The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-02

VI lue nhuu III
kept continually in motion on this bald sand beach, by
the strong winds which prevail here and the work would
be leveed down fast it could be put shape
IL not that fortunate in finding about quarters
Of mile up the island, some marshes, from which
obtained good sod to revet the work with and hold the
sand in place. have been very much annoyed with the
naval gun carriages sent from Norfolk, which NO
doubt well adapted to steamers when they have port
holes to fire through but which not at all adapted to
fotcatons they carry the gun low to render it
impossible to raise parapet OF sufficient height pro-
tect the who work the guns If TO CONSTRUCT
embrasures for them the field Of fire would be entirely too
limited as II is necessary not only TO command the
bar, but the channel Of approach. l would therefore
respectfully urge that Marshal Parks be directed TO send
no more Of them The barbette carriages require only
five to six TO work hem and infinitely superior
when the naval carriages cannot be worked with less
than fifteen 10 sixteen men, which is unnecessary
pense Of human life, especially it is difficult to protect
them by tbreastwork. The barbette carriages in
Newbern, and be made coon as the iron can DO
procured for them. The naval carriages will be used
aloat Yours, respectfully,
Col. W. BEvERHOUT THOMPSON,
Chef Of the Engineers, North Carolina coast.
The following gives an account Of an engagement be-
tween Fort Hatteras and Of steamers which
we are not sure has hitherto been reported:-
REBEL ACCOUNT OF FIGHT WITH UNITED STATES
STEAMER.
FoRr HA11ERAs, July IA, 1901
COLONEL WARREN wNsuow Military Secretary
CoIoNzL-since my arrival at this fort have received
correct account Of the action on Wednesday last be-
tween United States steamer and this fort from my
principal assistant Mr. Allen who took an active par IN
it, which was briefly as follows-The steamer was o
forty two gun steamer showing twenty guns each
side. She about eleven O'Clock A. NJ south
east from the fort, standing in towards the
breakers. When within mile and a half
from the fort she traced the breakers down
towards the inlet Feeling certain that her intentions
were hostile, as she had nineteen guns OUT
as she uncovered the encampment Mr. Allen let her have
thrty-two pound shot, when she Immediately dis
played the Stars and Stripes from her miz7en peak He
then directed shot from of eight inch howitzers
both shots falling short She returned the fire with
eleven-inch Dahgren gun. The shell exploded three
hundred yards from our battery, one Of the frag-
ments falling into 1t ana another passing over
it. Nobody hurt. Return shots made from both
Sides until some nine shots exchanged. The
maindcr Of her shot and she'll all fell short Of
battery. After the ninth shot our eight
inch guns, there was great excitement board the
steamer. man seen lowered on her SIDE She i'm.
nedatey lowered her flag hoisted her b sail and stood
Off Two persons from different points say that they
the shot strike her. But why she hauled down her flag
do not undo rsand If get the coumbiad can give
them hundred and twenty eight pound shot, which
will be apt to do their business eectuay We per-
caps for the troops write in haste Yours re-
specfully. Major W. BEvERSHOUT THOMPSON,
Chief Engineer Coast Defences
Lieutenant Biggs, of the Roanoke Guard commenced q
letter his father the % August 1t had reached the
nf xyhe
is rs follows
August 81 the day of the attack court martial is
being held David L. Williams to-day for going to
sleep guard. The very first time he stood guard after
coming back from home, which about week, he
went 10 sleep He has been in arrest since In all
probability by tonight tomorrow the rattle of
musketry and roar Of cannon will be heard here.
Old Abe has waited long, but 1t last has
come, and would suppose with the determination to
break up this hornets nest" Hatteras large ship
has been in sight, about eight miles off, all day There
four in sight, and Islander, who belongs 10
Capt. Cahoons company, has just down, stating
that ten large steamers sight, and close that
he could see all the surf boats for landing men, and
said they had good many Of them, and be had no
doubt they would landing troops very soon.
I have sent pckets out. There are eleven ships
now in sight, the Adelaide among them, and as full
practcing on the One steamer has como in a
mile OF the shore she first turned left side and then
her right side to though she intended give us
broadside, was banering TO fire. But doubt she
came to reconnoter, and has gone back report
Here the letter stops and if his father obtain the
HERALD, he may have the benefit Of this portion of the
letter OF his son. who will be as much asonshed to
his unfinished letter in the HERALD upon his arrva
at New York, tho rebel commanding officers al
being told by General Butler upon their conference
about the martial that was being held at the mo-
ment when the feet began the attack.
After the smaller fort had been senced boat was sent
ashore with Mr. Fske Aid to General Butler who swan
through the breakers to convey to Colonel Webers
mand the orders of the General and information of the
intended movements of the fleet. Upon entering the
reoub called Fort Clark he seized upon the books and
papers found there, among them official documents
and the books Of the commanding officers Mr. Fjske
strapped this package upon his shoulders and swan on,
and carried them the General, who thus informed
of what going at the moment of the appearance
of the feet Oh the inlet When the meeting was held on
the Minnesota TO arrange terms of capitalization the rebel
officers were utterly astonished at the nforma
ton Of the General and inquired anxously how he
what they were doing the day before and who the
person among them to whom signals had been made from
the Ieet The General simply replied that he possessed
m cans of accurate information
Colonies Max Weber and Hawkins we're left in charge
Of the Notifications.
Among the books brought of by Mr. Fiske was the letter
box Of W s G. Andrews Major commanding Fort Hat
teras and dependencies. From the following extracts of
official reports it will be that pa,niico sound was
regular nest of pirates and that prizes were daily carried
IN there by tho rebel privateers These reports show the
great importance of having this key 70 the Abeare in
our possession
HEADQUARTERS, CAMP HArTEgAs July q. 1851.
his Excellency HENRY 7 CLARK
GovERSoRn obedience to the instructions of the No.
paftment oil Military and Naval Affairs, Of date Of july
49, 1851 proceeded Immediately to this port and took
command on the Goth
Ino%as d. Allen has taken change Of the ordnance de-