The national Republican., 1861-09-25
OFFIClsL REPORTS.
REPORT OF COMMANDER ROWAN.


The Navy Department has advices from Hat
teras Inlet to the 18th instant. On that day,
Commander Rowan received information that
there was number Of guns on Beacon Island
and Portsmouth Island which the rebels were
making arrangements to remove. In his Off
cial report he says:
II Immediately determined to use all the
means at my command to prevent the removal
of the guns, and forthwith got the steamer
Fanny alongside to prepare her for this serv-
ice, and had the launch armed and equipped.
| sent a request to Colonel Hawkins to give
me as many of the naval brigade as could be
spared, which he cheerfnlly complied with
When the Fanny was brought alongside. her
iron perch was found 70 much injured that It
would be impossible to send her without re
pairs, so the forge was gotten up, and the cliuk
Of hammers soon succeeded She voices of the
crew in their responses to our usual Sunday
morning service.
| dispatched the informant IN to Captain
Chauncy, in the oiting, who promptly informed
me that he would send in four boats and all
his marines / sent him word that | would
have great pleasure in cooperating with him
as senior officer, and would send him tae Tenn
| pest to tow his boats over Ocracoke bar.
At daylight on Monday morning. the Fanny
was towed alongside, and her rudder tempori-
| rily fitted. The naval brigade were taken on
board, with four days provision and water,
and the launch similarly provided.
The expedition being carefully organized and
provided with sledge-hammers to break off the
truanions with thirty two pounder shot and
| twenty seven pound cartridges. TO be used in
firing one gun against the trunnion of another,
left this ship at halfpast seven O'Clock The
launch commanded by Lieut.. Eastman, in tow
/ of tba tlan a. 4
Of Lieut. Maxwell, the executive officer of the
ship.
| l dispatched the tug Tempest tosCaptain
Chauncy, she drawing too much water to en-
| ter the sound At ten o'clock, the SuSqun
hanna and tug started for the Inlet. On the
evening Of the same day the tug and Susquc-
hanna returned and anchored off Fort Clark
The tug came in next morning, and the pilot
informed me that the force from the Su,u que
hanua did not enter OcracOke. in consequence
| of the surf.
| On the afternoon o! the l7th instant. felt
1 mach anxiety for our expedition.
| The Susquehauna remained II, anchor in the
ofng and our force was left to take care o,
| itself
| Early this morning the lookout at the mast
head gave us the gratifying intelligence that
our expedition was in sight and il reached the
ship about eleven o'clock.
| Lieu'S. Maxwell and Eastman performed the
service with ability and energy, and bore my
| thanks
The destruction of the fort is completa, and
twenty two guns disabled. These are all the
guns that were there, with the exception Of two
taken off in the steamboat Albermarle, on sun
day.
The destruction OF the guns were with me a
necessity. | had no means OF transporting
them, nor Of defending them in their position
| therefore nope my course will meet your ap-
proval.
enclose n copy Of Lieut.. MaXwell's report,
giving the detail oI this important service,
which was performed without an accident OF
any kind
| have the honor to be, very respectfully,
| yonr Obedient servant.
| j. T.. Rowan, Comm'r