Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-10-05
COMMODORE BARRON'S REPORT.
U. 5. FLAG SHIP, MINNESOTA,

At SEQ, Aug. 81, 1861.
SIR:-I have the honor to report the surrender of
Fort Hatteras with its garrison, the 29th inst,
to the combined naval and military forces under the
command of Flag officer Stringham, and Major Gen.
eral Butler of the u S. service.
On the 18th inst, having arrived at Hatteras In
let in the steamer Winsow, l received a message
from Col. Martini commanding the 18th regiment n.
G. volunteers on shore, that he wished to hold
conference with me. | Immediately went to Fort
lIatteras accompanied by Col. Bradford, Colonel of
Artillery and Engineers, and Chief of Ordinance of
North Carolina, and Lieut.. Murdaugh ard Sharp,
c. s. Navy | found the Colonel very much ex-
hausted from exposure and hard fighting, which
had lasted from s, A. NJ, till after dark, during
which period of time he had been driven from Fort
Clark, (aer spkng the guns) to Fort Ilatteras the
ammunition in the former magazine having been eX
pended
was requested by him and Major Andrews COM
handing the post, to assume command of the Fort,
to which | assented, Col. Bradford volunteering to
assist me IN the duties of defence. In assuming
this grave responsibility was not unaware that We
could be sheed out of the Fort. But expecting
from Newbern the arrival of regiment of n. e.
volunteers, at or before midnight, (the fleet having
put to sea and appearances indicating bad weather)
designed an attack on Fort Clark threc-quarters
of a mile distant from Fort Hatteras, which had
been taken possession of by party landed from the
shipping, but unfortunately the regiment did not
arrive until the following day. after the lombard
ment had commenced; and when the time came
that deemed evacuation or surrender unavoidable,
the means of escape was not at my command.
On the next morning at 7.4O A. NJ, the fleet,
consisting of Nj hnesota, Wabash, SuSquehannah,
Cumberland, Pawnee, and Harriet Lane, (other steam
erS bling in company took their position and open.
ed fire. In addition to the batteries Of the ships,
the enemy had, during the night, erected battery
OF ritied guns, to Fort Clark, which also open
Ell on
During the first hour the shells of the ships fell
short We only fired occasionally to ascertain
whether our shot would reach them, and wishing to
reserve our very limited supply of ammunition till
the vessels might find it necessary to come nearer.
But they got the exact range of the o, 10, and IL
inch guns and did not find it necessary to alter their
positions; whilst not shot from battery reach
ed them with the greatest elevation We could get
This state of things, shells bursting and in
the fort every few seconds, having continued for
about three hours, the men were directed to take
shelter under the parapets and travaSeS and called
a council of officers, at which it was unanimously
agreed that holding out longer could only result in
great loss of life without the ability to damage our
adversareS; and just at this time the magazine was
reported on fire. shell having fallen through the
ventator of the Bomb Roof" into the room ad-
joining the principal magazine. | ordered white
flag to be shown when the firing ceased and the
surrender was made upon the conditions of the ac
companying articles oil capltuatlon:
The personel of the command are now prisoners
of war; on board this ship where everything is done
to make them comfortable possible under the cir
cumstance-Flag Officer Stringham, Captain Van
Brunt and Commander Case extending to US char
acteristic courtesy and kindness. We are to be
landed at Fort Hamilton, New York harbor.
The gun a navy carriage Was manned by eight
men from the Winslow and few volunteer soldiers,
and commanded by Lieut.. Murdaugh, assisted by
MidShipman Stafford, of the Ellis. regret to state
that Lieut. Murdaugh had his arm severely shatter
ed Lieut.. Sharp, my Flag Lieut., was knocked
down by shot and hurt in the head, not severely,
trust, though suffering to day from its effects
One man was killed at the navy gun and the
riage disabled. Lieut. Murdaugh was TAKEN by di-
rectIon, to the Winslow, and has escaped being
made prisoner. So far as ascertained, there were
on this day, two killed. twenty-five or thirty wound
ed and many others slightly touched.
have the honor to be, sir
Very respectfully, your obd't servt
S. BARRON.
Flag officer commanding Naval Defences afoat
of Virginia and North Carolina.
The Honorable S. R. Mallory, Secretary c. S.
Navy, Richmond, Virginia.