Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-09-06
The Hatteras Inlet Fight,

ticulars of that splendid affair.
AT ten o'clock the Wabash fired the
first gun, the eleven-inch she'll striking
near the battery and bursting with ire
mendous force. The battery, which was
Of sand, covered with turf and mounting
five long thirty-two's, instantly returned
the fire, the shot falling short. The
Minnesota and Cumberland immediately
opened fire and rained nine and eleven
inch shell into and about it. The fire
was terrific, and soon the batery's res.
ponses were few and far between, save
when the frigates suspended fire for a
while to get new position, when the
enemy's fire was most spirited.
No damage was sustained by our
ships, and when they again took their po-
sition the cannonading was intensely hot,
the shells dropping in the enemy's works
or falling on the ramparts, exploding in
death dealing fragments, and carrying
death and destruction with them. The
small wooden structures about the fort
were torn aud perforated with flying
shells.
AT II o'clock the immense flagstaff
was shot away and the rebel flag came
down, but the fire was still continued by
them.
AT y o'clock the Susquehanna steam
ed in, and, dropping her boats astern,
opened an effective fire. The canonna-
ding on our part was incessant, and the
air was alive with the hum and explosion
Of flying she'll but the enemy did not
return the fire with any regularity, the
battery being toe hot FOR them, from the
explosion ofshells that dropped in at the
rate of above a half dozen a minute.
The enemy ceased firing little before
?, and after few more shells had been
brown in the Commodore sgnalized to
'ease firing.
The troops had meantime advanced to
within a short distance Of the fort, and
before we ceased firing some Of our men
got in and raised the Stars and Stripes.
The place was too hot for the men,
,ut the flag was left waving. Coxswain
Benjamin Sweares, of the Pawnee's first
utter, stood for some time on the ram.
oarts waving the flag amid high: of
shells.
When the firing ceased, the fort was
occupied in force and held attcrward.
The Monticello had proceeded ahead
# the land force to protect them. and had
cached the inlet whom lorso fort, oil
IN ootagon shape, to the rear and right
.! the small battery, mounting ten thirty
wo's and four eigbt-inch guns which had
i'll then been silent, opened on her with
'ieht-iach guns at short range. At the
.ame instant she got aground, and stuck
asst, the enemy pouring in a fire, hot and
loayy. which the Monticello reriiaJ 70
With she'll sharply. For f0v minutes
he held her own. and finally cr,l;or or
he ground she came ont, hayino boen
hot through and through by seven eight.
uch shell, one going below the water
inc. She fired ffy-fye shell in fifty
minutes, and partially sj.enced the bat
cry She withdrew at dusk for repairs,
'lth one or two men slightly bruised,
rat none killed or wounded.
The escape Of the vessel and crew was
liraculous. Until this time we supposed
he day was ours; but the unexpected
Pcniug Of the large battery rather
hanged the aspect of affairs Thiprs
ID NOT look cheerful ot d,r- W. lo1|r
zen ashore who were nrobanv :, noo1
f nrovisions and in case If niolt .,
,ck no assistance conId ba soot tbon, ]
ON the Harriet Lane.
As we lay close in shore we saw fine
right biyouac fires on the beach with |
roups of men about them The niobt !
,ssed without an alarm tba oronv
we have since learned Iov;no on ,ba;r
.,,s oil r;oh4 ovnoo,;r,, -, o.ooI
~ '"''J O'y oi0''N o'i thursday the =