The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-25
REPORT OF COMMANDER ROWAN.
IINITHn st ArIa SIn AAanp u AVN

HArrERAs INLET, Sept Is, 1861
sK-0n saturday the 4th inst, gave pass to one Of
the people Haeras Island 60 Ocracose Inlet for
the purpose of bringing his family from Portsmouth.
directed this person to examine the forts Beacon Island
and Portsmouth Island and bring mo true report OF the
condition of things the number Of guns mounted If any,
and the number dismounted whether any troops
there and whether the carriages had all been burned
not and to report the result his return On
Sunday morning. the 18th inst the boat alongside
WITH te man ana ms wie and children ina destitute state
nished medicine for tho sick Of the family
The man reported that there twenty guns in Fort
Beacon, and four eight inch sh guns at Portsmouth,
that the guns were spiked and the carriages buried
the LIST instant as already reported 70 You. He also
stated that scamer came to Beacon Island before he
left Portsmouth, for the purpose Of carrying OF the guns
Immediately determined to all the at my
crmmand to prevent the removal % 70 guns and forth
with got the steamer Fanny aonsse 10 prepare her for
this service, and had the launch armed and equipped
sent request to Colonel Hawkins to give many Of
the Naval Brigade could be spared, which he cheer
fully complied with When the Fanny brought
alongside her iron rndder perch was found
to send her without repairs, so tho forge
was gotten up, and the clink Of hammers soon
succeeded the voices Of the in their responses
our usual Sunday morning service ] despatched the
information to Captain Chauncy, in the oing, who
promptly informed me that he weuld send in four boats
and all his marines. sent him word that would have
great pleasure in co operating with him senior officer,
and would send him the Tempest to tow his boats
At daylight on Monday morning the Fanny was lowed
alongside, and her rudder temporarily fitted, the Naval
and water, and the launch similarly provided for The
expedition being carefully organized, and prov with
s!cdgo hammers to break Of the trunnons, and thirty
two pound shot and twenty pound cartridges be
used in firing one against the tunnon Of another left
this snip at halfpa seven o'clock the launch commanded
by Lieutenant Eastman and the expedition under com
mand Of Lieutenant Maxwell the executive officer of this
ship despatched the tug Tempest to Captain Chauncy,
| she drawing too much water to enter the Sound
At O'Clock the Ssquehanra and tug started for the
inlet On the evening OF the same day the tug and Sus
queanna returned and anchored Off Fort Clark The tug
came IN next morning and the pilot o'med me that the
force from tho Snsquehanna did not enter Ocracoke
consequence of tho surf On the afternoon of the 18th
instant felt much anxiety for expedition The Sus-
quehanna remained at anchor in the ofng force
| was left TO take care Of Itself
Early this morning the lookout at the masthead gave
us the gratifying Intelligence that expedition
! IN sight, and it reached the ship about eleven
| O'Clock. Lcutenants Maxwell and Eastman performed
the service with ability and energy and bore my thanks
Tho destruction of the fo: is complete and twenty two
guns disabled. These all the guns that there
bcmare on Sunday. The destruction Of tho guns
with me necessity had no means of transporting
hope my course will meet your approval. enclose a
COZ of Lcut Maxwclis report, giving all the details Of
this important service which was performed without
| accident of any kind.
| servant, S. c. ROWAN, Commander.
Flag Onlcer S. II. sTRIseHAM, commanding Atlantic
LIEUTENANT MAxwELL's REPORT.
| uNIiED STATES STEAMER PAwyss,
HATTER.,s INLET, Sept. IS, 1861. (
SIR have to report that in compliance with your
orders Of the 10TH started for Ocracoke that day,
|
Lieutenant Eastman had charge Of the latter with twenty
two Wen and six marines from the ship, and the twelve
pound howitzeT and had board six men and sixty
soldiers Of the Naval Brigade, under Lieutenants
! Ilotson and Roe We arrived within two miles Of the
fort Beacon Island at eleven o'clock A. NJ when the
| Fanny grounded. l sent Lieutenant Eastman in the
| launch TO sound for the channel. While he
pied, salbcat, with two men, put from Portsmouth
tho sound Shot from the Fanny brought them
| alongside, and they piioted to within hundred
] yards Of the fort. 1t is called Fort Ocracokc,
and is situated on the seaward face of Beacon
| rlnnd pht prtnl o,,a
contains four shell rooms about twenty-five feet square,
and in the centre large bombproof one hundred feet
square, with the magazine within it. Directly above tho
magazine each side, four large tanks containing
water The fort has been constructed with great Of
sand in barrels covered with earth and turf Tho inner
framing Of the bombproof was built Of heavy Pine tim
bers There were platforms for twenty guns which had
been partially destroyed by fire. The gun carriages had
been all burned There eighteen guns in the fort
namely four eightinch navy shell guns, and fourteen
long thirty two FOUNDERS The steamer Albemare left
on Sunday afternoon, carrying off two guns found
hundred and fifty barrels also, many of them filed with
| water There being no water in the fort, they had
! brought it from Washington and Newbern.
landed the men at half-past one O'clock and COM
mcnced breaking or the trunioGs OF the guns. While
| portion of men and the Naval Brigade were
poyed, sent Lieutenant Eastman in the launch to Ports
mouth where he found three eight inch navy shell guns
living the beach, and one mounted carriage. They
had all hecn spiked There battery erected there,
! although were informed that one would have been
| butt but for coming. There had been camp at
Portsmouth called Camp Washington, but portion Of the
troops sent to Fort Hatteras whenit attacked,
| August %, and tue remainder retired to the
mainland. Portsmouth, which formerly contained
deserted bat the pcople are expected 10 return.
These remaining seem to be Union men, and expressed
/ satisfaction at our coming Lieutenant Eastman
government, and that they might return to- their usual
| occupations.
There no Entertainments guns at 0cracokc. Tho