WASHINGTON, May 8. – The Navy Department has received dispatches from Com. Dupont to-day dated Port Royal 3d inst., giving interesting particulars of an expedition on the 29th of April, with the Hale to capture a battery on Gumbal’s plantation, near the junction of Dawhopiawapawa and South Edisto rivers; it appears the enemy opened on the Hale when within 1800 yards and continued their fire as she wended her way to engage them at close quarters, but when the Hale reached the last bend and was making a straight course for the battery, the rebels fled in haste. Lieut. Gillis landed with a party of men to destroy it; the works was 300 yards from the river bank and mounted two long 24-pounders, on excellent field carriages. So rapid was the flight of the rebels that one gun was left loaded and primed. The hale returned to her anchorage without having a man injured.
Another report details the proceedings at Bull’s Bay. Lieutenant Nichles crossed the bar with the Onard on the 7th ult. and anchored within 500 yards of the light house on Bull’s Island, and opened fire on a small work situated about fifty yards to the southward of the light house. Shortly after he landed in his boats, covered by the guns of the Onard. The rebels fired upon the party, but not awaiting an attack fled from the island to the main land. The Onard has now complete command of the channel so that no vessels can either go in or out.
On the 3d ult., Lieut. Com. Nicholson, of the Isaac Smith, stationed at St. Augustine, having heard that a schooner had come in over the Matamoras bar, some 18 miles to the southward, dispatched three armed boats, together with a detachment of 55 men from Col. Bell’s command to capture her, which was done, and the schooner brought up to St. Augustine.
The vessel was called the Empire City. She had a register and cleared from Nassau, N. P., for St. Johns, N. F. Her cargo consisted of provisions, dry goods and medicines. In consideration of the fact, the citizens of St. Augustine were without the necessaries of life and [with no means of getting them, Lieut. Nicholson] sold the cargo, or a portion of it, at auction.
The gunboat Keshamaf, on the 31st ult., off Mobile, captured the R. C. Fils, while attempting to run the blockade. She was loaded with cotton, and was sent to Key West.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 3
Another report details the proceedings at Bull’s Bay. Lieutenant Nichles crossed the bar with the Onard on the 7th ult. and anchored within 500 yards of the light house on Bull’s Island, and opened fire on a small work situated about fifty yards to the southward of the light house. Shortly after he landed in his boats, covered by the guns of the Onard. The rebels fired upon the party, but not awaiting an attack fled from the island to the main land. The Onard has now complete command of the channel so that no vessels can either go in or out.
On the 3d ult., Lieut. Com. Nicholson, of the Isaac Smith, stationed at St. Augustine, having heard that a schooner had come in over the Matamoras bar, some 18 miles to the southward, dispatched three armed boats, together with a detachment of 55 men from Col. Bell’s command to capture her, which was done, and the schooner brought up to St. Augustine.
The vessel was called the Empire City. She had a register and cleared from Nassau, N. P., for St. Johns, N. F. Her cargo consisted of provisions, dry goods and medicines. In consideration of the fact, the citizens of St. Augustine were without the necessaries of life and [with no means of getting them, Lieut. Nicholson] sold the cargo, or a portion of it, at auction.
The gunboat Keshamaf, on the 31st ult., off Mobile, captured the R. C. Fils, while attempting to run the blockade. She was loaded with cotton, and was sent to Key West.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 3
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