falButt. feral*. |
1,1 ?i~ i i
BT 8. W. XASOX AXD CO.
POBT ROYAL, THURSDAY, JT^iK ft, 18(1
FROM FLORIDA.
OERftiL MftHI IEWVCI BT CE5UiL
MUST.
Captmrc of Cwpa FUl(a> ui Milton
%y Oem. fior^oa.
Geo. Gordon has been relieved from
the the command of the District of Flor
ida by Gen. Birney, and -went North in
the Arago on Tuesday, with orders to
repart at Washington. Gen. Birnev has
assumed columand there, with his Headquarters
at Jacksonville.
On the 1st inst Gen. Gordon made an
important movement, which resulted in
the capture of Camps Fioigan and Milton,
the enemy retreating precipitately
to Baldwin. This was effected by advancing
in two parties, one column making
a detour, and succeeding in getting
in the rear of Cfcmp Milton.
When the second column advanced
the rebels retreated in great haste.
Gen. Gordon tpUowed them up close
to the entrenchments at Baldwin.
He destroyed both camps, and such
articles as were left behind and could not
. be removed.
At Milton he fbnnd a line of ?trench
menu two miles long, weU-huin and
very strong, with all the characteristics
of a fiist-ciaae fort. The works consisted
of rifle-pita, with bastions or blockhouses
at regular intervals. They were
entirely destroyed.
The expedition was a most successful
one, and reflects great credit on General
Gordon*
fin rail ASM MUfi BLUM.
VW1T oi1 GEN. FOOTER.
Tba Fino? City ud Fort 8mm t?r
U be iMreasM.
Msj.-Gen. Foster has recently paid a
visit to FoUy and Moris Islands, where
he found everything in satisfactory condition.
.. . *
He visited and inspected all the works,
and witnessed the flie on Sumter and on
the city of Charleston. He gave orders
to have the firing on those two points
more continuous and rapid than heretofore,
and this, has been done for several
day*.
Brig.-Gen. Schhnmelfinnig, by an ef:
fident system of boat scooting, hasneady
cleared all theereeka In the vicinity of
his District, of letafe, and has made
many captures of prisoners, eHritfng important
information.
The retail shell Morris Island quite
fariousty at times, but seldom do any
' damage.
| , . BOLD
REBEL, EXPLOIT.
CAPTVTRK OP THE OOVBOiT Wi
We are painecLto chXDnWcihe eaptnre
of the U. 8. gunboat Wlter Witch, by
the rebel* early on the morning of Friday,
the 3d. j
The Water Witch mi lying at anchor
In Wanaw Sound, all the usual precautions
having been taken to avoid surprise.
The boarding netting was up,
a vigQant watch was maintained, and
' steam kept up as usual.
The night was very (lark and hazy.
At abftxt 2 o'clock the watch detected
barges approaching. They were rOwed
by muffled oars, ana owing to the darkness,
were not seen until close upon the i
gunboat They hailed, and the response
was, to heD, ypu d?d --?The ]
alarm was promptly given, nut before |
tlie men could be called to quarters the j
boarders were on her, boarding from j
?everaf point* where the netting was
rut nway with knives. The boat would
f
doubtless have avoided the attack by
steaming away, but unfortunately she
was at auchor.'
Tiie surprise was apparently so complete
that no resistance could be mad<?
and the Water Witch was made a prize
of, with, all her officers- and creiCrJua
armament, and everything on board. II
She is a fine side-wheel steamer of
tims; carrying three 38-ponnders, beside^
howitzers. She was commanded by
Lieut.-Commander Pendenjrast.
One contraband alone escaped from
her. He jumped over-board, swan;
ashore, and afterwards communicated
with the South Carolina, where he informed
Capt. Kenneson of the affair,
and the latter sent a boat to Adminw
Dahlgren.
LATER?Rebel Account. ? Since
writing the above we learn that Savannah
papers of the 5th, received at Fort
Pulaski sav that the Water Witch wm
' captured by a party under Lieut. Pe1*f5>
who was the first man aboard, and ciit
down a sailor with a cutlass. The Lieut,
was immediately shot through the liead,
and died instantly. The rebels lost 7
killed and 12 wounded. Capt. Pendergast,
with 90 men, together with officers,
are at Oglethorpe Barracks. The Confederate
officer was shot in the back.
The deserters say the Water Witch lies
under Battery Buelie, on little Ogeechee
River. They are taking out her guns
and machinery. Deserters say Capt.
Pendergast has two colored men killed,
two wounded, and two jumped overboard.
,
. :v..z -j: ) *
NAVAL MATTERS.
Ad jural Dahlgrex has been active;
since his return from the North, in inspecting
the vessels at all the stations of
ms squadron, making this harbor his
chief rendezvous. He is making every
effort to put his fleet in the best condition
possible?sending home those seamenwhose
terms ol* service have expired.
l&OOUl OyUUU Ol WUU1U, WO ICOtll, uaic
been for some time necessarily detained,)
and also sending home for repairs such
Teasels as most require them.
The Iron-clad steamer Naliant, which
has been lying at Station Creek for about
three weeks past, undergoing repairs, has*
returned to her station with the other
Monitors, off Charleston. She was
in the late engagement with the
rebel batteries on Sullivan's Island, in
which she received some damages, which,
however, have been fully repaired. She
is at present commanded by Lieut.-Com.
JFillebrown, who recently relieved Lieut.-*
Com. Miller.
We inadvertently omitted to give the
names of the foor iron-clads which took
the principal part in the engagements
with the rebel batteries on Sullivan's
land, on the ISth and Uth alt. ., Tbew
were the Nahant, Nantucket, Sangamofif
and Passaic. The Passaic received no*
injury whatever, and the injuries to th^
Nantucket and Sangamon have already
been repaired at tneir stations, on unarleston.
The Iron-dad Lehigh, off Charleston,
has experienced quite a number of changes
of officers within a short time. Com!
Bryson was sent Ninth on account, of ill
health. .Lieut-Com. Bonce, his successor,
followed him North on leave of absence,
and since returning North has
| been happily married. Lieut-Com. Gibson,
late of the Sonoma, succeeded Lieut.Com.
Bunco, and is still in command.
He is an excellent and popular officer, a
worthy, successor bf the gallant Bunco,"
whose skillful management of the boats
which irst landed our troops on Jfhrris
Island, lias secured for him a bright page
In the history of the war in this department
Lieut.-Com. Gibson is also favorably
known in the titoary world, as the
author of a volume of poems, entitled
I .. ? trt ? _ * T, f. r J J
"A Yisiorv 01 rairy uuiu auu utucr
Poems."
Id her medical department, the Lehigh
has had, within a few weeks. Assistant
Surgeons Longshaw, White and Hamilton.
and now baa Asst. Surgeon Plant.
Acting Master Price, late oi the Sand?
ma. has been assigned to daty on boara
the Lehigh.
I' We hear that Lieut Blake is about to
relieve Lieut M. Forest, as executive-!
officer of the Lehigh hut no official an'
nounoemeut of this fact has appeared.
Lieut. Forrest is an excellent officer. He
was formerly executive officer of the
Koekuk, anil afterwards oh the staff of
Admiral Dahl^ren.
Charles Cowley, Esq., the present Paymaster
of the Lehigh, has tendered lais
resignation. We knew Mr. Cowley well
a? a skilful lawyer in Lowell
"uiwt Rrvitnn Mass where we several
The gunboat Winona, wnu.ii recently
came to Station Creek for repairs, is now
commanded by Lieut-Com. Stone, late
of the Chippewa, Lieut.-Com. Weaver
being relieved, and ordered North.
The New Hampshire is coming to Part
Royal, to relieve the Vermont which
foes North for repairs. The Wabash,
eneca, Huron and Chippewa, are also to
go North for repairs.
The steamer Geranium, commanded
by Acting Master Mori tell, is now lying
at Station Cjeck for repairs. She' has
been doing good service as advance
ecket vessel off Charleston, ever since
tt November, and ^ liad" seventysix
shots fired at her from the rebel batteries
on Sullivan's Island, only two of
which struck her. Her injuries were
trivial, and only one of her crew was
hurt, and he not seriously." Capt. Montell
has made himself thoroughly known
to the rebels, who hate him'and his
steamer ,4as the devil bates liolv water."
His recent promotion from Ensign to
Master, conferred on the request of aU
the Monitor captains, and Com. Rowan
was a Well merited but tardy recognition
| of his important services.
Two naval general courts-martial have
been sitting in this harbor for some days
i ?Ann nn ltrauri thn Vprmimt. the ntlwr
, 6n board the Canandaigua. We with:
hold the names of the officers on trial,
and the charges preferred against them,
as well as the evidence, so far as they
have como to our knowledge, for reasons
which all naval men we are sure will
approve.
It seems to us that much waste of labor
might be saved, and many trials quietly
got rid if the Admiral had with huh, on
his stall a lawyer to whom all charges
might be jeeferred for examination previous
to the appointment of a court-martial
Trials ou frivolous charges and
failures to convict through informalities
in the charges might thus often l>c prevented.
The Admiral s other dutie^tare
too onerous to leave liim any time tor
examinations of this kind.
The garrison of Fort Sumter is now
commanded by Captain Mitchel, of the
times saw him pitted successfully against
Gen. Butler. Such a lawyer as Mr. Cowley
is of the greatest service in this i
squadron, as judge advocate on naval
general courts martial, and as counsel for
officers so unfortunate as to be brought |
before such tribuuals for trial; and his
retirement from the service is much to
be regretted. We have not yet learned
that his resignation has beeu accepted.
The steam frigate New Ironsides, off
Charleston, has been ordered North, j
Coin. Rowan is to he relieved by Com.
wfoford at Philadelphia, on the 1st prox.
(While temporarily in command of the
'South Atlautic Squadron, in the absence
Of Rear Admiral Dahlgren, as well as by
his previous brilliant career, Cora. Rowan
acquired great popularity.
Tne Ironsides arrived here on Monday.
Her departure from off Charleston was
the signal for a general bombardment of
the fleet by the rebel batteries.
The Ohm mod ore's nrivate Secretary.
Mr. Charles H. Coihim, has been appointed
Acting Assistant Paymaster, but
will remain with his present gallant chief
till the yessel reaches Philadelphia. The
appointment of Mr. Coliuin is an excellent
one.
The Keokuk, which sunk off Charleston,
April 8, 18G8, the day following the first
attack Oh Straipter, wider Rent Admiral
Dnpont, will short ry be alloat a^ain, the
arrangements for raising her being now
nearly perfected.
We regret that the project for raising
the Iron-clad "Wechawken, which went
down so snddenly, off Charleston, in December
last, is not regarded as likely to
succeed, by those most competent to
jidge.
The Iroa dad Montauk, "the old
Mont auk," as she is affectionately called,
has been lying in Station Creek for three
weeks past, undergoing repairs. She
goes North in a lew days. Tlie brave
Com. Parte still has command of her.
tr?rr..-.?rvac-r'??
| rebel army, soa of John Mitohel, 4 4 The
Irish Patriot," who als? law another son
: in the rebel service.
FOUR DAYS LATER FROM
r TUP! MRTn.
'"" "?
New York Dates to the 3d*
! GRANT STILL VICTORIOUS,
AND ADVANCING.
A SICCESSFIL IROJ-CLlD FIGHT AT
BEHHiDA HtXDRED,
&c. &c&c.
By the arrival of the Trade Wind,
from Fortress Monroe, on Monday night,
we have Northern news to the 3d inst.
We are indebted to Inspector Leach, of
the Custom House, for the nse of a New
York Herald of the 3d, brought down
by Capt. Babbige. We copy the following
important dispatches:
Washington, June 2?12:15 P. M.?
Major General Dix:?A despatch from
General Grant's headquarters, dated yesr
terday, June 1, at ten A. M., has been
received by this Department. It states
that about five P. M., yesterday, (May
81) General Sheridan perceiving a force
of rebel cavalry at Coal Harbor, which
proved to be Fitzhugh Lee's division, attacked,
and utter a hard fight routed it,
together with Clingman's brigade of infcntrv,
which canto to Lee's support.
Sheridan remained in possession of the
place. He reported at dark that he had
a considerable numlk-r ot prisoners, anil
that there were many rebel dead and
wounded on the field. lie was ordered
to hold the position, and at ten P. M. t heSixth
Corps set #ut to occupy it.
We have not yet heard from Wright or
General Sheridan this morning, and do
not know whether the former got his
troops to their destination. Smith must
l)e close upon Wright's column.
This morning the enemy are also moving
a heavy column in the same direction.
The order has just gone to AVarren to
fall upon their flank.
AVilson had a fight last evening near
nanover Court House with Young's brigade
of cavalry. He routed Young, killing
and canturing many; but there has
been a good deal of artillery firing in that
direction this morning.
Warren reported last night that in the
fight ot Monday afternoon, near Bethesda
cfurch, Col. Tyrrell, Thirteenth Virginia,
and Col. AVillis, commanding P?gram's
brigade, were killed. Colonel Christian,
Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, was wounded
and captured; so was tne Assistant Adjutant
General of Ramsey^ luigaglo? .
name not reported. Ten other commissioned
officers were Captured and seventy
privates. Sixty rebels were Darted on
the field.
In our center Burusidc reports his advance
line as being this morning, (1st)
within a mile and a half of Mechnnicsville.
No other military intelligence has been
received bv this Department since yesterday.
M. Staxton, Sec y of War.
Washington, June '2?IhflO e. m. To
Major-General Dix?A dispatch from
General Graut, dated this morning (Jane
2j, at Bethesda church. -7 o'clock a. m.,
has just been received.
It states that yesterday afternoon an
attack was ordered to be made on our
left, at Coal Ilarbor, by the Sixth Corp,
and the troops under Smith, Warren,
Burnside and Hancock being held hi
readiness to advance in their respective
fronts.
The at kick was made with spirit about
5 i?. m., continuing until alter dark, and
rcsuuujg 111 our carrying uie eueuiy .h
works ou the right of the Sixth Corps,
where we still hold them, aud also the
lirst line in front ol Smith. The latter
however, were commanded in the rear,
which made those carried untenable.
The enemy mode repeated assault* on
each of the corps not engaged- in the
main assault, but were repulsed in every
Instance.
Several hundred prisoners were taken;
bnt I cannot say what number," nor. cstl