Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-08-07

instant. la the meantime Gen. GwyDn,
who had been informed Of the shelIing of
the fortifcation and the stampede comse-
quent thereon, had visited the place and
made preparations to carry forward the
work briskly. Just here / may remark
that the work of the men on shore lily |
justified our expectation of them after what |
had occurred.
Some days after we anchored here, |
gentleman came down with his schooner
and carried away his negroes, who had
been at wolk on the Fort, afraid to let them
remain. This fact the men aliege as an
excuse for their seeming tardiness in
work SO vitally important. | shall GER
tainly not take upon myself to fix upon
any one the censure for having so long
neglected the fortifcation of this place,
and for the inefficient manner in which the
very little work there has been performed.
[ wish merely to call the attention of the
proper authorities to the vast Importance
of thoroughly fortifying this position at
an early a day as possible. To continue.
After anchoring near enough to the Inlet
to detect and prevent predatory excursions
of the enemies launches into the sound,
we sent man ashore with orders to as>
cend to the top of the light house and sig
nal the approach of any vessels.
On the Goth the weather was exceed
ingy rough and disagreeable stiff "sou'-
wester" prevailing all day-a more un-
comfortable position than ours cannot be
well imagined. The wind moderated very
considerably during the evening, and on
Sunday, the 21st, the sun rose grandly
and beautifully, seemingly refreshed by the
long nap which he had taken on Friday
and Saturday, the 10th and goth. There
was serenity and blandness in the air
peculiar to Sundays the world over, and
under the circumstances, doubly CRATE
fNl to us. The officers of the g Beaufort !"
had been courteously invited on the day
previous, by Col Morris, to dine on shore,
and early in the morning were busy with
preparations to make respectable appear
aLce among the landsmen-the ships crew
were preparing to make grand haul With
the seine, in order to replenish our stock
of fresh provisions, all was gayety and
cheerfulness at the return Of fair weather.
When whew up went the signal at the
light house, dashing away by one short
sentence, as it were, all our hopes of a
dinner on shore and supply of fresh fish
The signal said plainly as dumb thing
could, =" A war steamer standing in from
the North'ard."
Immediately, all hands were "beat to
quarters" aid then silence fore and aft
''all hands clear the deck for action" was
the calm. caal--apaAr- of na---h-..-- -s-.1
chlvalrous commander, as with flashing
eyes and compressed lips, his tall form
drawn up 10 its full height, (sTx feet theree
orfour inches,) he stood, glass in hand
viewing the slow and seemingly naughty
approach of the enemy's steamer. The
commander of the "Beaufort" then dis
patched messenger on shore with a note
to Col. Morris, asking what course he in
tended to pursue in the premises, and ur-
ging the Importance Of using the two guns
mounted. In short time Col. Morris
came alongside the steamer, and remarked
IN course of conversation, that he had nC
men to work the guns the commander O
our steamer replied that the crew of th,
beaufort was at his service. Col. Nor
ris then said that he thought it would d.
no good.-Lieut. Duval remarked to hin
that he would fire on the enemy a
+ long as he could, which you will percey
IN the course of this letter, he did to tn
letter. As the enemy's steamer hove full
into -uiam--sha sh1>stora1,1l a,al Ea.loNl Ls
under steam. About this time, Captain
Martins company, which had arrived earl
in the morning, took up position behin
the sandridge on our extreme right, in or
der to resist landing should such hav
,, been attempted from the steamer. Gu
6 gun was now brought to bear on he
: Gracefully and majestically she passed IL
: battery without firing shot as it, much
: : our surprise-and showing that she ha
: accepted our challenge. Slowly she force
her way to the southwark, till abreast
the light house which was below and G
the right of US, when she rounded to an
proceeded to take position opposite tt
$ Beaufort" about one mile and quart
b to the eastward. We could now plain
o perceive her to be large three-lnast'
r screw propeller, carrying three guns {
l. each side, and what we afterwards asce
IS tanned to be rihed cannon six poundc
It ''forward and aft" We looked at each 9th
ID as this formidable stranger rounded to, al
j. then inquiringly at the commander. The
t. he stood, serene and impassable, fier
or smile of bitter regret on his counten'
st that his vessel was so small, and in bis e
f. a determination to give the "big steame
o. a warm reception. We saw that we b
nd before us hot work and plenty of it.
Mt. soon as she lost her headway after rou
On ding to, the steamer opened the ball
err sending life she'll whistling high o
nc our hurricane deck. 1t was really re
ed to us when the shot was fred, as we
n been in momentary expectation of it
&C. some time, and the suspense was horri
no especially to those of Us who had ne
ers before tasted "the fierce pleasures of W;
The smoke from her gun had scare
ion drifted astern of her, the echo had
to ceased vibrating over the waters arou
nv when the alittie Beaufort the very i'm;
of sonation of s.multum in parso, rep
IL most gracionsly and effectively to
and courteous Sunday salution Of our h
DO friend; as the smoke of our gun cleared
in and we saw the water dashed up the s
nlet Of the steamer, hearty cheer broke 4
re- spontaneously from the entire crew.
avs. opinion of every cne on board of our ste
tain er, whose position enabled them to ju
ned correctly, was that our frst shot ST.
Met the enemy between her main and MI
| of masts. This. opinion was confirmed
/ in terwards BY parties on shore.