Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-10-09
MAJOR ANDREWS REPORT.
OK BOARD u. s. SHIP MINNESOTA,

Ok BOARD U. s. SHIP MINNESOTA,
Sept 1st 1861
To the Adjutant General Of North Carolina:
SIR:-l beg leave to report that after oomea a.i
ment of three hours and twenty minutes on the ISth
of August, 1861, surrendered to Com. 5. d. String
ham Elar Officer and MAJ, Gen. B. F. Butler, Com
handing u S. Forces, Fort Hatteras, at Hatteras
Inlet, North Carolina.
Tn making this report desire briefly to allude to
the circumstances attending the capitulation
arrived at Fort Hatteras on the evening OF the
2Sth August in company with Com. Barron, Flag
Officer c. S. Navy in charge of the defences OF Vlr'
gnia and North Carolina, and found that during the
day the enemy had attacked the forces under the
command of Col. VIM. +. Martin, as well as Forts
Clark and Hatteras under my command and after
day of most and unceasing fighting the Col
one had succeeded in concentrating all the forces
within the walls of Fort Hatteras. Col. Martin him
self was utterly Frustrated by the duties of the day.
and on consultation with him proposed that we III
vite Com Barron, an officer Of great experience TO
take the general command and direct the succeeding
operations
Com Barron consented and assumed the COM
mand; then proceeded to examine our guns and
munitions and prepare the Fort for the action ofthe
coming morning.
There were but two guns mounted on the side
next to Fort Clark, both S2-pounders, and one gun
on the corner next the bar, an 8.inch shell gum
During the night took away traverse on the back
face of the work and brought another gun to bear in
the same direction.
The companies of my command under Captains
Cohoon, Lamb and Sutton having been in action all
the previous day. displaying great courage and devo-
tion being perfectly exhausted, placed the bate
res in charge of fresh troops, as follows: No. and
of the Channel Battery, under the command of
Lieut. COL Geo. w. Johnston, assisted by LIST Lieut.
Moze and I'd Lieut.. Geo. W. Daniel; No. 6 facing
the bar and No. facing the Fort Clark, were plac-
ed in charge of Major Henry A. Gillian, assisted by
Lieuts. Johnston and Grimes; No. 8, a gun mount
ed on a naval carriage, was commanded by Lieut..
Murdaugh, of the c. S. Navy, assisted by Lieut..
Sharp and Midshipman Stafford Capt Thomas II.
Sharp had command Of No 9, but owing to the
wrenches not fitting the eccentric axle was unable
to bring it into action He staid by his gun during
most Of the engagement but could not fire.
Thus We had but three guns we could bring to
bear the enemy took up his position of the previ
Gus day. viz: No. 6, and 8.
At TAO o'clock, A. NJ, of the Goth, the enemy
opened fire on us from the Steam Frigates Mnneso-
IA, (4s guns) Wabash, 4s guns susquehannah,
rs guns,) Frigate Cumberland, ga guns) Steamer
Pawnee 10 guns,) and Harriet Lane, Is guns, and
a rifled battery of three guns erected in the sand
hills, half mile from Fort Clark. Thus you will
see, they brought 70 guns of the most approved
kind and heaviest metal to bear on us. The shells
thrown being inch 10 inch and Il inch Dahlgreen,
Paixhan and Coiumblad shells, while from the posi-
ton taken we were unable to reach them with the
greatest elevation.
The men Of the Channel Battery were ordered to
leave their guns and protect themselves well
possible the council Of the commanding officers hav
ing decided that it to be action of endurance
until our renforcements came up. After few shots
had been fired and it was ascertaned that We could
not reach them, our guns ceased fire and only
swered the fire Of the enemy occasionally to show
We had not surrendered.
The shower of shell in half an hour became liter
ally tremendous as VIC had falling into and immedi-
atey around the work not less on average than
10 each minute, and the being smooth the firing
was remarkably accurate One officer counted %
shells falling so to damage in minute, and
several others counted 90 in minute
At quarter to IL o'clock council of the officers
was held, and it was decided to surrender; white
flag raised and the firing ceased at l o'clock.
Thus for three hours and twenty minutes Fort
Hatteras resisted stream of shell perhaps more ter
riLIe than ever fell upon any other work.
At the time the council determined to surrender,
two Of our guns were dismounted four men were
reported killed and between % and 80 badly wound
edone shell had fallen into the room adjoining the
magazine and the magazine was reported on fire.
1t is useless to attempt further description. The
men generally behaved WELL nearly every commits
stoned officer from the Commodore down was more
or lessed wounded, and fifty or sixty Of the non.
commissioned officers and men who would not re-
port to the surgeon.
Lieut.. S. /. Johnston, Co. E. 9TH Regiment fired
the last gun at the enemy and raised the flag Of truce
on the bomb proof
The details of capitulation were arranged on the
Flag Ship Minnesota, by which we laid down our
arms, and marched out as prisoners of war.
desire especially to speak of the conduct of the
officers and men at the naval gun, who fired fire.
quently to try the range.
Lieut.. Murdaugh was badly wounded, Lieut.
Sharp was knocked down by shot which passed
through the parapet near his head and brought the
blood from his right and cheek in considerable
quantity, killing man at his side, at the same time
knocking down and covering Col. j. A. j. Bradford
with sod and earth and midshipman Stafford cheer
ed on the men, behaving in most gallant manner
After the fall of Lieut. Murdaugh his men bore
him to the Commodores boat and he escaped
l am very truly and respectfully yours,
w. S. G. ANDREWS,
| Major &c., dc.
| COL. BRADFORD'S REPORT
u S. SHIP MINNESOTA, AT SEA,