The Palmetto Herald, 1864-04-21

vens shelled them for half an hour with splendid effect, driving the enemy to their reserve four miles further on. The movement, a bold and hazardous one, required ' a good deal of prudence in its execution ; j but the duty was so well performed that: we were unmolested in our departure on j the foliowing day. Before embarking, the lofty lookout ! erected on the Court-house was "cut down, ! the platforms in the batteries were burn-j ed, the defensive works were destroyed, and the families of the town, with such of their worldly goods as could be brought off, were placed on board the steamers. Jhc cleaning out was thorough and general. Half a barrel of oats and a bushel of corn in the ear was all that was left ! to indicate an occupation of Pilatka. The stores brought off were landed at' Picolata. eighteen miles this side of Pilatka. Last evening the steamers Cosmopolitan and General Hunter were sent up after them. This morning the Hunter, on her return trip, encountered another torpedo near Buckle's Blut? where the Maple Leaf was sunk, and was blown up. Her destruction was comp.ete. One man?the quartermaster at the wheel? ! and all her cargo, were lost. The explo- j sion occurred soon after daybreak, and in j ihe immediate vicinity of the Maple j Leafs wreck, where, as we have recently I learned, the enerav planted eight of their j devilish seeds of destruction. The General Hunter was built for a ( i river steamer, and though a handsome, ; roomy and commodious craft was not a very staunch one. She was owned by 1 the Government, having been purchased J from Mr. V&nderbilt for $82,000. She j

ut the Post were" ordered to be in attendance, that the example made of these two erring and unfortunate men might have a general influence throughout the command. It is hoped that the painful scene may leave a lasting impression ou the minds of all who witnessed it. and that the purpose for which this extreme punishment is designed?the warning of the living?was attained. THE CULPRITS Were Private Henry Schumaker, of Co. C, and Private Henry Stark, of Co, K, Gth Regiment Conn. Vols. They were both Germans by birth, and came out in a detachment of consyipts and substitutes forwarded to the Regiment. THEIR OFFENCE. Some months since they desefted from the regiment, in company with Private Gustav Hoofan, of Co. B, and. in a stolen boat, started for Nassau. They were picked up in Ossabaw Sound by a Navy boat, and returned to this Post. A Court Martial, of which Capt. Tracy, of the Gth Conn., was President, found them guilty of desertion, and sentenced them to bir? shot to death with musketry. TWO ESCAPES FROM THE PROVOST. During the time of their incarceration in the Proiost Guard-house, they have twice succeeded in escaping. Their flr.-t PSCfln? \v?s in fftmiwnv with TT/vkfor? ? .

stores ot' tiie Quartermaster having been j got off without loss, and the steamers : coming away without leaving a man behind. The transports Dictator, Dela- I ware, Mary Benton and General Hunter, conveyed by the gunboat Ottawa, and the armed steamer Harriet A. Weed, were employed in the evacuation; and to the officers of these vessels, the greatest credit is due for their efficient management. Upon receiving the order to withdraw his forces from their position. Col. Barton sent Major Stevens, with his battalion of Mass. Cavalry, section or James s Battery, and Captain Shaw's company of' mounted men from the ll.r>th New* York J Volunteers, out 011 the Gainsville road to j drive in the enemy's pickets. About six miles out the rebel videttes were encountered, and were slowly pushed to a point between Eight-mile and Nine-mile Hammock (or swamp), when, getting them in a most favorable position. Major Ste -

?1 W r?uil?> aim nniUMii .j railed "Joe Pope." The said Joseph was wise, tor his generation, in the culture of the princely plant, and in the selection of the seed would himself fwss xhrough his ripened fields and pluck for che purpose the choicest pods. lie was t the most successful grower of Sea-Island ; cotton in this region of the country, and i by his good management added mate- J rially to the already high reputation of j "TheLeinington Plantation."' Mr. Pope was advanced into old age, and had four adult daughters and two sons. One of the latter, young Joe. was corporation ; lawyer at Beaufort: the other, John, I was commander of a horse company at | BlulTion, in the rebel service. .V vonng lady spy in Washington had conveyed to Pope, Sen., information of j Dupont's intended attack upon Hilton i Head, and two weeks prior to the vet- ! cran commodore's capture of this im- i

public lands. The Leraington Plantation com prises 7.2.r?0 acres, a little more than half of winch is woodland, a portion marsh, and 500 acres arable. It is von* nearly square, and is bounded on one side by Broad Creek, and on another by a charming iK'ftch, washed by the white surf of the Atlantic. This admirable estate is situated about four miles from Hilton Head, and the ride over the beach, on a fine day when the tide is not too high, is one of the finest in the world. i From our Extra of Monday* IMPORTANT FROM FLORH A. Kvaeuation of Palatka?Dashing R?> counoUtanre by Major Steven*' Cavalry?Another Torpedo Cataatroplie?Destruction of the Steamer (icn. Hunter?One Man and Large tin untitle* of Store* Lo?t- Presentation to Col. Henry, Ae. Jacksonville, April 10, 18GC A porti?>n of Major Stevens* commanc reached Pilatka Thursday night, having

vantage of their class, which numbers about :m? pupils. Two Sabbaths since the writer of this attended a religious ; meeting in one of the apartments in the 1 mansion, in which l)oth white and col-} ored people participated. It afforded a ; good view of quite a number of Dr. Wright's hands, male and female, and satisfied us of their capacity for improvement. Dr. Wright has two experienced farmers from the North to assist him. Both of these gentlemen are from New Jersey, and well skilled in raising " truck " for market. One of them will give his attention to the cultivation of od acres, devoted to )x?hs. beans, potatoes, cabbages, tomatoes, onions, and other esculents. It is his intention to raise 500.000 cabbages. The vegetables will yield a handsome return at the usual market prices, ami be h god-send to this community.

j was damaged somewnai on ner passage | | to Port Royal a little more than a year | ago, and had to put hack to Baltimore, j ; where *10.000 were expended in repair-! I ing her. She was sent here, it was said, i | to be used by Major General Hunter as , ' his flagship on the Charleston expedition ; i ! hut lie selected another and a better j Vessel. The men of Major Stevens' battalion | : of tlte 4th Massachusetts Cavalry have j | been doing honor to the commander of; the Light Brigade by presenting him with a handsome and valuable horse. The steed wm born and reared in camp, ! as was his present owner. Important changes airgo'ng on in the j District of Florida: out I suppose you ! will learn of them without my touching ! cn the subject. #

the night of the lGth'of March. They succeeded in detaching the halls and chains from their legs, sawing a hole through the floor, and escaping through the guard. But, by the vigilance of the provost officers and the patrol they were re-captured 011 the 18th ult. They were then very strongly chained, hand and foot, their fetters connected by strong chains with a post in the provost yard. On the night of the 4th inst. Schumaker and Stark again sueeeeded in escaping in spite of all these precautions, and in stealing a fisherman's boat, left unguarded near the pier. In this they put to sea, but while ashore at Wnssaw Sounds, after food, their boat grounded, and ihey were captured by a picket-boat of the minlmat Tlidr Ui.ri. rorv -