Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-09-11

tbp p0HilINu Ul the ioll WhN 'N'''Nl"E
4, .uonr ono. natrly surrounded oh gu
.d,s 4, water nnd only 10 bc approach
ud hy a march OF I've hundred ymds cir
,uiiousN oyut long neck OF hnd, within
hnll muskcl range, and over q couscwoy
a lew feet only In width, aud which was
commanded hy two thiuy.tNo pound
guns loaded with grape aud canister
which Ncrc expended In our snlutc. II
has well protected magazine and bomb
proof, capable OF shcltcnug some three
hundred or four hundred men, The par
apct was nearly OF octagon form enclosing
about two.hirds of sn acre OF ground,
well covered with sufficient traverscs and
mmparts and parapets, upon which our
shells had made but little impression, -
Tho larger work nearer the inlet was
known as Fort llatlerNs. Fort Clark,
which was about seven hundred yards
rortherly, is y square redoubt mounting
five guns, and two siX-pounders. The
enemy had spiked those guns, but in n
very inefficient manner, upon abandon
ing the fort the day before.
had all the troops on shore at the
time of the urcnder OF the forts; but
re-emIarkel the regulars and the mar
ines. Finding it impossible without do.
lay OF the fleet, which could not be justiii'
cd under the state Of things at Fortress
Monroe, and owing to the threatening
appearance of the weather, ! dis9mbark-
~ tLv l.O,;-ioro. r,el-ing with the pro-
visions captured about five days, rations
for the use Of the troops.
On consultation with Flag Officer String
ham and Commander Stellwagen, de
termined to leave the troops and hold
the fort because of the strength o. the for
tIfcation, its Importance, and because. II
again in possession of the enemy with al
sufficient armament, the very great dltfls
Guilty of its capture, until | could get
some further instructions from the goy>
ernment.
Com. Stringham directs tine steamers
Monticello and Pawnee to remain IN
side and these, with the men IN the forts,
are sufficient to hold the position against
any force which is likely, or indeed posi-
ble, TO be sent against it. The impor~
lance Of the point cannot be oyerrated,-|
When the channel is buoyed out any YES
SCI may carry fifteen feet of water over II
with ease. Once inside, there Is safe
harbor and anchorage in all weathers.-'
From there the whole coast OF Virginia
and North Carolina, tiom Norfolk to Cape
Lookout, is within our reach by light
draugdt vessels, which cannot possibly
live at sea during the winter months
From it offensive operations may be made
upon the whole coast of North Carolina
10 Bogue Inlet, extending many miles in
land 10 Washington, Newbern and Beau
fort In the language of the Chief En-
gineer of the rebels, Col, Thompson in an
official report, it is the key OF the Aioe'
marie. In my judgement it is Il station
second in importance only to Fortress
Monroe on this coast. As a depot tor
coalirg and supplies for the blockadlng
squadron, it is invaluable. As a har
Dor for our coastng trade, or inlet from
the winters storm, or from pirates, it Is
Of the first Importance. By holding it,
Hatteras light may again send forth It's
cheering ray to the storm beaten mariner,
of which the worse than vandalism OF the
rebels, deprives him. 1t has but one
drawback want of water-but that al
condenser the one now in operation at
Fortress Monroe, at a cost OF n few hun>
drcd dollars, will relieve.
Iappend to this report tabular state,
ment OF the prizes which have been taken
into that inlet within few days, compi-
led from the official documents captured
with the fort. / add hereto an official re-
port Of the Chief Engineer of the coast
defeHces of the rebels. Please find also
appended statement Of the arms and
munitions of war captured with the fort
as nearly as they can be aseertained.
While all have done we'll, desire to
speak in terms Of especial commendation,
in addition to those before mentioned, of
the steadiness and cool courage OF Col.
Max Weber, who we were obliged to ieave
in command of detachment OF three
hundred men on strange coast, without
camp equipage or possibility OF aid, IN thel
face of an enemy six hundred strong, on
dark and stormy night OF Lieutenant
Colonel Weiss, who conducted a recon
noissance of twenty men; of the daring
and prompt efficiency Of Captain Nixon,
OF the coast guard, who, with his men, ,oc'
cupied Fort Clark during the first
night, although dismantled, in the face of
an enemy of unknown numbers.
| desire to commend to your attention
Captain Jardine, of the New York Ninth,
who was left in command of the detHchm-
ent Of his regiment when the unfortunate
casualty to the Harriet Lane prevented
Col. Hawkins from landing.
Permit me to speak of the efficiency of
the regulars under Lieutenant Larned,
who worked zealously IN aiding TO land
their comrades of the volunteers, overs
whelmed with the rolling surf.
desire especially 10 make acknowl.
edgements TO Messrs. Wiegel and Duri.
wage, volunteer aids. who planted the
American flag upon Fort Clark on theI
second morning, to indicate to the fleet
its surrender, and to prevent the further
wasting OF shells upon it--a service of
great danger from the fire of their own
friends.
make honorable mention of Young
Fiske, who risked his life among the
breakers, being thrown on shore, to con-
vey my orders to the troops landed, and
TO apprise them of the movements and
intentions of the fleet.
Also my thanks for the valuable aid of
Captain Hegarty, who was employed in