The long talked of expedition against Savannah still “hangs
fire,” but I will venture to assure the impatient portion of the community that
the “blow will be struck” when –
everything is ready, and not before.
Meanwhile Pulaski is “cut off” – isolated – “left out in the cold,” and
will doubtless soon fall. Reconnoissances
are made daily, and the intricate windings of creeks, cuts and straits that
fringe the islands on each side of Savannah, are fast being sought out. Gen. Wright with his brigade, consisting of
the 4th New Hampshire, 7th Connecticut, 9th Maine, and 97th Pennsylvania
regiments are still in the neighborhood of Tybee, having returned from an
expedition to Brunswick, Ga.
Quite an amusing story is told in connection with the affair
at Brunswick. It seems that the
gunboats, after reconnoitering a while in front of the rebel fortifications,
got into “posish,” and were about to “let slip the dogs,” when they discovered
a boat push off from the shore at the fort, and make directly for the gunboat,
upon nearing which it was found to contain a couple of “contrabands,” who
commenced yelling “Hold on, Massa Yankee, don’t fire, der sogers all gone
Serwerner,” “dase leff me all alone.” And sure enough they had gone, and the anticipated
sport was “nipped.”
Gen. Viele is in command of a force on Dawfuskie Island, and
is erecting fortifications there. The forces
on Hilton Head Island, consisting of the Massachusetts cavalry, 3d Rhode Island
artillery, 2nd New Hampshire, 8th Maine, 6th Connecticut, 28th Massachusetts,
and 45th Pennsylvania regiments are under command of Col. E. Q. Fellows of the
3d New Hampshire regiment. Col. Fellows
seems to have won the entire confidence of Gen. Sherman, who has seen fit to
assign him to this responsible situation. – By the way, Col. F. is currently talked
of as the next Brigadier from New Hampshire.
He is a soldier, and he is capable.
The steamship Mississippi, having on board Gen. Butler and
Staff, the 31st Massachusetts regiment and part of the 13th Maine, Col. Neal Dow,
put into this port and hauled up at Seabrook for repairs, having run aground on
“Frying Pan” Shoals, off Cape Fear. The
damage was quite severe, a hole being stove in her bottom, causing a leak which
had it not been an iron boat with
several compartments, must have sunk her with all on board. She will be speedily repaired and on her way
to Ship Island. Gen. Butler and Staff
attended a grand review at Beaufort yesterday by invitation of Gen. Sherman.
The 3d New Hampshire regiment has been selected by Gen.
Sherman to do some important service.
They are to embark to-day, under command of Lieut. Col. John H. Jackson,
who “saw service” in the Mexican war, and will doubtless render a good account
of himself and the regiment on this expedition.
The contrabands are getting organized into “gangs,” in view
of the opening of the “spring’s work,” and under the direction of government
agents will soon commence cultivating cotton, corn, sweet potatoes, &c. –
Port Royal Cor. Of Boston Journal, 7th.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye,
Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 2
