Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-09-04
The yankees in North Carolina.

Great excitement prevailed in this City on
Thursday last, relative to a rumor that the
Yankees had landed at Cape Hatteras and
silonced our batteries at that point. Various
conflicting reports were in circulation, and it
was hoped that if they had landed, our force
there would prove sufficient to hold them in
check until reinforeements could be sent to
the rescue. But on Friday last the startling
intelligence was received by Gov. Clark, that
Fort IIatteras was taken by the Federals on
Thursday at IL o'clock, and that our whole
force, amounting to near 900 men, had been
taken prisonersi Of course, such new set
every thing astir especially about the Capt.
tol, and everybody demanded that a large
force be Immediately despatched to punish
and II possible exterminate the invaders
What a pity q like interest has not always
been manifested in protecting our coast
then this disgrace would not have come upon
Us. Our State authorities have time and
again been appealed to, for a sufficient force
to be stationed On our coast to repel in
vasion. Time and again have they been
warned of It's exposed and unprotected con-
dition. The Legislature and the Conven-
ton have called upon them for statements
as to the nature and reliability of the
delences there; and the response has al
ways been, that our defences there were
strong enough, all along our coast, to pre-
vent a landing at any point by the enemy
In vain the Raleigh Standard, the Newbern
Progress the Wilmington journal and other
Journals assured them of their error on this
point and urged an increase of our defences.
In vain did Gen. Gwynn, who had been sent
especially TO examine, prepare and report up-
-on-Qar coast d~efences, in vain did he apply
for more troops there and especially for an
increase of the artillery arm of the service
all were disregarded--our great Military Board
and others in authority, still refused to move
apeg, and insisted upon their hallucination
that all creation could not land on our coast.
And what is the RESULT Why, the very
first demonstration made, gives the enemy
possession Of the most important point on
our coast, and turns over some 600 of our
brave citizen soldiers as prisoners into their
ships. There has been gross, wanton dis
regard for our safety by those in authority.
and an incensed public will hold them to a
terrible retri5ution for their obstinate per-
sistence in refusing to give heed to the
many appeals that have been made to them
to give better protection to our coast.
But that settlement must take place here.
after. NOt, our business is with the inva-
ders. They must be driven from our soil,
and as many Of their vile carcases be given
as food for the crabs as we can possibly
Kill; and our brave soldiers must be rescued
from their Imprisonment. Immediately on
receipt OF the news that'a fleet had sailed
from Old Point, whose probable destination
was the coast of North Carolina, Gov. Clarke
made arrangements for sending more troops
toCape Hatteras. On Wednesday, Col. Camp
bells line Regiment left here, reached New
bern that night and on Friday morning en-
parked for The Cape. On Thursday afternoon
Capt. Brem's Artillery Company left here
on Friday Colonel Singletary's regiment left,
and there were several Companies at New
bern, that have probably been ordered there
we may therefore expect to hear of warn
work there soon-probably before going to
press with tn S paper. If SO we will an.
pend whatever news may come to hand to
this article.