The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-09-07
BRILLIANT
NAVAL VICTORY.


tHiUn SIDE.
The expedition which left Hampton Roads
fr the coast Of North Carolina on Monday
week resulted in ono Of the most splendid
achievements on record.
Sumo delay attended the concentration Of
oil the ships and steamers, but on Wednesday
morning the Minnesota, the Wabash. the
Cnmter land, til, SuSqurhanna, the Pawnec,
the Harriet Lane. the Monticello, beside a
nntnbcr Of tugs and The transport steamers
Adelaide and Peabody, had arrived off Hat
teraS Inlet.
The Acct v as in command of Flag Officer
Siringham, aud the land forces were com.
manded by Maj Gen. Batter.
Within the last three months the Rebels
have erected two forts to guard the mouth of
the llat,ras Inlet, and urdrr the protection
which they afforded Pamlico, Albcmailc
Sounds aud the connecting sounds had become
the rcnd, zvous Of privatccrs.
Through this direct connection with the
Chesapeake, Alhrmrrle, Norinlk, and Nlr.
ginia communicated with the SEA
Owing to the character Of the coast. block
AIDE was impossible, and capture therefore
became necessary.
The bombardmcnt was commenced at Il
Minnesota on Wednesday at A NJ and she
was soon joined by the entire fleet
The fire was inccSsant the forts responded
but seldom. aud it soon became evident that
their guns could not reach the ships. though
the Rebels might long hold out, protected as
they were ny their works.
When the bombartment opened. the land
ing of troops from the Transports by launches
nod nd of
the guns Of the Harriet Lane and Monticello
Ii was more than an hour before the first
boat reached the beach. BY this time the
wind had come up so that the surf ran high
and though the greatest clfIrls were made
only about three hundred Of the forces were
landed.
Every boat was either broken up or bcachcd
and withSanding nearly one thousand
men had been placed on schoonrrs it was
considered too dangerous to attempt to land
them, and they were returned to the
transports. Those who reached the shore
were thoroughly wet.
Meanwhile the BON bardmeut went OH with
out cessation. The scene was extremely
grand. The shells from the fleet aimed on
the :orts and exploded with great effect
Tie fonts replied but seldom.
When tins had continued about three
hours, the flag OF Fort Clark came down and
the rebels rrlrcatcd to Fort Ilaltclas, large
work below
Soon after oar forces on shore occupied the
abandoned fort and waved the Stars and
Stripes from the ramparts. Unfortunately
installing the flag or not aware that our
men had landed. some of the ships sent several
shells in among them but without iniurins
any one.
The Monticello had proceeded aht adj of the
land force to protect them. and reached the
Inlet, when large fort. of an octagon shape,
to the rear and night of the small battery.
mounting ten 32S and four Snch guns,
which had till then been silent, opened on
her with eigh. guns, at short range. At the
same instant she got aground and stuck fast.
the enemy pouring in five, hot and heavy,
which the Monticello replied to with shell
sharply. For fifty minutes she held her own.
and finally getting off the ground she came
out, having been shot through ard through
by seven S,nch shells. one going below the
water line She fired So shells in fifty minu.
ties. and partially silcnced the battery She
Withdrew at dusk for repairs, with one or
two men slightly bruised, but none killed or
wounded.
The escape of the vessel and crew was
miraculous. Until this time we supposed
the day was ours but the unexpected open.
Ing OF the large battery rather changed the
aspect of ailails.
Night coming on the fleet returned for
anchorage. except the gunb0ais which re-
manned as near as prudent to guard the small
band who, separated from the main force.
campcd on the beach in no sma II danger of
un attack from the Rebels IN larger force
Short distance below.
Nothing VI Importance occurred during the
night.
On Thursday morning the fleet took their
positions, at about the same range, and at s
O'Clock the Susquehanna opened the ball.
and in few minutes the entire fleet conccn-
tratcd its fire on Fort Ilat:eras
Our forces on shore were now in Fort
Clark. spectators Of the scene. Fort laticras
did not return the fire Tor nearly half an hour,
and its shots all fell short.
The bombaIdmcnt Was continued without
ihterlnlSsion, when. at halfpast eleven, our
shells began to range on the magazine-.a
white flag was displayed on the fort-our
men at Fort CLARK, with loud shouts, started
on double quick, and were met on the
beach by flag Of truce.
Capt. Nixon Of the Coast Guard repaired
to the Fort, and was met by the commanding
officer who proved 10 be Commodore Samuel
barron, late of the navy He proposed to
caplluIate BY allowing the garrison to stack
arms and retire, and the officers to retain
their sidearms. These terms General Butler
who had entered the inlet OF the steamer
Fanny, instantly r,j ctcd, and demanded an
unconditional surrender. These terms, aftel
u Counsel Of War, were sccrptcd
Commodore Barron was taken to the flag
ship, where he delivered his sword TO Com.
modorc Strlngham, and the army officers
delivered theirs TO Gen. Butler.
by the surrender we came in possession Of
one thousand stand of arms, thirty.fvc heavy
guns, ammunition for the same, large
amount OF hospital and other stores, two
schooncrs- loaded with tobacco and the
other with provisions one brig loaded with
cotton, two light boats two surf. boats, &c.
The cnelnys loss they allow to he eight
killed thirly-iive wounded.
We took fortyfivc officers prisoners. many
of high rank, and SIX hundred and sxty-fiye
non commissioned officers and privates.
Not man was hurt on our side.
The fort was reinforced by the arrival of
four bundled men the night before. Coinmo
dore Barron reached the fort the afternoonof
the first boInbardment, and on the second
forenoon a steamer approached with one
thousand men, but were warned away by the
guns OF our men at Fort Clark.
The terms of surrender having been signed
the Rebels weae instructed by Gen. Butler to
march out Of the fort, which was done. while
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