The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-28
OPERATIONS ON The COAST.
The Destruction Of the Rebel DcfenceS
at OcracOke Inlet.
OUR SPECIAL NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE,
&C.. &C., &c.

Fort CLARK, HATTRRAs INLET N. c., Sept ID, 1861.
Capture eta Schooner and Scutaing Of AnotherSrecula
tons to the Scuttled Vessel-Tae Affair Remains a
Mysery-A Desolae and Sterile Spo,-Pnpetua Sand
Sorms-Inconuenience from the iSand-7he Water Bad
and Scdrce-The Plague Of Mosquitoes and Sand Flies-
Fish in Abundance, dc.
Since the departure Of the steamer 8. r. Spauldng,
with Colonel webers regiment Of Turner Rifles, or,
properly the detachment from that regiment which has
Been occupying Fort Hatteras nothing has occurred
land worthy Of particular notice. On the sea- however,
there has beon capture of schooner attempting to
the blockade and convoy supplies TO tho rebels,
and the scuttling wrecking Of another,
much larger schooner, within sight o.
the shore Tho circumstances OF both affairs, so far
O. saw them, are folows:-Two schooners OBJ
served early hour this morning making their way
from Q southerly direction, and heading towards the
,nlet. The Susquehanna lay at anchor about three
miles from the mouth OF the inlet in her usual position,
and at that hour had not her flag flying Tho schooners
approached to within two three miles Of her, when
they discovered her character also the condi
ton Of affairs at the inlet. The wind blowing quite
fresh and they unable to escape Ono boldly stood
towards the Susquohanna and being signaled to to-
covered her sails and TO anchor. On being
boarded by boat from the rigate 1t found TO BIO
the Argyle. The captain proessed DO bound from the
British Provinces to Key West that he in want Of
water, and had run IN for the purpose repenshng his
vessel with supply Of that desired article But he
sonty asserted he did know what place this was,
that fortified in the rebels hands. His
eory too improbable for belief and tho schooner
declared prize to the Susqnchanna Tho captain stated
that his cargo fish, Whether this is true not has
not been decided examination Of her cargo has
been made. She will be sent North, either to Philade
pha or New York. in charge of Masters Mate Cook and
prize crew from the susqg johanna.
The other schooner and is fate do not TO have
been observed by those the Susqnehanna. II a
mile perhaps behind the Argyle, and under full sail. 1t
to strike suddenly and all the mass, sails and
rigging observed to pitch ahead and go by the
board the hull to roll twice and nothing
afterwards OF her. two three large
pieces floating the The distance great
from US, and the sea high, that it impossible to
distinguish a human being on the fragments of tn,
wreck, even II one had chung to them nor could
any boats in the vicinity, and doubt not all board
wore lost The schooner fine large one fore and
after with stay sails set and bearing every indication Of
being fast Whether she merchant vessel at.
tempting to run the blockade aprfvateer returning from
cruise, for the purpose of renting taxing provi-
sions can only BIO conjectured And in doubt
to whether she struck unknown shoal rock or
whether she purposey wrecked, rather than get
into the clutches Of the Susquehanna, the captain and
preerring the chances OF death breakers
the risk Of feeling the halter other day. We
know nothing of her name, the port she hailed from
what her business HatteIas Inlet; bat that
she was totally lost, with probably all on board,
know certainty. Perhaps clue iden-
ty her when the fragments Of the wreck ashore
Till then all is wrapped in mystery.
hardly know what to say of our position here or
is mro sance in military sense there is no difference
o. opinion, but in every other view, believe all who
lsyc seen concur In asserting that is the moss serile
deserted aud desc ate spot that the shines The
camp of portion Of the troops, the
Of that occupied by the enemy before the anag Of
zsroops, is 10 exempt this charge for
there it is possible TO And a little shade
under the insignificant live oaks that skirt
she low sand Spit but as for any verdure clad hels
D smear
like grses hsvo pierced through the sterile soil and
he % sei ssn sSS
ew yopun" buahes, not unlike tho whor,leberry " tho
North, seem 70 get livelihood 10 spots but all else
hnrreh sand that CLEANS and gows under tropic sum-
the eye tires a. The dIsmal prospect and turns to
itself the oceans deep blue and the flashing surf.
&Wk iikely n DO buried by tho sand that drifts in
clouds over 1t during the gales that blow here with in
tense violence at all OF the year And may hero
dgress little TO that the sand here confounded
nuisance II is on al sides II under US, US, In
our clothing, in mouths, and nosis Do
Sit d)wn 10 our frugal repss mouths filed
with sand that grits terribly perform the opera
ton OF mascation discomposing nerves and making
uncomfor table generally. Even pipe, the only
source of consolation left rewards first inhalation
with sand well smoke II Is all sand, sand, sandi
NOW" may Dc Surea ne sand sowp day or otner ana
us in the face, our countenances slowly assuming
sorrowul expression not unlike that of the phynx he
looks out OF his cold, stony eyes, the desert sands
Hereafter shall bring handful Of grass down here
adorn my quarters. and, while here shall be most happy
to see man who wears weeds on his hat. Then, too,
though thcrc is water every side we have precious
little to drink and that Of the most exccabie kind The
water brought from the fort becomes bud when exposed
to the barrels, and the well obtained here
OF very poor quality To who has been accustomed
to drink good, COOL sparkling spring water very
hard drink have here but all this will
be remeded In good time This dcprivatn Of good water
II what the enemy promised u.s. and the thought of il af
Iorded them immense consolation for the loss Of this
stronghold. As OF the only two they can enjoy
ought to be charitable enough to allow them to
do in peace The second source of consolation they
have is their practical knowledge Of the
number, size and holiness OF the execrable
~ .srrt1 .ntlnc
numbers OF immense astonishing length and strength
Of sting Of consImma,e ac In selecting weak spot for
attack and tenacious in its assaults 1t is an
dread far than fear the rebels, and which
would worry the life eut OF arhnoceros, II ii should be
unfortunate TO hnd itself in their company With
mosquitoes, the pestiferors sand flies and other dscom
forts have barely limited at you may well imagine what
place have to 1.-Two in However, have plenty
of fish, oysters clans wild fowl and other good things
il we will only take the trouble to get them We get
plenty OF fine fish of the most dainty flavor and oysters
and clans abundance. shall not starve. Sweet
potatoes, melons, &c, be purchased for song. But
get very little fresh meat and that not Of tho best
kind. So you we have comforts well as dis
comforts but am bound say that the former will
outweigh the latter. But to return to the SUBJECT
Both Of the forts in excellent condition for de-
fence, and will be further strengthened Although
may not DO called upon TO try ability 70 successfully
defend position, 1t well enough " be pre-
pared for assault.
had ped to be able to speak from personal
ton and knowledge Of the feelings OF the people on the
coast and on the mainland towards the Union. have
not been able TO visit the inhabitants yet but to
row expect to see depsa ion from the mainland who
and from them hope 10 earn the state Il afairs over
the Sound Bat this letter be " the Ba,i
more steamer which leaves for Old Point very soon
1wA not DO able to give the results Of my inquiries
day
FORT CLARK HArTxRAs INLET, N c., Sept 10, 1891
No Signs Of The Emmy Ya-Anriety Of the Men 10 See the
Rebsls-Bdyonets rs Botcie Kntres-7Ae Unton S.sl<r
Unir~So' On the Island and Strong the AainIand-
Effect Of the Good Conduit Of Oar Troops ne InhaJi
tant'-cansp WooI-sunaay, and The Island Church
The Conaregdtom-7he Service, &c-An Eryedition to
Ccracoie, DC, dc, dc.
The enemy have not as yet carried out their bloody
resolves to root out Of the sacred Of North Carroll
ma trunk and branch SO continue TO occupy this
cheorless position prey to mosquitoes, neas and sand
flies and pass our time quietly would camp in
fhe heart OF the Empire State, and plea
e'nily as one when all about him In ma
'ure Is dreary, dull and disagreeabe. To be
ese, we have all sorts 0 rumors daily, which
g. an instant quicken the circulation OF the blood until