Friday, December 2, 2011

NEW YORK, April 7 [1862].

A letter has been received in Mystic, Conn., dated Bordeaux, March 12th, which states that there was a large English steamer in that port, having on board 3,000 tons of cargo, worth a million dollars, and was about ready to sail for a market, intending to attempt to run the blockade at New Orleans.

A letter received from Hilton Head, S. C., says, We have stirring intelligence from North Edisto.  The rebels have come down in considerable force, and succeeded in cutting off, the other night, an entire company belonging to the 55th Penna. Regiment, which was on little Edisto Island as a picket.  Strangely enough, they neglected to guard the bridge between them and the main force and the enemy succeeded in burning that, and then surrounded the pickets, killing 3, wounding a dozen, and capturing about 30 of our men.  The balance escaped to North Edisto.  Since then there has been skirmishing, but with no result.

Ample reinforcements will be sent to Col. Moore direct by Gen. Benham.

Fifteen of the 16th N. Y. were captured, together with a field piece, yesterday, on the Wilmington Island, on the Savannah river.  Col. Rosa took the responsibility of leading thirty men on a reconnoisance on Wilmington, without orders, and was surrounded by a superior force of the rebels, and half of his men were captured, all the officers and the balance of the men escaped.  The field piece was lost, and is doubtless on exhibition now in the city of Savannah. – This is one result of this crazy mode of conducting affairs.

Tybee remains quiet.  A Port Royal letter says that an iron-clad rebel gunboat made its appearance coming down the Savannah river last week, near the head of Elba Island, where it was plainly seen from on board our vessels, which lay in Mud river supporting the batteries, and a drawing of it taken.  It is described as very much like the Merrimac in appearance, but is much smaller in size, and is considered less formidable.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 8, 1862, p. 1

No comments: