New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-21

through the Inherent liners, since llb irt Issue. lne
J0rdon Yanca Walker Newton Sarah Spry, G.. IL.
Mason. and Speed entered Panlico Sound through
Ocracoke Iulet during the ninth Of October last,
all heavily laden with arms, blankets medical stores,
clothing ealpe,er, powder. salt, &c. From the lst
IT. up TO the 10Th four more entered this inlet with
the same kind of stores one OF them, the FIRE ",
entered on the night OF the 4tb, the Calhoun on the
18th, and the Charleston OH the 10th inst. This
inlet laws IL miles south Of Hatteras, and IL not
blOckaded. II is one OF the most Important inlels
on the North Carolina coast, with 10 to Is leet OF
water-it being much deeper now than ever before.
On the 18th inst Capt. Warden, OF the acting flag
ship Stars and Stripes, Of the HGtteras bockading
squadron, attempted to stop mp Tins Inlet cfaeoke
by sinking three old hus, which were part Of those
purchased at Baltimore for this purpose. accom-
panied the expedition which performed this task,
expecting 10 witness an encounter with the rebels,
who it was said had refortiied the splendid Tort ut
this point
Every preparation was made to rout the enemy
from this position If he had returned and taken pos,
session of the fort as rerored. The feet designated
Tor this work was composed of four wars Gamers:
The acting flagship Stars and Stripes, Capt. arden,
Underwater, Capt. Jcifry; General Putnam, Capt.
Hotchkiss; and the Ceres, Capt. McDiarinlJ, which
left Ilatteras Inlet the morning OF the l4th INST,
with the three huls in tow We left Hatteras about
6 q. N, and reached our destination about noon.
Fortunately for the rebels. they had not returned 10
the FORT az was reported, consequently we bad no
enemies TO contend against and proceeded TO nnk
the crafts which task was completed by o'clock.
One craft, more stubborn than the rest refused 10
sink rs soon az was desired when the General Put
nam opened broadside at the contrary thing, which
settled her in short order. mus, confess that was
surprised 20 find an inlet wide and easy to enter.
VI il much deeper and wider than many OF our old
established ports Of entry. II seems that there are
three channels which make up THO inlet, not far
sprt ALI appareutly in one channel making an inlet
- I.It tl,f fxuof mill ia for
imp -tant and more safe to enter, than liatteras
Inlet At the side OF the fort is lighthouse, which
stands AZ the fork OF the two largest channels, in
which. learn, is placed temporary light when
ever privateer sends up a rocket. The rebels man.
ace this matter very Sdroily Knowing If they were
TO return aud reoccupy this stronghold, which was
erected by them at such a great expense, that our
attention would at be directed that way but so
long as this point remains vacant no notice If re-
CURED The village Of Portsmouth lies to the left Of
the fort you enter which presents quite an lmpcs-
ing appearance. The Court-liouse aud church loom
up above the other buildings, which present an an
cent style of architecture.
When our fleet came into the inlet, TO the point
where tie hulls were TO be sunk rebel steamer
was discovered in the sound, behind an elevated
island, taking observations, and watching al our
movements with much interest. Two small schoon-
ers were also seen no far from this steamer which
doubtless act in the capacity of lighters when pr-
vaeer makes its appearance too heavily ladened TO
enter the sound.
Capt. Ho!chkiss of tie Putnam, as well as Capt.
McDiarmid Of the Ceres, were both very anxious TO
enter the sound, aud capture tbese lighters and tie
rebel steamer; but they dare not ask permission,
having been informed on asking permission TO hust
for rebels heretofore, that when their services were
wanted they would be called upon. The Putnam
and Ceres are commanded by able mariners, though
not educated in our Naval Academy, which accounts
for this unwillngness on the part OF regular Navy
=. ~ hon ma ali aI n
chance to distinguish themselves, for fear it would
act 10 the disadvantage OF the regularly educated
oihcers. =,
When I witnessed the sinking OF those three bulls,
| wondered what great power was behind tue
throne TO direct an enterprise 20 gganiic 10Y nm
form something of an idea Of the effectiveness oil tns
iob when Won are informed, that you might az Wen
aftetupt 10 dam up the Mississippi by diving pipe
sem IN the middle of that stream, which Is nearly as
rapid "A Ocracoke Inlet. Where these bulls Were
sunk (which cost the Government =, 600 eachl, the
channel on one eide Of them-they were all sunk IN
a heap--was half mile wide and on the other aide
full 4 quarter of mile; and 10 their spars PROJECT
out OF the water, OF course no COMMANDER OF
privateer will be fool enough 10 run on TO them,
inasmGch there Is wide channel on either tlde.
What folly TO suppose that YOU can rtop up one OF
these rapid inlets in this way, with nothing but
foundation Of quckssnd IL would take ali the
vessels in tie harbOr OF New-iork TO efecig;lliy
stop mp this inlet, and after shaking ono or two
rows OF halls across, you might wake up IN TIE
morning and find a new channel had cut its way
through the sand during the night. This IL the way
these inlets are formed If one IL stopped mp the
water will break through the movable sand in q
new place, as easily as il would 90 through snow
bank.
Doubtless YOU would ask what is to DO done with
this Inlet if il cannot lie stopped up, and thus pre-
vent there pryateers from entering, they do daily
would say, occupy this fort, which is all made 10
hand and far more powerful structure than either
Forts Iateras or CLARK. Ii cost the enemy upward
Of 500, 900, understand AZ THE point LET me ask
question. Without desiring 10 be impairment, j
soul ask how It IL that the blockadng fleet at Hat
terra. oniy Is miles from Ocracokc lnlet cannot
blockade both Iulets at the ~ me time When Capt
Rowan Of the Pawnee was in Command OF this heet
he had tho vessels busily employed running up and
down the coast from Roanoke, 10 miles north OF
here TO Ocroeoke Is miles south, distance Oi'JS
miles, and thus efeetually guarding three important
iblets This was the way all the other commanding
officer maintsined sn ehectus blockade before the
present commander was left in charge Of this eet.
Can il be that lie has received orders from Commo'
dore Godsborough 10 remain stationary here with
his entire feet, NOT even being allowed to go ont and
hail craft that is TO pass by. and to ascertain
whether she s priyGteer or not IL looks as Al
there was individual IN connection with this
feet who sympathizes with the traitors IN arms
AGAINST our Government, for there can be no other
way 10 account for the inactivity OF tins iiatteIas
squadron. Daily vessels sailing by here, and no
attention is paid TO them. Eleven p1yateers,
heavily loaded entering tins sound inside Of ~ days,
only h miles from fleet Of war steamers, speaks
for itself.
TIE Pioneers list Of all the pIivateers that have
entered these Sounds since its last ISSUE numbers
altogether - in little over a month. AT this rate
the Confederate army ought to be supplied with all
they want.
IL appears that the priyateer Fire Fly entered
Ocracoke Inlet on the night of the 18th inst, which
was the day that the hulls were sunk, some i've
hours after our fleet completed this work. The
pivateer Calhoun entered the 18th, the dy after