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: "f Jft-K A fl W__B U LI a. fORTROYAL,SATtaU>AY, FEbI 7, 186A L_ , ' . 1 The AcuiETEXKxrs OF the Colored Troofs.We yield a considerable portion of our paper to . day to the report of Col. Higginson, whose expert dition returned from the St. Mary's ltiver a week a. o. From all accounts the negroes acted bravely throughout the fight, or series of fights, which they had with the enemy. It was difficult to keep them in ine; but this difficulty arose from their ardor an 1 their zeal, rather than from cowardice or fear. As bushwhackers they realized the highest expectations of their friends. They brought away ~ with them no small amount of captured property, and left behind such evidences of their determination as must be convincing to the rebels, if not to ourselves, of the fact that negroes can be made effective soldier.'. In a nocturnal contest with a company of rebel cavalry, at quai ters so close that bayonets were used, thirteen saddles were emptied and the enemy put to utter rout; and in d spending the river St. Mary's, many a confederate sharpshooter was brought down by Sambo s unerring aim. But the saddest feature of the expedition was the death of Captaiu A. P. Clifton, commaudcr of the steamer John From Major Brucn, of Gen Saxton's staff, we learn concerning this sorrowful event some particulars which are unnicntioned in Col. Higginson's report. It was on Thursday, the 20th, while returning homeward, that he was shot. He was standing ouUide the > wheel-house, care.ess of the leaden stotm about h in, when a minie ball entered his bia'n and another struck him in the abdomen. He fell and never spoke again. The fatal shot was fired by a sharpshooter concealed in a tree-top on the bank. 'I ho Lifter's rifle had .vcareelv been discharged v.h n one of the negroes drew a bead on him, and down he tumbled to the ground. Captain Ciifton h.ul served iu this department since its occupation by our forces. Having in former years been a pilot between Charleston, Savannah, and New York, his intimate knowledge of tiie coast re ! dercd his services unusually valuable. Added 10 this he was as geni il and open-hearted as he was crave and cool-headed. He was a true friend, as well as a true patriot. I'jh): hi> family, ie i !ents of Beaufort, the news of his death must have fallen overwhelmingly. In common with cverv one in the Depa:tment, we t.nder them what condolence our heartfelt sorrow and sympathy inav give. Thk Cu aelks ton At fair ?The Galveston affair, in which the rebels were so successful, seems to have revived for the time being, the rebel navy, and on Saturday last, January 31st, it manifested an unexpected degree of vitality at Charleston, | and decidedlj^at our expense. The vague rumors of rebel iron clads have become to us, by the recent foray, painful facts. Briefly, the facts are these : On Saturday morning about half past four o'clock, the look-out on the gunboat Merced ia, Capt. Stellwagen. one of the cordon of blockaders otf Charleston bar, discovered through the foggy obscurity of the morning a strange craft, bearing down on the ship from the direction of Charleston^ and only a f.-w hundred yards distant. The guns were immediately trained upon the suspicious vessel, the Captain was called, and preparations made to slip cable, for chase. On nearing, she was hailed, but no respouse elicited. Instantly she was hailed for the second time, and a third, and a fourth, and ordered to stop or she would be fired bhell . " steam. The jmjTOtlle^tselfexpl^^I<>:: the other ' side of the ship, and killed the gunner, Mr. Aniee,; , in his state room. Tho Alercediti was at once i disabled, and began rapidly to sink from the water ! running iuto her through the ragged and yawning hole in her side caused by the prow of the rani. ' 'Ihe rain having taken her position under the quar. ter of the Merceditat where the guns could not bo brought to bear upon her, demanded the latter's sur- [ render. After some parley, this demand was acceded to, and in compliance with an order from the rebel, a boat was sent to her from the Merced it a, J in charge of Lieut. Com. Abbott, the executive ! officer of the ship. Lieut. Abbott gave the parole ! demanded for the officers and men of the Mercidita, j and returned to his ship which was supposed to be ! | in a sinking condition, beyond all help. Tho ram , having concluded matters with the Merced In, stood ' out to meet the Keystone Slate, Commander LeRov, which had observed the Mercedita,s signals, and was coming down like a bird upon the wing, to ; run the audacious rebel down. Her guns were in I full play and well directed. The rebel replied J sharply, and succeeded in hitting tho Keystone j State, when within flvo hundred yards of her, aud coming at the rate of twelve miles an hour, head | on. The rifle-shot did the work, and checked the Keystone State full in her course, by blowing up one of her boilers, and scattering death and destruction about it. The Keystone State, having lost her motive power, stopped, aud the water rushing out of one of her boilers, slut Jreeled over almost on her beam's end, in which position the reb? * W/vn C/\?? ii ? i-.iicik nt*n< t#n() Cl lain ur^ U|a/u ivi uirai 11 intiiu iim iuuiuiv^ striking her rapklly anil occasioning considerable loss. AH the guns that could be worked were kejrt uninterruptedly at play by the Keystone Slate, against the iron-clad, but w ithout avail. She was ; evidently getting the worst of the affair, crippled and helpless as she was, when the Memphis and Hoiuatonic closed down, the former taking the Keystone State in tow, out of immediate danger, ; and the latter opening with heavy guns on the ram. The latter, not fancying the aspect of affairs, turned tad, and ran into Charleston Harbor. The HousaloHic drove her off, and saved the Key it ne State. TKd .nK aaiiDni<f a tOill icAn^lo/l lnwl nff I J liV/ I V W I ? I/V/IIOV1 A Ollll lUI^VI ll\MIVIUV4j ItllU vu at commendable distance, and engaged the fleet at long taw, doing no damage. Both retreated to the cover of their batteries, safe for the present against attack. The casualties i n the Keystoue Slate were killed, 20; wounded 21; among the former was the surgeon of the ship. On the Mercedita, three were killed or have since died ; and three wounded. Both ships were towed to this port where they will undergo necessary repairs to boilers and hulls. The New Ironsides (Ironclad Frigate) and Powhatan were immediately despatched to augment the squadrou, and prevent a ronotitiiin nf tli* rtienator Additions to the Signal Corps.?By a recent order from Department headquarters, Lieutenants John M. Head, 8d X. H. Volunteers, Marshal P. Hawkins, 3d N. H. Volunteers, Thomas K. Weber, 9,"th Pa. Volunteers, and Thomas II. Carrique, 3d R. I. Volunteers, have been detailed as Acting Signal officers, with orders to report to Lieut. Tuft f r instruction in the code. * Discharged.?Surgeon W. H Tanner, of the 47th New York, has been honorably discharged from the service on account of disabil tv. The Surprise o?i the Stoso River?Loss or tub Gex-Boat Isaac Sjoth.?On the afternoon of the 3! st nit. the orun-ltoat Itaac Smith. IJeuten ant Commander Connovers, steamed from ber anchoAge a^tho mouth of the t-tono, np that river, tQ make .he usual daily ireconnoisau:;e, in order to observe the operations of the rebels on either 'hank. She passed up three or four miles, without seeing, so far as her conduct shows, any new signs of the enemy. She came to anchor for a short time, a ul then started to return to her post, where she had left the Commodore McDono.igh, Lieutenant Commander Bacon, her consort, hbe had not proceeded far, before the enemy opened upon her with three batteries, planted on either side of the river, which they had carefully concealed from view and only uumasked when tliey were enabled to get a cross lire upon the Isaac * with. Some of the guns were evidently pieces of considerable calibre. The Isaac Smith immediately returned the fire, and continued her course down the river for fifteen or twenty minutes, when she was disabled by the explosion of licr boiler from (he enemy's guns, and ran ashore, iu such a position that her guns could not be brought to bear upou the rebel batteries. In this position after sustain ing a while the heavy and probably destructive fire of the enemy, she struck her colors. Meanwhile the Commodore McDonough had slipped her cable on the discharge of the first gun, and steamed rapidly up to the aid of the Isaac Smith. But she was not able to reudcr any assistance. An explosion was observed on the Isaac Smith, probably from the boiler, and she was then seen to run ashore. The McDoiiough on getting within range, opened on the rebels, and continued her fire until darkness closed down. She then returned down ttie river, and on the following morning, she again pushed up and resumed her fire on the rebel positions. Having expended most of her ammunith n she was finally withdraw n and came to this port to report to Admiral DuPont, and replenish her magazines. She lias since returned to her station at Stono. When last seen the I. aac Smith was surrounded by three tugs from Charleston, which had come through the Wappoo cut, which were engaged in removing guns, munitions, fee., from her, p:eparatory to towi.:g her to the city. They hare doubtless anchored her before this, along side of one of the Charleston docks, and we shall probably soon see her cruising around with the rebel Hag living, about the harbor of that city. The loss on the Isaac Fmith was doubtless considerable. bhe carried a heavy battery very well in smooth water, but like many of the purchased ships, now in the navy, was unfit for a deep sea cruiser. Originally she was a North River catttle barge, and was unfitted to sustain a sharp action. She was gallantly fought, and succumbed ou.'y at the last. Promotions.?The following promotions have recently been made in the New York Volunteer Engineers, Col. E. W. Serrell. We understand that by a recent order from the War Department this regiment is to be increased to three battalions of six hundred men each, entitling it to three Majors: Captains James E. Place and Fred. E. Graef, to be Majors; 1st Lieutenants Thomas B. Brooks and John L. Suess to be Captains; 2d Lieutenant Henry M. Dalrymple, to be 1 st Lieutenant and Adjutant; 2d Lieutenants Charles T. Hartman, George Edwards, Otto Vamum, Thomas P. Rush by, Wilson Bruyn, J. S. Baldwin and Vincent Brown, to be 1st I jeutenants; Sergeant P. McGuire (Regular) to be 1st Lieutenant; Sergeants J. H. HaiTold, 0. S. Wilken, N. M. Edwards, James Baxter and Henry Mehlis, to be 2d Lieutenants. ?Privates George W. Bailey and David Bailey, Co. T, 6th Connefcticut Volunteers, have been commissioned as Second Lieutenants in a regiment of Missouri Volunteers. Rxsionation.?The resignation of second Lieutenant W. C. Williams, 5oth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was accepted on the 2(1 instant.