Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-09-12

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constant cannonade being kept up, the Fleet firing
continual broadsides of SHE'LL while replied at inter-
vais with shot, shell having been expended The
shot and shell dropped thick and fast upon the Fort and
Island, but so far one hurt, except two men
killed and Lieut. Knight wounded while rereating from
Fort Clark In the face of this dreadful storm of iron,
our captain with that frmness and tranquility which
ever characterzes the true officer and gentleman,
the G. S. steamer /" Ellis +" near the Fort, which
now of course became the prominent mark for
the Yankees, we not only gunboat,
but our decks crowed with men. Protected by
our Heavenly Father though the balls whistled close
and fast by rs, remained unhurt. One thing can
IvOuch for is, that there is not man upon this little
steamer but who has grown familiar with that peculiar
whizzing sound which always accompanies ball in its
flight through the air Several rifle cannon balls passed
in close proximity to u.s. and though perhaps 1t was the
first tna that some of them had ever heard cannon
fired, yet the crew and officers stood with the most
perfect noncbaance, exhibiting throughout the whole
action perfect confidence iD their officers, and reliance
upon the Almighty hand Alter safely landing the
troops again returned to the WiDsow,' and taking
plentiful supply OF ammunition, we went alongside the
Schrs and took all the troops board, and safely land
ed everything at the Fort. Our eScaye was truly MI
racuous Nobly has the Ellis performed her duty in
this terrible encounter and it is due her that her
services should be acknowledged. Too much praise
| cannot be given to her commander and crew.
The enemy, after an iDcessant fire OF about hours,
having sounded all about and planted buoys ready for
the dreadful work of to morrow retired for the night,
and doubt employed themselves for the coming strug
gle. Nearly all night we were employed in making the
Fort impregDable as we then thought. Much of the
disaster which occurred Thursday may be attribu
ted to the fact that did not possess ourselves of Ft
Clark by the bayone that night but wiser and Older
heads than mine thought otherwise. Certain it is, in
my opinion it one OF the causes, second only to the
shameful neglect of the authorities in not properly for
tyirg the coast that caused our defeat. From these
two have the following result the possession
of Hatteras the key of the SoInd--the almost entire
control of the SOundtbe road open invasion at any
moment Capt. Barron, Lieut. Sharp and about 700 or
500 gallant men prisoners, taken by the Abolition
kangarOOs besides prOl0nging, my opinion, the
for 12 year.
| must not here forget to mention a trivial crcum-
stance, it may seem but which exhibits the brave
man and patriot. On going to the Fort about two
o'clock at night, Lieut.. Murdoch might be stand
ing, in the clear moonlight upon the weldeended ram
parts OF Hatteras. He calmly experimenting the
work about the guns, having one fixed so IS better to
bear on the enemy wi which be himself intended to
fight. No who him could doubt but that he
would do good service. The next morning, August
29th, day ever memorable to those who witnessed
participated in this sublime but terrible contest,
calm and beautiful. This just what the Yankees
wished. ALI the morning was busiy engaged in 60
ing to and fro, duty 10 capt Barron who was very
anxious for to go ashore and help about the guns
they had not many in the Ort who knew much about
gunnery but we had not the officers to spare capt.
Muse would not consent for to go. will here men
tion fact to show how close the Yankees to the
Fort. While ashore standing the ramparts, in
pany with captain Barron, Lieut.. Sharp and Lieut..
Barron, all Of being in uniform, of course good
mark, and the Yankees thought so too tor whiz went
ball IN close proximity to the captains head, while
eral struck in the parapet Immediately under 1t will
here be proper to state that Mdshipman j. NJ. Stafford
had been sent ashore where during the fight he fully
performed his duty and rendered valuable service,
ducng himself with manly coOnGss surprising his years.
AT 81 A. H., the frgate Wabash steamed up,
and she passed Fort Clark the Stars and Stripes"
were waved three times to her from the paraPet OF the
Fort, which she acknowledged by dipping her colors.
She then rounded to- dropped anchors and opened fire
upon the Fort. She Immediately joined by the Sus-
quehanna Cumberland and Minnesota in an ncessant
fire of SHE'LL which dropped thick and fast around and in
the Fort The Fort replied at intervals and the Susque
hanna was evidently damaged, she withdrew from
the range Of the Fort and only fired two shots du
ring the engagement her place being supplied by the
Roanoke Fort Clark now also opened on Fit Hat
teras together with several other land batteries which
they had erected on Shore of these consisting OF rifle
cannon, seemed to pay particular attention to and as
they gradually got our range they hitting
times, so that we changed our position, and the
guns turned the Fort Alleges were now turned
that gallant little Fort fighting against such desperate
odds. One continual stream of shell fell upon it, but still
it does not fire. What be the matter? Look there
goes the Fort again again but alas all fall far Short
The is evident, they cannot reach the UeSses
1rhlLe eUery shot almost from them tells upon the Fort
Amid perfect hailstorm Of iron boat leaves the Fortl
What can it want My God they are bringiOg the
wounded to the Steamer What terrible scene =
Never shall l forget it. They approach. Surely that
blaekened face, that body almost covered with blood
cannot be the noble and chvarous Lieut. Murdoch
Alas it is He had fallen, manfuly battling against
them by the side Of bis gun, with words of encourage
ment upon his lips After firing three or four very
effective Shots which crippled the 'Susquehanna, and
finding they out OF range OF guns, he remarked
to his men," Well, boys, we will wait till they
up when will give it to them again." But he bad
hardly uttered these words eleven inch shell
plOdlDg close by seat two three fragments OF shell
:. T. q
q causing great, exhausi,n and loss Of blood He
supplied with lint by Mr. Tredwe, one Of our officers,
who bad very tboughtfuy provided some for his own
!. use should he be wounded and who during the whole
action behaved as did all the officers with the utmost
GOODNESS and frmnesS. He taken on board the
Winsow and placed under the care Of Surgeon Green
how of the q. s. Navy, intelligent and successful
2 Surgeon, where he was properly cared for.
II The bOmbardment of Fort Hateras by the flower of
the Federal Navy which will ever be pres
ent to the minds of hose who witnessed it. On that
day many hreside made desolate many mother
and wife made to weep the sad fate of those who
nearest and dearest to them and whose bloody ud
mangled corpses perhaps lay stark and stiff upon
the bloodStaned beach Of Hateras But such scenes
as these are the necessary attendants of war! But
! what is that appearing the Fort? AWhite flag -
Surely those who were that morning 50 buoyant and
IL full OF joy and hope at the prospects OF beating the
Yankees cannot now be sueiDg for peace! Yet it is
e SO! Such continual stream OF shell was more than
the gallant little Fort could stand the Bomb Proof had
given away, and every shell played sad havoc among
them laying aside their pride they yielded necess
ty aud to prevent any sacrifice OF life had resign
s. ed themselves to months imprisonment, perhaps in
the oath5ome dens of the Toombs 1t was truly hu-
initiating sight, and one long to be remembered by both
l. parties. Every within that little Fort that day
rendered himself hero 1t was, without doubt of
the greatest fights of the age To us it indeed sad
T. like Barron and Sharp OF the Navy, and like
Of Martin, Johnson Gillian, Sparrow and Sharp of the
L Army obliged to lay down their set Of North
ID ern birengs. sincerely hope that every village and