The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-02
the COAST DEFENCeS Of NORTH CAROLINA.
SEIZURE OF IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE
OF THE REBELS.

SEIZURE OF IMPORTANT CORRESPO NDENCE
OF THE REBELS.
WASHINGTON Sept. I, 1861.
Among the papers captured the letter book of Major
William Bcverhout Thompson Chief Engineer Of the North
Carolina Coast Defence containing copies Of his official
correspondence with the President Of the Military Board
and other officers North Carolina relation the
seaooast defences from May to August l. 1851. From
sh correspondence which is devoted chiefly details
IN reference the progress Of the ortAcatons
we extract the following which Of present interest,"
In letter TO Colonel Warren Winslow, President Of the
Military Board, dated Fort Morgan, June TO- 1861 he
says:l"I know that you will excuse any sugges-
ton ! may throw out on subject we all
have so much at heart-an effective defence
H the State, and especially OF the coast
1t is true that the character Of coast is a
great moral protection to u.s. but lose sight
Of the fact that coast and every inlet upon
thoroughly known the Yankee captains Of those
who have been trading with for years our own
captains Of vessels and the pilots upon coast Every
anchorage is well known 70 them-or example, in the
blight Of Cape Hatteras and in the blight Of Cape Lookout
and at other points where a cafe anchorage
DO had, and troops landed What am driving
~ b thisL observed, in the bill passed BY
the convention, calling for thousand
men, that there provision made for artillery.
am satisfied after giving this subject reflection That
about six batteries Of light artillery would be found
effective in repeling landing Of the enemy at such
points may not be fortified suppose that six bate
sies would DO found to be sufficient but suppose that It
should require say forty eight guns With these batteries
and the country picket guards the ALERT Information
could be sent at short notice Of the intention of the
enemy to attempt . landing at any point. He
no doubt would be repulsed by well served
battery supported by force Of infantry for he could
he HAITI froph aht vsitho do
stroyng his own troops, aud they could not keep up a.,
effective fire from the sSy boats they could be hroc''
sbota by the breakers IN such ay render their aim
Swcsaia aad ins6scioe. Turn the subject in your
mind and think that you will TO the conclusion
shat as they propose only ortny the ncts there
many other points which only be defended by flying
artillery. Tho beach is of the finest roads In the
world hard and firm, and repaired by every tide They
could land at certain points, pull their boats across and
committee deplorabe ravages"
The following letter gives an official account Of the
condition Of Fort Morgan and the surrounding defenccs
NEwBERN, N. c., June 10, 1861.
col JAS. A. J. BRxDroRD-
MY DEAR CoLoNEr-Yours Of June only re-
oeived at Fort Morgan day two SINCE on my
from Fort Hatteras Fort Morgan is in condition to
make strong defence, and think fully prepared to
resist any force that rs likely to be against it, There
are now twenty guns mounted nine the rampant
Or upper tier and thirteen on the lower tier. Upon
the upper tier there three coumbiads, one
ten inch and two eight inch; two thirtytwo
Founders and six twenty four pounders the lower
thirteen twentyfour Founders. In few days l shall
have mounted the upper tier another inch column
bad All Of those guns bear upon the face Of the fort
and three Of them the land approach OF tho latter
one Of them the ten-inch columbad the second
inch columbiad when mounted will also bear upon the
faCea he In add IN fha nh ve
heavy enumerated have four platforms
ak pounders and the guns place upon them hch
arc tn place the balance FIVE guns, including twelve
pound howitzer temporarily in the flank cascmates
Four six FOUNDERS will BIO placed the platforms near
the salient commanding the land approach. Two OF them
should be placed in battery enlAde the approach
the land sde between the fort the lighthouse and
che remaining Founders either placed the land ap
proach used circumstances may require at other
points There thirty pound sarronades went
down sometime since. They but four feet three
inches long from the Of the base ring the face but
can throw a half peck Of canister grape have
therefore prepared drawing of casemate carriage TO
them upon and shall place them in the flank case
made which can be done at this point. I can then dis
pose Of the guns IN the classmates As suggested
above
Fort Morgan 30 important point tho line Of our
seacoast that think the armament should DO made
complete, for which have heretofore made a reoustion
There twenty five guns, chiefly twenty two and
pounders delivered there other day but
Gen Gwyn has ordered them to be up to Newbern
do not think that all Of those guns heavy enough
fer that fortress as several light guns among
them But there are say four Of those guns that would
answer very we'll have the platform down for another
sght-inch columbiad but gun to place upon it, as
run for baau
Island. There should be provision made for eight
inch coumbiad for this platform The sand hills have
been cut down and removed for one thousand Yards
along the Sea shore, which s in effect extending the
gacis for that distance which direct well
hres are amply provided for when get all Of the guns
which, with the small arms, will render assault Of
numerous column next to impossbility.
Beiore1 loft Hateras had mounted three t,rty-two
Founders and one howzer the distance range
of which is between three and four thousand wards.
There were four more requiring carriages-oae for an
eghtnch howitzer and the other three for thirtytwo
Founders ordered carriages be sent down and
hope to find them there my arrival. Hatterss is
difficult place to fortify from the fact Of tho want Of
proper revealing material discovered some marshes
about half mile in the interior, from which now
getting sod, which 50 far, TO quite well
The bar at Hatteras is just mile from the battery.
which Is commanded by all of the guns hardly think
aerfhis work is finished, nota get in the barber
Yours respectfully, W. BEvERHoUr THOMPSON.
Chief Engineer Of North Carolina Coast Defence.
N. Bwould it not be well in sending Engineers to this
command, TO direct them 10 report TO meY WET
The following discoses the fact that the communication
bysea between Norfolk and Psmlieo Sound was at that
acknowledgement and gives the plan also for the arma
ment OF Fort Hatteras;-
FORT HArrERAs, June II, 1861.
B,igadies General Waller GwYNS:-
WEAR FRA fore and aft schooner arrived today from
Norfolk, with eighteen naval gun carriages and fixtures
43e tbr,y.two pound shot, and some handspikes. I
uoak nine of the carriages all the shot, as
ihcy were much needed, and sent the balanse
D. Octacoke. These naval carriages, you well know
are noS at all suited for Notifications The gun is carried
low that it is impossible to parapet to protect
the me and TO construct embrasures would destroy the
beld Of -e as il s necessary only to command the
bar but tbs channel of approach. They require fifteen to
sixteen men 70 work them, which is great exposure Of