Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-09-13
REPORT of GEN. BUTLER.
The following is the report made to General
Wool by General Butler.
II. S. FLAG SHIP MINNESOTA,
August 30. 1861

GENERAL-Agreeahly to your orders | ems
barked on the transport steamers Adelaide and
George Peabody, 500 of the Twentieth regi
lnent New York volunteers, Col. Weber CONS
manding; 220 of the Ninth regiment New
York volunteers, Col. Hsnkins, 100 Of the
Union Coast Guard. Capt. Nixon commanding;
90 of the Second U. s. artillery, Lieut.. Lee
muel commanding; as feree to operate in
conjunction With tie feet under flag officer
Strineham, against the rebel forts at Hatterss
Inlet.
We left Fortress Monroe on Monday, at
o'clock 2 NJ, aad the last ship of our feet
arrived off Hatteras Inlet about O'Clock on
"Wednesday afternoon,
Such preparations as we're possible for the
landing wero made in the evening, aud at day
light next morning, dispositions we're made for
attack on the forts by the feet, and for the
landing Of the troops. Owing to tbs preva-
lence Of southwest gales, heavy surf was
breaking on the beach Every effort was
made to land the troops, and after about 315
we're landed, including 55 marines from the
feet and the regulars, both the iron boats upon
which we tad depended were swsmped 10 the
surf, and both fat boats stove, and brave
attempt being made by Lieutenant Crosby, of
The U. s. Army, serving Post Captain at
Fortress Monroe, who had volunteered 10 come
down With the steam tag Fanny, belonging to
the army, to land 10 boat from the war steam~
er Pawnee, resulted in the Bleaching Of the
boat so that she could not De got off
1t will be impracticable to land more troops,
because of the rising wind and sea. Fortuua-
tely Is pound r'fed bore gun, loaned US by
the Hagrsbip, aud IL pound bowiizer, were
landed, the last slightly daraged. Our land
log was completely covered ~ the shells Of
the Monticello and Harriet Lape. | was on
board the latter, directing the diseDbarcsriou
of the troops By means Of signals, and was
about landing with theta al the time the boats
sxere stove.
We we're induced to desist from further at
temgls ID landing sFoops BY she rising OF the
wind; and because, in the meantime, the Heei
had opened 6re upon the nearest tort, which
was fnally silenoed, aad its Gag struck.
No firing had opened upon our troops from
tho other fort and its flag was also struck -
Supposing this to be signal Of surrender, Col
WEBER advanced bis troops, already landed
upon the beach.
The Harriet Lane, bg my direction, tried tc
GROSS the bar to get into the smooth water o
the Inlet, when FIRE was opened upon tbt
Monticello which had proceeded ia advance oi
as from he other fort. Several shots struel
her, but without carsing sny casualty, as
am informed. So we'll convinced we're iht
officers of the Navy aud Army that the fort
nad surrendered at this time, that the Susque
hanna had 'owed the frigaFe Cumberland to al
cling.
The Gre was then Ie-opened (as there wal
no signal from eigher) upon both forts. In tht
meantime, few men from the Coast GuarC
had advanced up the beach with Mr.. Wiegel
who was acting ss volunteer aid, and who's.
gallaniry and services wishto commend, snt
took possession of the small fort, which wa
found TO have been abandoned ty the enemy
and raised the American flag thereon.
IL had become necessary, in consequence o
the threatening appearance of the weather
that all the ships should make sn ofiug, whicI
was done with reluctance from necessity, thu
lessiEg tho troops upon shore, part 10 posses
sion of t5e small fort (about 700 yards fror
the large one) and the rest bivouacked upo
the beach, near the place of landing, abou
two miles north of the forts.
Early mex, morning the, Harriet Lane ran i
shore for the purpose of covering auy attae
upon the troops. AT the same time arg
steamer was observed coming down the SouD
inside the land, with reiuforcements for th
enemy; but she was prevented from landing b
Captain johnson of the Coast Guard, who ha
placed the guns from the ship and 6 pounde
from the enemy 10 small sand battery, an
opened FIRE upon the rebel steamer.
AT eight o'clock the feet opened fire agar
the flag ship being anchored as near as th
water allowed, and the other ships coming gal
lantly into action. 1t was evident, after fei
experiments, that our shot fell short. a.
increased length Of fuse was signslled, AM
tho firing commenced with she'll Of fifteen sec
.ands fuse. had sent MIR. Fiske acting ait
.ds-csmp, on shore for the purpose of gainiu
intelligence of the movement Of the troop
and of the enemy.
| then went with the Fanny for the purpos
of effecting landing of the remainder of th
troops when white flag was run up from tb
fort. then went with the Fanny over th
bar into the inlet. At the same time the troop
under Col. Weber marched up the beach au
signal was made for the flag ship 90 ceas'
firing.
As the Fanuy rounded in over abe bar, th
rebel steamer Winslow went up The channel
having large number of secession troops o
board, which she bad not landed. We threl
shot at her from the Fanny, bat she prove
to be out of range. then sent Lieut. Crosb
on shore TO demand the meaning Of the whit
Hag. The beat soon returned with the memo
Isndum from Commodore BsrrOn, taread
given, aud verbal communication st tin
that be had in tho fort 6l6 men, aud 1 90
more within few heurs call, bnt that nc wa
anxious TO spare the eiFcsion of blood. r
both the written and verbal Communications