Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-22
Fremont journal.
!. The s.eta. ID Esasserns Inles.

accompanied by terrific tempest which
drove the waves from the ocean across the
island 11half mile wide--iuto the Sound,
so that not q spot oflapd was to be seen.
The rain fell in torrents, and the cOrespon-
don't OF the Tri6me gives the following
graphic account of the ienors and perils Of
the scene, and Of the damages sustained, in
a letter of the End inst:
All tho lower portion ofthe island, where
Forts Hatteras and Clark are situated, was
under water, and so sudden was the up
heaving and so violent the storm, that all
chances Of escape we're cut off before the
morning light came. II was utterly i'm
possible for any assistsnce to reach them
from our feet SO terrible was the Hatteras
storm. And il was not until breaker
swept across the island, carrying men, tents,
shsnties, and every creeping thing with il,
that the soldiers were aware of the presence
Of great food. Men were suddenly wash
cd out Of their beds and found all their
clothes (wbat few had undressed) borne by
the water TO the Sound Live stock, such
as pigs, chickens, horses, cattle, dogs, cats,
and cooking Utensils, lumber, driftwood,
boxes, barrels, trunks, shanties, were carried
forward, together with men on them, and
in them, some jumping ont of windows,
some cutting their way through the roof,
others jumping off into the water, which, in
many places, was over their heads in depth,
and making for box or barrel in order to
reach the roof of a shanty still standing
Officers on horses were riding or swimming
through this moving mass, giving orders to
this floating army of men, who, with gun
in one hand and with the other hanging on
TO some kind Of an object kept themselves
ab6ve wGteryi The most momBful sight of
all, however, was to witness the moving of
the sick, some Of whom were 10 a dying
condition before the storm came, They
wore 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 destruc-
ton. Of property. At the wharf where all
tho Government property is stored, a whole
sale destruction took place. Provisions Of
every kind were soon aioat--barrels Of
crackers, bread, sugar, pork, beef, molasses,
beans, potatoes, fish, boxes of candles, soap,
clothing, and in fact everything required
for an army was seen 10 go with the food,
with the buildings containing thcm in a
very dilapidated condition. The steamer
Spaulding arrived the evening before with
large load of provisions, clothing, lumber,
&c, and as good luck would have it, she
was unable to land but small portion of
her cargo the night she came in. Unfort-
unately there was however some clothing
landed for the naked Goth Indiana Regi-
ment. Nearly half of this much needed
freight was placed on the pier, and went
with the waves of the ocean within view of
the soldiers who, with fearful eyes and shiv-
ering forms, beheld this, to them, the most
melancholy sight of all.
About O'Clock this morning the food
was at its height, and for hours Col. Brown
Of the 20th Indiana regiment and officers
were in great suspense. It was very evi-
dent that new inlet below Fort Clark had
been made during the night, which entirely
cut of their escape; and as the waves were
rushing into Fort Clark by in tho moru-
hight was apparent that all must meet
with a watery grave if the water continued
to rise at the same rate for two hours to
come. Fortunately, the country was spar
ell from hearing of such horrible tidings as
was momentarily threatening the lives of
these loyal soldiers. The storm began to
abate by a. m. this morning. and by 0
o'clock narrow ridge Of sandbeach was
discovered above Fort Clark, which was
hailed with wild delight by the goth Iudi-
ana regiment, who, but few minutes be.
fore, almost hopeless, were making prepara-
tions to save themselves, if possible, from q
fearful fate. By noon the tide had gone
down.. and left quite little spot for the
halEdrowned and exhausted men to walk
upon and build some camp-fres, which en-,
abled them to cook a scanty meal from
what few fragments of provisions. had beer
rescued from the water. What sight tC
behold All was devastation and ruin; tn,
entire camp was made desolate. Severa
feet Of sand are taken from the surface o
the island, leaving it in such condition
tbatit is sure to be under water as often as
the tide comes up, s.,.,,,o,,,~, ,..,. .,.-
Between Fort Clark and Hatteras now
inlet, some six feet deep, was formed during
the night, and now it is a vast sheet of wa,
ter between the two Forts, Fort Hatteras
stands isolated from tho land, and will bc
swept entirely away in the next sewers
storm, its sandy walls having already com
commenced TO crnmble. In fact it is tho
that the next severe storm (which is liabl
tovisit this region any day), will level botl
forts, Clark and Hatteras. / underslan,
that the Confederates only built them 70
summer Nse, expecting they would be swep
away before Spring, which accounts for us
ing the cheap material (sand and turf will
which these forts are constructed. Thi
sweeping flood makes good the prediction
ofthe Confederates when ue took posses
sion Of their treacherons aud mysteriou
peninsula, They said We would beglad t
abandon Hatteras Island when the winte
storms came, Il has been said all along b
our most experienced military men, that I
land force on Hatteras Island was entirel
unnecessary, ibat small feet would effeeI
hally guard tbe inlet. sssn 81.
There are nowat Camps Dennison, Gurley
and Dick Corwine, all IN the vicinity of thi
citya COCO Infantry 2000 cavalry, and five bat
teriea of field RrtilleFy q. Every nerve should b
strained TO put thiaformidabls force 10 eomplet
condition, and diApatch it into Kentucty Joi