Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-04

changing will bealuplc,l for prlSuucra generally.
Our Federal authorities have already taken one
step toward it, At lirSt they held no prisoners;
they simply administered an oath of allegiance,
and gave u discharge Now they administer
no oaths, hnt hold in durance all rebel soldiers
who fall into their hands. Having gone so far
as to recognize ard keep prisoners, they may
now aS well turn thew to practical account i'll
the way of exchange. 1t will work no harm
to The public interests, and yet afford great
relief To true men who deserve well Of their
country.
\ writer to the New York "Ilcrald," who
dates his letter Fortress Monroe, Sept 22d,"
gives an account Of the expedition which de-
sroycd the fortat Ocracokc Inlet, ,nn,hc 9th ult.
There is So much that is absurd, and so much
that is Improbable in his statements that We
pass over The mos. Of them. extracting little
besides the Proclamation, which an mpudent
New York Colonel has put forth to the people
of North Carolina THIS poor creature was so
elated With being able to stand on the desert
sands Of the coast Of Carolina, that he talks like
little autocrat, and uses the words rebels and
traitors as glibly as il indulging in his familiar
native slang
The Proclamation, with the introduction "F
the correspondent referred to, is rs follows:
The revolution is going On rapidly through.
out the State, and if the government will only
afford the Unionists protection fora time, they
will soon bring back North Carolina to her old
moorings Union meetings had been held in
HYDE and other counties, in which many of
the most influential and wealthy mcm "G the
county participated. Resolutions were passed
with great unannity, expressive Of the!r IN
tcn;ion to remain at home on our approach, to
offer no resistance to our landing. and to fur.
nish us with whatever they could in the way
Of provisions &c
These facts are well authenticated. 10 cor
tirm the people in their good inttrti1ns Ccl.
Hawkins issued the following proclamation last
Monday, which has been extensively circulated
Oh the mainland, and the good efT;c;s are al
ready apparent:
PROCLAMATION.
HEADQUARTERS, FoEr CLARK,
llatteras Inlet, y. Z.
September 18th, lS,il.
To Tie P.vpic IF North Cnroiina:
The Colonel Commanding the federal forces
now in North Carolina, having heard u: the
erroneous impression which exists among the
in lIabi;rat; Us 10 the object and purpose Of
said forces, would state that it is no part nj
the Ohjec! of sail forces to piIlage or piundcr.
We come not u destroy, but to secure, peace
and uphold the laws III the United States. The
rights Of property and persons will he respected
and protected, and any federal soldier infringing
upon either will he very severely punished. Ii
is no par; Of our intention TO war. against wo.
men and children. Ga the contrary they shall
be protected with ali tic power under our con
troll. l.u;al citizens can enjoy their homes
| and property without the fear Of molcstati0n.
No law will he ahrogated or interfrrcd with
unless it comes in conflict with some law Of
the United States or the constitution Al!
others Will be obeyed and respectful. II Is
wi,h traitors and rebels in arms, wh" arc de-
Stroying place and order and meeting rebellion
that the federal forces are 10 deal We come
TO give You back law, order, the constitution,
Your rights under it, aud to restore peace. We
cali upon traitors and rebels in arms To lay
them down, and upon good citlzcis, wln rc.
spec! the law, to aid us in our undertaking.
RusH c. HAwxINs
Cuun.l Ninth New York Volunteers,
Commanding Post.
Fort Macon, 1t Beaufort, has been greatly
| SllcnSNHcIlId 'hIiu atioHSlS 'h"'"@
ten thousand men are cncamped about the t"rt
and town, mostly veterans, recalled from Nir-
ginia. Some Gcorgians aud South CarOInians
are among the forces
At Roanoke Island the cnciny have collected
in strength, and are engaged in erecting strong
batteries.
1t is reported that they have landed force
At Chcamoco!nac, about forty miles above this,
with the intention Of proceeding to Cape Hat
teras and destroying the light house On that
point and allerwardS Of attempting to drive
US out from our position at the inlet. Colonel
Hawkins sends force TO the light house To
protect it to day.
The English ship-ofwar Rinald", is n"w
laying off llatteras Inlet.
The privatecrs Coffee and Winslow had vS
tied Ocracoke Inlet to carry off the rebel guns,
but left on the appearance Of the Fanny.
The Pawnee and Susquchanna were sill At
U Ittcras Inlet.
The Argonaut, Of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia,
laden with fish and salt, run into the inlel and
was secured as 8 prize.
The health Of the troO;s arc most excellent.