Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-07
NUMBER I36


s TS 3 ~ y M s1n Airs bsuucs0siioa
.sr o. iai eAet9 slisn spu "a ~, - ~ = ~, ~
cons Ts.ss % The part q 6ns sss over @ y -.
oSrs q receive he tisatnsRt dus pTs,
n Ritness whereof W. ths ssia Co..
General Butler behaIf he initial ss'nshan and
ron Martin and Andrews, repressntins hs foT- ;.
day Of Augu, saEsesn hSnarsi s5S i is tSs8 niaa
independeaes Of ths Untsi States 'hs siehy hfh ssr
Flag oacer Atlantic slooLssiS1S b q ssssi1Sss5As, 5515-
azi Major s'nsr United sia'si 'r1z cSSP995s9dag
Flag Ofiesr oon'edsrsts States Navy, Conns1sis,-
Naval DefnIss Virginia and SoEts a,allna
CO,Oae1 Seventh regiment Infantry
| W.. G.ANDRRWs
Major Commanding Fofss aattsrzs and clllk.
] then landed and took formal surrender Of the
forts, with all the men and munitions OF war; IN
spected the troops 70 see that the arms had been
| properly surrendered, marched thsm out and en-
barked rhem on board the Adelaide, and my own
'reops into the fort and raised our aag upon it,
amid the cheers Of our men and q salube Of tkir-
teen guns which had been shotted by the enemy.
The emharkation of the wounded, which was con-
Quoted with great care and tenderness from tenn
PoFaFy wharf erected for the purpose, took lOag
that night came on and il was so dark that il was
impossible for the pilots to take the Adelaide over
the bar thereby causing delay.
may mention il this connection that the Ade-
lside IN carrying in the troops as the moment that
my terms Of capiulatiOn were under consideration
by the enemy, bad grounded upon the bar; bus by
tue sctiVe and Judicious exsrtins Of Commander
StelfHsgen after some delay WGs zotOf At the ss ne
time,the HsrIst LsDe in attempthgtO to enter the
bar, had grounded and remained fast Both were
under the guns Of the fort. This was 10 me mo-
ment Of the greatest anxiety. By these accidentsa
valuable ship Of war and transport steamer, with
= so.I large portion Of my troops, were within The
Il had demanded the strongest terms, which he
was considering. BE might refuse, and seeing our
disadvantage, renew the action. Bus ] determined
70 Anaee not title Of what believed TO be due
10 the dignity OF the Government not even to give
an Official title to the officer in command of the re-
bels. Besides, my tug in the inlet and at least
could carry on The engagement with my two
rifsd six pounders, well supplied with SE8yer's
shells. -a ssf .---e
Upon taking possession Of Fort Hattaras. I found
that It mounted ten guns, with four yet unmounted
and one large ten-inch columbiad, already for
mounting appeal the Official muster roH Of Col
Martin, furnished By him, of the officers and men
The position Of the fort is an exceedingly strong
one, nearly surrounded on all sides BY water, and
only to be approached BY 4 march of FIVE hundred
yards clrcuItously long neck Of land, within
half musket range, and overa eausewsy few feet
only IN width, AMI which was commanded by two
thirtytWo pound guns loaded with grape and eanis-
ter which were expended m our salute. It has
well protected nagazjEs and bomb proof, capable
of sheltering some three hundred or four hundred
men. The psrapet was nearly OF oetagon form
enclosing about twoNthirds of an acre Of ground,
well covered with sufficient traVersss and ramparrs
and parapets, upon which cur shells hsd made but
little impression The larger work nearer the inlet
was Known as Fort Hztteras. Fort Clark, which
was about seven hundred yards nOrtherly. isa
square re3oubt, mounting fve guns and two six
Founders. The enemy had spiked these guns. but
10 very inefficient manner, upon abandoning the
fort the day before. -.. e., ---
/ had all the troops on shore at the time Of the
surrender Of the fOrts but re embarked the Fegu-
ars and the marines. Finding It impossible wiGh-
put delay Of the fleet, which could not be justfed
under the state of things at Fortress Monroe, and
owing to the threatening appearance Of the weath-
sr Idsembarked the provisions, making with the
provisions captured about Eve days ratOns Tor the
lse Of the troops. rs-r
On consultation with flag officer Stringham and
Commander SteilWagen, l determined to leave the
roOps and hold the tort becaUse Of the strength Of
Ia foEtiicatiOn, its Importance, and becsuse, if
gain in possession of the enemy with sufisient
armament, the very great difficulty Of its capture,
Until could get some further Instructions fromthe
government
Commodore Stri1ghsm directs the steamers Mon
icellO and Pawnee to remain inside. and these with
he ia the forts, sufficient to hold the posi-
ion against any force which IS likely, or indeed
'ossible 70 be sent against it. The impOrtsnee Of
he point cannot be 0Verrated. When the channel
5 buoyed out any vessel may carry fifteen feet Of
water over 1t with ease. Once inside, there is q
afa harbor and anchorage in all 4 -sther. From
here the whole coast of Virgins ala North Carroll
"a, from Norfolk 10 Cape Lockout, Ia within our
zach by light draft vessels which cannot possibly
i've at sea during the winter months. From it Of
ensive operations may be made upon the whole
oast of North Carolina 20 B0gue Inlet, extending
nany miles inland to Washington, Newbern and
iesufOTt In the language Of the chief engineer Of
he rebels, Col Th0mpson, in oficial report, is
the key OF the Albemarle ln my Judgement, il
q station second in Importance only 10 Fortress
IonrOe on this coast. As depot for coaling and
upplies for the blOckdaing squadron It Is invalua
lie. As Il harbor for our cOastng tTs1e, or inlet
rom the winters storms, or from pirates, il Is Of
be first Importance. By holding it. Hatterss light
ray again send forth its cheering ray 70 the storm
eaten mariner of which the worse than vandalism
{ the rebels depriveshlm It has but one draw
aek-a want OF water-but that condenser like
he one now in operation at Fortress Monroe, at q
ost Of few hundred dollars VIII relieve.
In fine. General / may congratulate You and the
ountry upon glorious victory in your department.,
J which we captured more than seven hundred
risoners, twenty FIVE pieces Of artillery thou
and stand OF arms, large quantity OF ordnanee
torres, provisions, three valuable prizes, two light
oats and four stands Of eolOrs, one Of which had
cen presented within week by the ladies OF Ne y
ern, N O 4, to the North Carolina defenders.
By the goodness of that Providence which watches
yer our nation no one either Of the fleet or army
yss In the least degree injured. The snemy's loss
7ss not officially reported TO us, but vas ascers
aimed to be twelve or fifteen killed and died u
rounds, and thirty i've wounded.
have the honor to be- very respectfully your
bQdient servant, BENZ. Il. BUTLER,
Msjor-General United States Army, Commanding
TOlunteers.
To Major General John E. Wool, Commanding
department. OF Virginia.
The "eficial roll of officers and men surrendered
t Fort Hattcras, Z, appended to the report gives
rand total Of COL.
-,..mow-rvpw.,r roT1Eep