Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-11-20

timely retreat impossible. II vas suggested thar
we shouldretaks Fort CLARK during the night and
several oflhe officers were more than anxious to at
tempt 1T But asthe cannon in the fort had been
4imperfeetlg spiked TWAS now Formidable battery
for the enemy's defence. Ari1ed cannon battery
had also been erected on the ridge beyond the fort,
and more than ALL we had means of ascertainiDg
whether alo the five thousantse landing up the
beach had succeeded in doing SO or not Our scouts
however said they had z Thus from our best infor-
nation. We must storm and take Fort Clark, and
also battery of two fed cannon and five thousand
men, and only four or five hundred men could be
sent from our fort against them. have mentioned
these particulars in answer to the question so ire
euently asked why We did not attack the three
hundred men on the shore?
Commodore Barron came in some time during
the night Of the 2sth August to whom the whole
command was Immediately delivered But so soon
he bad an opportunity Of inspecting the tort and
its prospects of defence said that would be IN
able to hold the fcrt an hour 1t was then too late
to retreat and by far too late mount the cannon,
which had been lying for months on the platforms.
The morning Of the Goth came and with it also the
preparations of heavy bombardment The loss OF
Fort Clark then enabled their line Of ships to be
planted in good anchoring ground But such was
their distance, that could reach them with only
gun Of the three that could be brought TO bear
upon them. After the enemy had ascertained our
elevation they opened and kept up bombardment
Of thirty bombs per five minutes. After this had
continued for some hours, shell entirely disodged
the only gun that would reach, and this, too, was
our only hope of defence. One gun of heavy cali
bre had been sent to this point and was lying on
the beach unnounted. Shot and shell for it have
learned had not been sent This gun would have
done effective service had it been in position. For
this positive neglect, am unable to say who is re-
spOnsible. Com. Baron, who, | learn, is severely
censured, could not at least be responsible for this
neglected and defenceless condition of the fort as
his arrival sometime during the previous night
Our hope of defence now being gone, we looked on
ly to our preservation. While two or three hun
dred were protected by the bomb-proof the remain
der Of sought shelter from each broadsde behind
the parapets and walls Of the fort This we sue
ceeded in doing until about 10 o'clock, at which
time bomb entered the ventator of the proof and
came in contact with the magazine, setting some OF
its timbers on fire. There was Immediately ter
stricken rush into the open fort and no longer
could our men he constrained to be still or remain
in security behind the walls and parapets. Now
nearly six hundred men scattered over the
fort, which only two hundred feet square, with
scarcely shell falling out Of their midst. 1t was
then that our men began to fall thick and fast 1t
was then, and not until them amid the unceasing
expressions of these messengers of death, that the
conviction of our utter helplessneSs was fully real
lied, and the final contamination Of Indifferent neg
lect the part Of officials who had been frequently
apprized Of our condition, and the threstenings Of
the enemy was Fast closing the drama with dsre-
pute to themselves and destruction to us. Thus,
when madness alone would have attempted longer
to hold resls,icss fort and nothing could be gam
ed by dying amid its shattered walls, our colors
were struck
But let us ask whether we loose gain by the
surrender. The first gain is is that Old Rip is some
what awakened from her lethargy by the loss of the
post whether she cares for the loss of her sons OF
not. But whether this severe crash upon her corns,
by the Yankees will prove radically beneficial or
not remains yet to be seen. II is my special
purpose in this connection to speak Of the service
of our worthy Commodore who, it may be seen
from these facts, is free from any blame that may
he attached to him. He could not have been re-
sponsble for the disasters of the previous day. be-
cause he was not there Nor for those of the Sec
so by the neglect of others, and was then beyond
redress Now, il in the time, manner or terms of
capitulation gain an advantage, we are indebted
to him for it The surrender made in time to
save live and in n manner to secure the proper
terms Of capitulation and those terms secured to
the treatment due to prisoners Of war, and to the
Southern Confederacy the first and yet the only
claim to recognition belligerent power upon
the Federal government Such the loss of d.
plomacy to them and gain to us that for these as
surances Commodore Stringham forced TO re-
sign his position, and with him also seven Of the
naval officers under his command.
Yours most respectfully,
JOSEPH ID. BARNES,
Released Prisoner.
3 Not positive that this the regiment but the
fact WAS Stated by them of some regiment