Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-10-23

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FozT H4rrEzAs, NC. October s. ISL
Nh, EpiroR: ! suppose that long before this
reaches you. you will have heard OF our fret bat
tie and the terrible loss both in men aud money
that we experienced. We arrived here a week
ago last Sabbath and were Immediately ordered
TO the upper part Of this Island, about 40 miles
from this place. to a point called ChichorIaco-
mics. We went up the sound in small steamers
and landed about 8 O'Clock A. NJ. We found It
a lonely looking spot, with miserable water. and
the ground covered with nothing but sand. After
we had landed the boats went back to the fort.
Col. Brown was opposed to our landing there.
and after he got there begged again and again to
give mm a few pieces Of artillery, but Col. Haw-
kins refused, saying there was no danger whatev-
er, and consequently no use for cannon. He as
sured US that he had perfect command of the
sound. and was certain that the enemy would not
dare come near our camp.
On Tuesday afternoon the steamer Fanny
came up with our provisions. most of our tents,
trunks. &c and l 900 new overcoats for our boys.
As soon as the boat landed (about two and a
half miles from shore) we commenced unload
ing the boat. We had just got two little boats
loaded, and they had got about half way to the
shore, when we discovered a steamer in the dis
tsnce, followed shortly by another, and soon after
a third from another direction. We were not left
long in ignorance as to their character, for as
soon rs they came within good distance they be-
gan TO fire on the Fanny with great rapidity, till
the first we knew down came the American flag,
and the Fanny was in the hands of the secession
lists. The Fanny fired nine shots before she sur
rendered, but 10 US on shore it seemed like a very
tame atlir, and We thought the boat made a
very mean surrender. The Captain made his es-
cape in a little canoe and the general impression
is that he was a traitor. Col. Brown Immediately
sent a messenger to Fort Hatteras, and in a short
time afterward he sent Lieut.. Sherwood in anotll-
er boat, so that there would be no mistake in get
ting word TO the fort. We waited there all the
night. expecting every moment to hear a bomb
shell tall in our midst or to see them come ashore
and give US fight. For the last we were pre-
pared aud anxious; but against the first we could
not do a thing, and there we stood until daylight
when we found that the enemy had hove out of
sight. None OF cur messengers from the fort
had returned. and we began to think that our
communication with the fort had been cut off
Col. Brown cam to me and stated that he want
ell to send a dispatch to Gen. Wool at Fort Mon
roe, and asked me if would go, / told him
would, and, having procured a horse, started for
Fort Hatteras ut once. | confess | had some
1O0oGo 80 v " II NOdAl CfCl e vi 1ldG-
teras, for | believed as certainly as could be that
the enemy had landed between us and the fort.
/ travelled on, however, and reached the fort
without any difficulty. but very tired l assure you;
for it is one thing to ride forty miles in the cars
and another to ride forty miles on horseback. 1t
was a lonesome ride, for there are tracts of ten
and twelve miles where there is not a house nor a
tree, nothing but sand, sand, sand. The next
day the men on the look ont reported signs of
steamers up the sound and by the aid of our
glasses we were enabled to make them out clearly
as those of the enemy. Col. Hawkins immedi-
ately ordered two of his companies to proceed up
the sound and soon followed with three others.
Our boys discovered The steamers about 7 O'Clock
in the morning, and at first thought them friends.
but as they came nearer they were made out TO be
enemies and in large force. They had seven
steamers and three large cotton barges and as
near as we could estimate had about 5000 men
aboard. Our regiment was drawn up in line and
we marched to the shore to prevent their landing.
just at this time u messenger from Col. HI.
brought an order for the regiment to march to
the light house, about % miles from our camp,
and therefore we could do nothing but march
back, notwithstanding our men were extremely
anxious to remain and have a fight. We had
not fairly started when the enemy commenced
throwing shells into our camp in all directions.
One of their floating batteries came within half a
mile of the shore, and of course did great execu
ton. There was much grumbling when
the command was given to retreat, but
what could we do there against their rifed
cannon and shells. The mirch to the
light house was one of the seyerest
marches on record. Men dropp ed Town exhaust
ed every few yards, and it required every exer-
ton to keep the men together and moving. Com
pany X was left behind as rear guard and picked
up many a man who would have fallen into the
hands ofthe traitors. When our men first left
camp and marched Town to the shore they had no
idea of retreating, but left everything behind
and soon after the enemy began throwing his
shells into our camp, making it out of the ques-
ton for as to 90 back, and therefore we left
everything behind-knapsacks, blankets, cots, in
fact everything but what the men had on their
backs. | lost my cot, mattress, blanket, table,
chairs, epauletts, &c.
1t was the intention of the enemy to land troops
above and below us and thus cut US off entirely
from help from the fort. The plan was well laid,
everything worked well, they had plenty of steam
ers, plenty of cannon and plenty of men, and if it
had not been for Colonel Browns extraordinary
exertions, our 700 men would have been taken
prisoners, and perhaps Fort Hatteras taken againl
The enemy landed at three different places but
at each place they missed US a little and we got
in safety to the Clubhouse, where we were met by
OOhcuct ndNkiuS , LOudftS, UOU SlTO0B. ncTt
they waited all night but the enemy did not dare
to come up and show fight. Our boys we're al
most tired to death. As it was ] believe we lost
but few men during the march. We had to leave
four or five men in the hospital having no way
to take them with US.
Our whole loss on the steamer and in the re-
treat must have been between sixty and seventy
i've men. When the troops (Hawkins's) let
here stood on the beach, and with one of the
Zouaves signaled the men of war Susquehanna
and Monticello to 90 up the coast and trouble
them from the Atlantic side of the Island. They
soon started up the beach. and when they got
opposite our camp. where the enemy had landed,
they commenced Smelling them, and from what
We can learn hundreds upon hundreds were
killed.
One of our men who was taken prisoner, but
who escaped after killing a Captain and seven
privates. says they carried away boat loads OF
dead. He saw Col. Brosco, of Georgia, killed. A
she'll from the Monticello ruined the steamer
Fanny entirely. So l think their loss really was
more than ours by far.
This expedition of the enemy was a very per-
feet one, and was intended to take back this fort.
We have been looking for an attack ever since,
but have no fears but what we can hold it against
all they can bring against US. We are two thou
sand strong at present.
This morning the steamer Spaulding came in
and brought Gen. Mansfield, who is to take the
command at this place. The Indiana boys were
glad to see him.
| must close this long but hastily written letter.
i am writing in the sand on an old trunk with the
wind blowing rather hard. making it rather difficult
and unpleasant writing. SO you will know how to
account for all blunders.
My overcoat came by the steamer this morn
ing, but the weather here is so hot as to make
overcoats useless. 1t is awful hot here.
! go in the morning to Fort Monroe with dis
patches to Gen. Wool G.. W. NJ.
Pennsylvania Election.
The telegraph has been unusually silent about