Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-10-05
MAJOR ANDREM,s REPORT.

MAJOR ANDkEW . REFOhI.
On BOARD U. S. SHIP MINNESOTA,
Sept 1st 1861.
To the Adjutant General Of North Carotin@:
SIR:-I beg leave to report that after lombard
ment of three hours and twenty minutes on the 18th
of August 1851, surrendered to Com. s. H. String
ham, Flag Officer, and MAJ. Gen. B. +. Butler CON-
handing U. S. Forces, Fort Hatteras, at Hatteras
Inlet North Carolina.
In making this report desire briefly to allude to
the circumstances attending the capitulation.
| arrived at Fort HatteraS on the evening OF the
2Sth August in company with Com. Barron, Flag
Officer e. S. Navy in charge of the defences OF HIr-
ginia and North Carolina, and found that during the
day the enemy had attacked the forces under the
command of Col. VIM. f. Martin, as well as Forts
Clark and Hatteras under my command and after
day of most severe and unceasing fighting the Col
one had succeeded in concentrating all the forces
within the walls of Fort llatteras. Col Martin him.
self utterly Frustrated by the duties OF the day.
and on consultation with him proposed that we in
vte Com. Barron, officer Of great experience to
take the general command and direct the succeeding
operations.
CON- Barron consented and assumed the CON-
mand | then proceeded to examine our guns and
munitions and prepare the Fort for the action of the
coming morning.
There were but two guns mounted on the side
next to Fort Clark, both 32-pounders, and one gun
on the corner next the bar an S-inch shell gun
face of thework and brought another gun to bear in
the same direction.
The companies of my command under Captains
Cohoon Lamb and Sutton, having been in action all
the previous day, displaying great courage and devo
ton, being perfectly exhausted, placed the bate
ries in charge of fresh troops, follows No 2 and
of the Channel Battery, under the command of
Lieut. Col Geo. W. Johnston assisted by 1st Lieut..
Moze, and ID Lieut.. Geo. W. Daniel No facing
the bar and No. facing the Fort Clark, were plac.
ed in charge of Major Henry \. Gilliam assisted by
Lieuts. Johnston and Grimes No. 8, a gun mount
ed on naval carriage, was commanded by Lieut.
Murdaugh, Of the Z. S. Navy, assisted by Lieut..
Sharp aud Mdshipman Stafford. Capt Thomas IL.
Sharp had command Of No. 9, but owing to the
wrenches not fitting the eccentric axle was unable
to bring it into action. He staid by his gun during
most of the engagement but could not fire.
Thus we had but three guns We could bring to
bear Gf the enemy took up his position Of the previ
Gus day. viz: No q, and 8.
At TAO o'clock, A. NJ, of the Goth, the enemy
opened fire on US from the Steam Frigates Minneso-
ia, (43 guns,) Wabash, (43 guns) Susquehannah
(15 guns) Frgate Cumberland GA guns } Steamer
Pawnee, 90 guns,) and Harriet Lane, q guns and
a rited battery OF three guns erected in the sand
hills, half mile from Fort Clark. Thus you will
see, they brought 70 guns of the most approved
kind and heaviest metal to bear on us. The shells
thrown being inch ~ inch and II inch DahIgreen,
ton taken we were unable to reach them with the
greatest elevation.
The men of the Channel Battery were ordered to
leave their guns and protect themselves as well as
possible, the council of the commanding officers hav-
ing decided that it to be action of endurance
until our reinlorcements came up. After few shots
had been fired and it was ascertaned that we could
not reach them, our guns ceased fire and only an
swered the fire of the enemy occasionally to show
we had not surrendered.
The shower of shell in half an hour became liter
ally tremendous we had falling into and immedi-
ately around the work not less on an average than
10 each minute, and the sea being smooth the firing
was remarkably accurate. One officer counted %
shells as falling as to damage in minute, and
several others counted 90 in q minute.
At quarter to IL o'clock council of the officers
was held and it was decided to surrender; white
flag was raised and the firing ceased at / o'clock.
Thus for three hours and twenty minutes Fort
Hatteras resisted stream of shell perhaps more ter
rlble than ever fell upon any other work.
At the time the council determined TO surrender,
two Of our guns were dismounted, four men were
reported killed and between % and 80 badly wound
ed-one she'll had fallen into the room adjoining the
magazine and the magazine was reported on fire.
1t is useless to attempt further description. The
men generally behaved well, nearly every commits
stoned officer from the Commodore down more
or leSSed wounded, and fifty or sixty of the non
commissioned officers and men who would not re-
port to the surgeon
Lieut.. S. l.. Johnston, Co. E. 9TH Regiment fired
the last gun the enemy and raised the flag Of truce
on the bomb proof
The details of capitulation were arranged on the
Flag Ship Minnesota, by which we laid down our
arms, and marched out prisoners of war.
desire especially to speak of the conduct of the
officers and men at the naval gun, who fired fire.
quenty to try the range.
Lieut. Murdaugh was badly wounded, Lieut..
Sharp was knocked down by shot which passed
through the parapet near his head and brought the
blood from his right ear and cheek in considerable
quantity, killing at his side, at the same time
knocking down and covering Col. j. A. j. Bradford
with sod and earth and midshipman Stafford cheer
ed on the men, behaving in most gallant manner.
After the fall Of Lieut. Murdaugh his men bore
him to the Commodore's boat and he escaped
l am very truly and respectfully yours,
w. S. G. ANDREWS,
Major de-, dc.