaahkfcen 250 " . Patroon, 50 " Uoctt, 50 " Marblehead 230 " Vixen 70 " Water-witch, 130 Ben Deford, (transport.) 300 ?' - Boston, 830 M Darlington, " 300 " Belief and 8chooner 203 " Flora, M ..: 30ft " Oeo. Washington " 250 " Planter, " .? 300 M The land force was composed as follows: 47th Pennsylvania, 600 men, CoL Good, lt []m | 400 " jjlllfr c > ? mWMWSn^ Ml iiinuinu, comprising 1st Brigade and commanded by Gen. Braxs.vs, 74th Pennsylvania, 430 man. CoL Strawbridge. 7th Connecticut, 600 " " Hawley, 3d New Hampshire, 480 " " Jackson, - Volunteer Engineers, 250 " " Serrell, 3d B. L Artillery, 300 " " Brown, comprising the 2d Brigade and commanded by Gen. Terbt. There Was in addition to this force a battery of four 10 . pounder Parrot Guns (1st U. 8. A.) under command of Lieut Henry, and three Howitzers from the Wabash. The expedition sailed soon after midnight and the troops were all landed at McKay's Point the next morning, with the exception of 800 men of the 48th New York Yols. under Col. Barton, together with 50 men of the 3d R. I. Artillery, who proceeded on the Steapner Planter to the month of the Coosawhatchie River. Capt. Gray of the 7th New Hampshire Regiment with a small force of men in boats, had been sent in the night to surprise and capture the rebel pickets stationed at McKay's Point. He failed to * accomplish his purpose, however, and the picket ted to give the alarm of our approach. This rendered Gen. Brannan anxious to posh forward before the rebels could muster sufficient force to frustrate his. designs. The next morning our forces commenced to land at McKay's. The landing commenced at 7 o'clock and by 10 o'clock Gen. Terry's brigade was on themfrch and following Gen. Brannan who was in the advance. The day was toe and the road good, but our progress was ~ - ... LM. AL. slow, frequent stoppages oeing m&ae wmre uie scouts reconnoitered in front. The greater portion of our road was through open fields?cotton fields overgrown with rank weeds and tall grass? while the country through which we passed and the few houses we saw appeared utterly deserted. Everything appeared dead and going to decay; not a human being was to be seen, nor a living animal to give animation to the dreary landscape. After three hours' marching, we had penetrated some five miles into the oonntry, when upon emergH| Ml A*** tafe * Of* qpa* ferwn i fr itl upon tlic advj^ by a bat cry, in gr.od posi-' ti >n, and hiddowby th-' tall, rank grasi? which fringed the road. > The^Tth Penn*)vunla Regt., Col. Good, which was in the advancv immediately f? rmcd in line ami after do^cdB fig well directed volley, cha g- j ed uj?on the |lteryf cheering in gallant style; 1 4**" 4fa/rimnnf ('nl Rt?ll_ ( Wl.liv IIJU till ?1.C^ fiMlip.iliV ivguuvu.f V w.. ? , which followed rt.il, deployed cn either side as skirmishers. Thcrebels made b.t a short stand here, retiring aften slight resistance to the woods just in their rear, fcere they took up a still stronger position. Hoe, protected by the trees and the thick brush, am having in their favor all the advantages of the gnnnd and position, they made a bold and deterouffd stand; but they were soon obliged to give way >efore the impetuous bravery of oqr troops, wboa^ain charged upon them and drove them slowly Ifcore them. While re:reating they kept up a bi isflfeL conUuuoua firing, .taking advantage of every jood position for their artillery whi.'e their sharp-iheters, protected by the treesi and their kuowledg&hfttie ground, kept up an irregular, but harrtpwft fire of musketry. Our troops successively ihargmg upon them and dislodging them, in Mil way drove them a distance of nearly four miles, fcotbe bridge which crosses the Pocotaligo river, b<w a short distance from the village, the rebels d<ggedly contesting every inch of ground. Here tk^. managed to make good their retreat across tie river and destroy the bridge nftoa tViom tKno .onkdiiff the nassasre of the river, ",tVI M ? .. 0 which, though narqjfcte some iilWu feet deep, impracticable to otafaopa. The opposite shore being steep and higfibflered peculiar advantages, and they were able te hold their position until reinforcements came tij their aid. The scbrill whistle of the locomotivcnras heard ?mid tbe booming of the cannon, the bursting of the shel.s and the ring of the musketry,?and sixteen cars loaded with troops were seen coming into tbe village ol Pocotaligo, only a short distance beyond the scene of the conflict. The rebels were reinforced, b.d our brave troops, held their ground with admirable bravery, until night&fl, when their ammunition ffn mnna<*--? fVtir *? 1 *- <?4 This they did by degrees, and in excellent order, taking with them the dead and wounded, which on account of the want of ambulances and indeed all means of transportation^ were carried on stretchers to the point of debarkation a distance of fully ? miles. The 47th Pennsylvania and the oth Connecticut regiments protected the retreat, and displayed undaunted heroism and bravery throughout " ' * 1 TV-v 47.C Donn .oorimunt hfino me wnoie anair, iuc >? iu * vuu. tve<u.v?. ?...e in the advance, suffered severely, but their excellent behavior on the held drew forth general admiration. The 76th Pennsylvania and the 7th Connnectieut also acted with exceeding bravery and coolness. The 6d New Hampshire though not actively participating in the fight, were under a hoi fire, and deported themselves with coolness and bravery. The retreat was made by our troops ir excellent order, and reflects credit, not only on the troops, but also on Geo. Brannan. The rear guard did not leave the field until midnight, and gained McKay's point towardsmorning. In the morning the troops were embarked, under cover of the gunboats?the wounded being first to receive attention During the embarkation the rebel pickets ,mad( their appearance at the edge of the woods, in tb< rear, but were soon driven back by a few shelli 1 ?- tuuxns irorp pmhartp/ irom out gun-ooju?, ouu wo uw^> in good order. We are unable to itate with certainty what wa< the strength of the enemy; but from all we car learn, we are inclined to think the force first en gaged consisted of about one thousand men, witl a strong battery of not less than five pieces of ar tillery, and a small force of cavalry. This force however, was subsequently reinforced by at leas three thousand fresh men. Our loss in killed anc wounded, is severe, but not nearly so heavy aswai at first estimated ?-probably not more than flftj killed, and two hundred and fifty wounded. Poring the progress of these operations at thi ^ \ point CoL Barton, <>f the Forty-eighth New York Ke .iment, with 34)9 t>f hie men md 50 men of the 0(1 Rhode Islnrwl Artillery, under Capt. G ould, made liia way, on the rtexnwer Ptanier, up fTnevCowawhatchie river, and landed at 2 o'clock, ?n the left bank of the river, within two miles of the town of the same name, with fihe intention of creating a 1 diversion at that point, awd destroying the bridge there if possible. They wctc accompanied, ior several miles up the river,by the gun-boats PatrooiiT and Uncas; and in addition fo thfs protection the P*atiltr carried an armament of four bean y guns. Having landed his small force, together with on small howitzer, Col. B irton made his way through the woods to the ma n road ami pushed forward to'^^P i Coosawhatcie. Upon approaching tire rallrofd the whistle of a locomotive was beard, and they hurried forward and reached the line of the railroad, just as a train loaded with troops was passing 'I hey delivered a Jpltey with musketry and with their howitser at tie am, hJUnfthc engtoasdyfcidu em* j tiag great confusion and eofewteifeaCkm among the passengers. They were Unable to stop the progress of the train, however, and immediately set, to work to tear up thj track and cut the telegraph wires. After doing a slight damage to the road, *h#>v ??r?flavored to make their way to the bridge, in order to dettroy it, but they tound it so strongly protected with three pieces of artillery, that tbey were obliged to return. Col. Barton, now fearing that a longer delay would render bim liable to have his re reat eat off by a force from GrahaiuviUe, made tbe beat ofhhway back to b|a boat pursued by cavalry,whb bbfSywilowcd them down to the bank of tbe river and fired upm them, severely wounding Lieut. J. B. Blanding, ,dH. I. Artillery. They we e soon driven l ack however, with a broadside of canister and shell, wi.ich create ! great i slaughter among them. Co]. Barton succeeded ir re-embarking bis men and rejoining the fleet at f McKay's point, without the loss of a single man? i bringing with him one prisoner, 30 muskets and the ; colors ot the Whippy Swamp Guard, (S. C. V ) i taken from the color-: earer, who was siiot, and fell i from the cars They also destroyed fifteen musa ?ln ' p i**?9 la ? wji. *" ''iM , closely pursued by the enemy. i n ? i_.i .u;? ?*v ? jjtriurt* cuiupieuu^ IUM ramui FKKWJ <K/WUU? ' we would state that Lieutenant Henry's bat1 tery did most efficient serivce and Lieutenant ' Henry himself displayed signal heroism and ' intrepidity. During the engagement his horse ' was shot under hiss, but be fortunately escaped 1 without injury. One of hrs pieces was struck by & ? well directed shell of the enemy, which exploded ' killing one man instantly and wounding four others. ' This gun however was not damaged and was subse' quently worked by Ibree men only, who did their ^ duty nobly. All unite hi testifying to the coolness ' and presence of mind displayed by both Generals " Brannan and Terry, who were continually on the 1 field, and often in tne tmckest or tne ngnt. Liieui* 1 Loyd Phoenix, of the Wubjth, who was in Cora' mand of the howitzers, together with Ensigns t Wallace and La Hue Adams, did good duty and t distinguished themselves. > Col. L. S. Chatfield and Lieut. Col. John Spi' dell of the 6th Connecticut Regt., were both > wounded while bravely leading on their commands 5 We are happy to state, however, that their wounds ; are not of a dangerous nature. On the field we ' were constantly near Dr. Baily, and noticed that . I his attentions to the wounded were unceasing. The zealous manner in which he performed his j duties is deserving of mention. We also noticed l Dr. Merritt on the field, who performed his duties - so faithfully as to call forth Complimentary com 7\.. I 1 111CIU9 11 Will 1/1* uaki.j . It may not be out of place, perhaps, to close this , account with a short exposition of the original t plan of the expedition. The force which landed 1 at McKay's point, was to march to Pocataligo, and s there to separate, General Brannan, pushing for. f ward to Salkahetchie, to destroy the railroad bridge which crossesIhe river at that point, while Gen. Terry 9 did the same at focotaligo. In. the meantime Col.