The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-09-11
GEN. BUTLERs REPORT TO GEN. WOOL.
us. Flag ship Minnesota, Aug. 30.

N v. y. Flag ship MINNESOTA, aug Ju.
4 GENERAL Agreeable to your orders EN-.
barked on the steamers Adelaide and George
Peabody, 500 Of the goth Regiment New
York Volunteers, Colonel Weber command |
ing; 22O of the 9th Regiment New York
Volunteers, Colonel Hawkins commanding
| 100 of the Uninn Coast Guard, Captain Nix
on commanding, and 60 Of the United States
Artillery, Lieutenant Larned commanding,
as force to operate in conjunction with the
fleet under command Of Flag Officer String |
ham against the rebel forces at Hatteras In
let. - ~ seN
We left Fortress Monroe on Monday, the
Goth instant, at o'clock, p. M. The last
ship Of our fleet arrived off Hatteras Inlet a.
bout o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. Such
preparations as possible for the landing were
made ia the evening. and at daylight next
morning dispositions we're made for an at
tack on the forts by the feet and for the land
| ing OF the troops. 81
Owing to the previous prevalence Of south
west gales, a heavy surf was breaking on the
beach. Every effort was made to land the
I troops, and after about SIS we're landed, IN
GLIDING marines from the fleet and regulars.
beth OF the gunboats on which we depended
were swamped in the surf, and both the Hat
boats stove, and brave attempt being made
by Lieut.. Crosby, U. s. Army, serving with
the army as post captain at Fortress Monroe.
who had volunteered TO come down with the
steamtug Fanny. belonging to the army, to
!, land in boat from the war steamer Pawnee,
resulted in the Bleaching Of the boat, SO that
she could not be got of.
II was impracticable to land more troops.
because Of the rising wind and sea. Fortu-
nately twelve pound rifled boat-gun, loan
ed Us by the flag ship, and twelve pound
howitzer we're landed, the last slightly dam
aged.
Our landing was completely covered by
the shells Of the Monticello and Harriet Lane
was on board the Harriet Lane, direct
ing the disembarkment Of the troops by means
Of signals. and was about landing with them
at the time the boats were stove. We we're
!, induced to desist from further attempts at
landing troops by the rising Of the wind. and
because in the meantime the feet bad open :
} ed fire on the nearest fort, which was finally
. silenced and its flag struck. No firing had
been opened upon our troops from the other
fort, and its flag was also struck.
Surprising this 10 be signal OF surrender.
Col. Weber advanced his troops already
; landed upon the beach. The Harriet Lane,
: Capt. Faunce, by direction. tried to cross
: the bar to get into the smooth water Of the
. inlet. when FIRE was opened upon the Mon.
! ticello. which had proceeded in advance Of
{ US, from the other fort. Several shots struck
her, but without causing any injury, as am
informed.
: So well convinced we're both the officers
: Of the navy aud Of the army tina: the forts
I had surrendered at this time that the frigate
: SUsquehannah had towed the frigate Cum
! berland to an offing. The FIRE was then re-
c opened, as there was no signal from either
upon both forts.
' In the meantime, few men from the Coas
] Guard had advanced up the beach with Lieut.
5 Creigel, who was acting as volunteer aid
i, land whose gallantry and services wish t
: commend, } and took possession Of the small
Y er fort, which was found TO have been aban
E doned by the enemy, and raised the Ameri-
: can flag thereon.
e 1t had become necessary, owing to the
!. Threatening appearance Of The weather. tha
! all the ships should make an ofhng. which
r was done with reluctance, from necessity
d thus leaving the troops on the shore. part o
,f them in possession Of the small fort, abeu
I 700 yards from the larger one, and the res
= bisouacked on the beach, near the place o
D. landing, about two miles north OF the forts.
e Early the next morning the Harriet Lam
) ran in shore for the purpose Of covering an,
4. attack upon the troops. At the same time
e large steamer was observed coming down hi
c sound inside the land, with reinforcement
er for the enemy; but she was prevented iron
landing them BY Captain Johnston, of th
Up Coast Guard. who had placed the two gun
Of from the SHIPS and the six-pounder take
IS from The enemy in a small sand battery. an,
al opened FIRE upon the rebel steamer.
is Ats o'clock the feet opened fire again
= the flag ship being anchnred as near as Oh
T. water permitted, and the other ships comm
y CALAMITY into the action. IL was eylden
d after few experiments that our shot feI
5. short. An increasing length Of fire was tel
a egraphed. and firing was commenced wit
II shells Of fifteen seconds fuse.
10 I had sent Mr.. Fisk, acting Aid-de-CamF
Is for the purpose Of gaining intelligence Of th
d movements Of the troops and 81 the enemy.
$ then went with The Fanny for the purpose 0
is effecting landing Of the remainder Of III
" trsops, when white flag was run up tror
D. the fort. then went with the Fanny owe
or the bar into the inlet. At the same time III
Is troops, under Col. Weber, marched up th
,r beach. and signal was made from the flag
% ship TO cease firing.
d As the steamer Fanny rounded in over tn
v bar the rebel steamer Winslow went up tn
is channel, having large number Of Secession
10 troops on board which she had not landed
n We threw a shot from the Fanny, but sh
Is proved to be out Of range.
Ia then sent Lieut.. Crosby on shore to de
b. mand the meaning Of the white Gag. Til
s. boat soon returned. bringing Lieut.. Creigs
e. With the following written communicate
in from Samuel Barron, late Captain in The Uni
N ted States Navy.