The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-10-25
THE FIGHT AT HATTERAS.
FURTHER INTERESTING PARTICULARS.
resp ondence of the New York Tribune.

character. Inc detalls as tney have reached
me are somewhat confused, but the promi,
nent facts are these: On Saturday, the
rebels landed on Hatteras Island, or beach,
about midway between Fort Hatteras and
Chicenocomico, where the Indianians were
encamped, between $500 and 5000 men,
with the view OF cutting off their retreat
and capturing the entire force. Appre,
hending movement of this character, the
gunboat Monticello Captain Braine, started
up the coast ION the outside), to afford what
protection be could to our men, who were
conceived to be in imminent peril. When
about fifteen miles above Hatteras and
when the rebels had approached to within
three miles of our men, tbe Monticello came
up with the rebels, who were marching On
the beach in close order, in plain sight, and
within short range Captain Braine imme-
dately opened with his guns with SHE'LL
which were planted with terrible effect in
the rebel column, moving down masses at
each discharge. They broke in all directions
But there was no place of refuge except in
a small clump of trees into which he poured
his ten>inch shells with murderous effect.
The rebels ran in all directions, threw away
their guns, and with uplifted arms implored
for mercy. Large numbers took to the
water up to their chins, in vain endeavors
to avoid the shells which still burst among
them. Two parties of about fifty each took
to two small schooners in Pamlico Sound,
and undertook to make Off These were
struck by shells, which burst in their holds,
and the vessels and all on board sank. The
men were seen struggling in the water as
they went down. The expedition was
wholly cut up In struggling parties, the
rebels, in boats and by swimming, made
their way to the steamers which lay in the
Sound, unable to render any effective assis-
tance, though they fired several shots. The
number killed must have been several hun
dred. They were Georgia, North Carolina
and Virginia troops. The commanding
officer Was killed. The rebels had previ>
ously captured about fifty of our pickets,
which, including those captured On the
Fanny, make eighty prisoners in their
hands. Two undertook to escape, but one
was drowned in the attempt The other
reached the Monticello. He states that
the slaughter was terrible and the route
complete.
ACCOUNT BY A SOLDIER.
The following narrative is given by pri-
vate Haver, Company ii, of Col. Browns
regiment. He was captured by the rebels,
but finally escaped:
He says that Privates Bennett, White
and himself were busily engaged destroying
whatever they could, to prevent the enemy
from getting any plunder, but remained
nd MFR, h1,f fto
Georgians. Bennett was shot dead in his
attempt to escape. White and Haver were
tied and put under charge of Captain Will
son, of the Georgia Seventh. Towards
sundown Captain Wilson and several other
officers we're cooking and eating some ducks
they had captured, or rather stolen from the
poor people residing there and, being very
hungry, he ventured to ask them if they
would give him some after they were done.
One of the party looked at him, calling him
a"damned Black Republican son OF b--h,"
and said, "we don't eat with niggers." A
little before daylight the following morning
be succeeded in getting his hands clear, then
released his companion, White, and drew a
small revolver that had remained secreted
between his two shirts when be was dis
armed, and shot Captain Wilson, and then
they both fed into piece of marsh, or bog,
that was short distance off. They were
pursued, but unsuccessfully; they buried
themselves in the soft bog, with their heads
only above the surface and concealed by the
thick rushes. Several times the feet of
their pursuers were heard rustling among
the rushes and high grass, causing their
hearts to beat with increased rapidity; for,
had they been caught, they would have been
shot at once.
Fortunately for them the Monticello COM
menced firing her shells into the enemy,
which gave them something else to do
besides hunting up their escaped prisoners.
Haver says that, Notwithstanding the very
uncomfortable position they were in, be
could not help but laugh to see the scatter
ing made among them by the explosion of
the shells. He says that Colonel Barlow
was knocked off his horse by the bursting of
shell, and he did not see him again-nO
doubt he was killed-and also says the
shrieking and lamentations of the rebels
we're heartrending. Some would exclaim
=" My God, we will all be killed ," and one
close by him, as shell exploded, excaimed:
"Oh, my God, there's George be is XII led."
Such were the scenes that were passing
around them, till, seeing favorable oppor.
tunity, they left their place of concealment
and pushed for the beach, hoping to be
taken off by the Monticello. They were
pursued, but only for short distance. AS
soon as they reached the beach Capt. Braine
sent a boat for them, although the surf was
very heavy at the time. They were so eager
to get among their friends that, before the
boat was near enough to take them, they
both plunged into the surf, and while the
boat was picking Haver out of the water
Charles White was drowned. Although
good swimmer, he was so exhausted for
want of food, and that produced by the
exertions put forth to gain their liberty,
that be sank, to rise no more, which was
rather hard fate to meet after succeeding
SO we'll in freeing themselves from the
enemy. I must close this, to send by the
Susquehanna, as she is about leaving fof
Hampton Roads tOcoal.
1T is stated that Major Israel V odges,