From the Coast.
A correspondent of the Charleston
Mercury gives the following account of.
The manner in which the Yankees were Ragged on Edisto Island.
Gen. Evans is fond of a joke, and hearing that a good body of the vandals were posted as an advance guard at a certain point on Little Edisto, he determined to pay his respects to them in person.
For this purpose,
Nelson's Battalion,
Moore's Battalion, a portion of the Holcombe Legion, and
Lieut. Salve's detachment of the Washington Artillery--all under the immediate command of
Col. P. F. Stevens--were, about six P. M. of the 26th seen moving forward from their different camps, whistling in high glee, in expectation of fun ahead.
About 12 o'clock the advancing force had safely crossed from Pineberry to the island over a bridge of boats.
The General remained with a reserve at Pineberry, while another reserve was held by Bears Island.
Colonel Stevens led the attacking force, and at the first gray peep of day came upon the enemy, who were well posted in a dense copse.
One of the
Yankee sentinels bawled out-- "Who comes there?" "Friends" was the reply, when one of our unthinking volunteers, in true simplicity cried--"They are not friends they are Yankees!" and the
Yankees "smelled a mouse," fired, and the fight commenced.
It was vigorously kept up for a half hour or so, when the
Yankees gave way and retreated in wild disorder through the woods.
One of the enemy was killed, one mortally, and another severely wounded, and counting the one severely wounded, nineteen prisoners were taken.
It is probable others were wounded, for the rifles cracked sharply and continuously for about half an hour.
Our forces returned yesterday without the loss of a man and without any accident worthy of note.
The Savannah
News makes the following extract from a private letter, written by a soldier in
Fort Pulaski, dated March 28th:
‘
We are still in the land of the living, and not taken by the
Yankees, nor have we any idea of being taken.
Being out off from
Savannah, we don't relish much; but with all that our boys are in good cheer, ready for the fight when the cowardly
Yankees feel like pitching in.
’
We can see them all around us, but the cowards keep at a good distance from us. They prefer to hide behind some bush or hammock rather than to come out square to the front.
Many interesting little incidents have occurred here which I would like to relates to you, but which I deem it imprudent to say anything about now, until the blockade will be opened or she way more clear.
My letter may fail to reach you, and fall into the hands of the
Yankees.
Therefore, I do not write to enlighten them on anything concerning our garrison.
From what observations I made yesterday and to-day I think the
Yankees upon
Tybee are putting up a battery between Tybee point and
King's landing.
Yesterday afternoon two steamers arrived from sea, one with a schooner in tow, and the other with a brig also in tow. Another steamer arrived to-day with a schooner in tow, thus making three steamers at that point, besides a few schooners.
They don't keep their gunboats all the time at
Tybee.
My opinion is, that they have only from 400 to 500 men on
Tybee Island.
They no longer fly the stars and stripes from the Martello tower or the light-house.
Yankees captured.
The Savannah
News learns that two Yankees were captured near
Wilmington Island by some members of the 13th Georgia Regiment.
The prisoners, on the 30th ult., were at plantation a short distance below the city, and will be taken care of. Previous to the capture of these men, a slight brush took place, in which one of our men was slightly wounded Though temporarily in the enemy's power, he succeeded in making his escape.
