Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-17


shown its hile5us form among US, ne matter how
ieye Of the Commander saved even the appearance
1atteras IaIet-Eas PIEcs Esscominz U1-
ltenahie-DoPl0rabie Condition Of rO5ps.
! eorresPondsncs Of the New York Tribune.
HATTERAs INLET, Nov. 1.-The land forces st this
psint are in the midst of anohsr engagement which
s Of more serious character than any of the con-
ets that have yet taken place on this coast 1t is
1 q contest with the elements. A great deiuge fR
upon us. Last evening gzie sprung up, which
Continued to increase in fary every moment until
morninr when 1t assumed the form of perfect
whirlwind, accompanied with rain which at times
fell in torrents. About three O'Clock this morning
the waves from the ocean began to sweep over the
island, (hslf mile wide1 into the sound, and be-
fore daybreak these twobodies of water were uai-
ted. Not spot of land was to be seen. All the
lower portion Of the Island where Forts uztteFas
and Clark are situated, was under water, and So
sudden was the uPheaving and so violent the storm,
that all chances of escape were cut of before morn
ing Light came.
1G Was utterly impossible for any assistance to
reach them from our eeet, SO terrible was the Hat
teras storm. And it was not until breaker swept
across the island, carrying men, tents, shsnties and
every creeping thing with it, that the soldiers
aware of the presence Of great food. Men were
suddenly washedou of their beds, and found all
their clothes (what few had undressed) borne by
the water 70 the sound. Live stock, such as pigs,
chickens horses, cattle, dogs, cats, and cooking
untenss, lumber difsWood boxes barrels, trunks,
shanties, were carried forward, together with men
on them ard in them, some jumping out of windows,
some cutting their way through the roof, others
jumping OIL into the water, which in many places,
was over their heads in depth, and making for
box barrel in order to reach the roof of
shanty still standing. Officers on horses were riding
or sWimreing through this moving mass, Civ
ing orders to this floating srmy of men, who,
with gun in one hand, and with Ike other
hanging on to some kind of an object, kept
themselves above water. The most meurnful
sight of all, however, was TO witness the moving OF
the sick, some of whom were in dying condition
before the storm came. They were carried on cots
from place TO place, on the shoulders OF men who
were wading through water nearly neck deep. 1t
was also sad sight to witness such destruction
of property. at the wharf, where all the. govern
meHG property is stored, wholesale destruction
took place. Provisions of every kind were soon
afoGt-barreis of crackers, bread, sugar, pork,
molasses beans, potatoes, fish, boxes of candles,
SOAP clothing and In fact. everything required for
an army, was seen to go with the food, with the
buildings containing them in adap dated condition
The steamer Spaulding arrived the day before with
& large load Of PROVISIONS clothing, lumber, ETC..
and SIS good luck would have il, she was unable to
land bat small portion of her cargo the night she
came in Unfortunately there was. however, some
clothing landed for the naked goth Indiana regiment
Nearly half of this much needed freight was placed
the pier, ana We0b waves OF til1 ocean
within view of the soldiers who with fearful eyes
and shivering forms, beheld this to them the most
melancholy sight of all. About six o'clock this
morning. the flood was at its height, and for two
hours Col. Brown of the twentieth Indiana regiment
and officers were in great suspense. IL was very
evident that new inlet below Fort CLARK had been
made during the night, which entirely cut off their
escape; and as the waves were rushing into Fort
Clark by SIX in the morning, it was apparent that
all must meet with watary grave If the water cen
tinued TO rise at the same rate for two hours TO
come Fortunately the country was spared frem
hearing such horrible tidIngs as was mOmentarily
threatening she lives Of these loyal soldiers The
storm began TO abste at seven this morning, and
by nine o'clock narrow ridge OF sand beach I
was discovered above Fort Clark, which was
hailed with wild delight by the soldiers of the
tWentiethIndia regiment, who but few minutes
before were making preparations TO save themselves
if possible, from fearful fate. By noon the tide
had gone down and left quite little spot for the half
drowned and exhausted men TO walk upon and build
some camp fires, which enabled them to cook q
scanty meal from what few fragments Of provisions
had been rescued from the water. Thata sight te !
behold AL was devastation and ruin the entire !
camp was made desolats. Several feet of sand are
taken the surface CT the island, leaving it In
such condition that it is to be under water as
often as the tide comes up.
Between Fort Clark and HatterGs new inlet /
some six feet deep, was formed during the night /
and now it is vast sheet of water between the Two
land and viii be swept entirely away in the next |
severe Storm its sandy walls having already COM I
menced to crumbie. In fact it is thought that the
next great storm (Which is liable to visit this region
any day. will level both forts Clark and Hatteras
understand that the COnfederates only built them
for SIMMER use, expecting they would be swept
away before spring which accounts for using the I
cheap material (ssnd and turf with which these
forts are constructed. This sweeping food makes
good the predictions Of the Confederates when we
took possession of this trescher0us and mysterious
They said we would be glad TO abandon
Hatteras Island when the winter storms came. Ii
has been said all along by our most experienced
military men, that land force On H2tteras Island
was enti,ely unnecessary, and that small feet
would efsctually guard the inlet.
Camp Wool, where the ninth New York Tou1S
teers are quartered) some three miles above Fort
Hatteras, was also much damaged by this storm
Their large hospital, some sixty by forty feet was
carried away; the sick, however. were s@ved, They
lost nearly al their provisions and many other
stores. Camp Bailey, seven mills up the island,
where Capt. Bailey, with portion OF the Indiana
regiment is stationed has, learn escaped with put
lItlle loss they being On q higher point Of land
which is strengy fortified. Six companies Of this
regiment left Fort Clark today for Csmp Bailey
Leaving only three companies ct Fort Clark, who
| learn, will also abandon this dilapidsted and
fertilization on the morrow, and doubt
less they viii be followed soon by the regulars now
stationed at Fort HattePSs. Camp Bailey, or Fort
Bailey, is the best place on the island to make g
stand and resist attack from the enemy, which
S now monentarily expected. c
Wore BAD luck,