July 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
(From the Port Royal South, June 6.)
On Monday evening last, five Companies of the Black regiment of Carolina negros, and a portion of Battery C, 3d R.I. Artillery, Captain Brayton, under the command of Col. Montgomery, started on an expedition, which had for its main object the recruiting of soldiers for the 2d Black regiment of So. C. negros. The troops were put on board the transports John Adams, the Sentinel, and Harriet A. Weed, and the expedition got away from Beaufort at about 9 o’clock, and without accident or detention, proceeded as far as St. Helena Sound, when the Sentinel got fast aground, and some time was consumed in transferring them from her to the Adams and Weed.
At half-past two o’clock, the force arrived at the mouth of the Combahee river, and pushed rapidly but silently up the stream without being discovered by the enemy. A portion of the force was landed at Field’s Point, a place about twenty miles up the river, where was posted a rebel picket, which incontinently fled, leaving their blankets warm to our forces. Capt. Thompson’s company was here posted in deserted breastworks by Col. Montgomery, and the balance of the force proceeded up the river in the two transports, to Tar Bluff, two miles above, where some deserted rifle pits were found and Capt. Carver’s company left to occupy them. The two steamers again moved up the river to Nicol’s plantation, a mile or two above, where the Weed was left in charge of Major Corwin, and the John Adams rapidly steamed up to Combahee Ferry, across which was a fine pontoon bridge. This was taken up, but not before a rebel cavalry company had passed over while the guns of the Adams threw shells at them. Obstructions across the river prevented the Adams from ascending still higher, and after the pontoon bridge was burned, she turned and passed slowly down the river again. While the pontoon bridge was being destroyed, CAPT. HOYT’S COMPANY was sent up the right bank of the river to capture and destroy, and also to collect negros. Capt. Brayton, with his section of Battery, started up the left bank. Capt. Hoyt pushed on his little force, with skirmishers ahead, to Green Pond, where Col. Heyward resided, in magnificent style, in a mansion that equalled any on the main. Heyward managed to escape, but carried nothing with him. His horses were captured, his sabre taken, and a quantity of other movables borne away. Large and extensive rice mills and storehouses and cotton warehouses were completely destroyed, and finally the mansion itself was burned. The quantity of rice and cotton burned was immense. While returning, a small body of rebel cavalry and sharp-shooters followed our forces, and then pressing Capt. Hoyt rather sharply, he drew up across the road and made a stand. The negros maintained their ground stoutly, keeping up a sharp effective fire, for half an hour, when the John Adams threw in some shell, and quickly dispersed the rebels. Capt. Hoyt brought the company in, and got it aboard the John Adams safely. Captain Brayton proceeded some distance up the left bank, capturing many horses, mules and cattle, and destroying rice mills, storehouses containing cotton and rice, and bringing off all the negros within hailing distance. The rebel pickets, instead of falling back on a large rebel force on the Ashepoo river, had confined themselves to the task of notifying the planters and negro drivers of the approach of negro troops, and it required only a display of flags and an uninterrupted pipe of the steam whistle to inaugurate a general stampede on the part of the slaves to our boats and forces. They came to the river banks in droves, in spite of efforts of drivers to the contrary, who, pistols in hand, decreed death to the first one who disobeyed their orders to follow them, and take to the woods.
After gathering all the troops, and taking on board 737 negros, men, women and children, and a few fine horses, the expedition returned to Beaufort. The contrabands were placed in one of the Beaufort churches, temporarily, but will be distributed, on general principles, in a few days. All the able bodied negros are to be placed in the 2d Black Regiment of S.C. Negros. They will be strong enough in numbers to form two companies.