Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1861-09-05


and opened fire upon the rebel steamer. Al 8
o'clock the feet opened fire again, the flag.
ship being anchored as near Hs the water allow.
ed. and the other ships coming gallantly into
action. Il was evident, after a few expert.
ments, that our shot fell short.
then went with the Fanny for the purpose
OF erecting landing of the remainder Of the
troops, when white flag was run up from the
tort then went with the Fanny over the
bar, into the inlet. AT the same time tbs troops
under Col. Weber marched % the beach, and
signal was made for the flsg ship to cease fir.
ing. then sent Lieut.. Crosby on shore to de.
mand the meaning ofthe white flag. The boat
soon returned with the memorandum from Com
mander Barron, and a verbal communication
that he had in the fort us men, and 1000
more within few hours call, bu. that he was
anxious TO spare the etfusion of blood.
then landed and took formal surrender Of
The forts, with all the men and munitions Of
war, inspected the troops, TO see thag the arms
had been properly surrendered, marched them
out, embarked them on board the Adelaide,
and marched my own men into the fort, and
raised our own flag upon it, amid the cheers Of
our men and a salute of thirteen guns, which
had been shotted by the enemy.
Upon taking possession OF Fort Hatteras,
found that it mounted ten guns, with four yet
unmounted, and one large Ien-inch Columbiad,
all ready for mounting.
The position of tho fort is an exceedingly
strong one; nearly surrounded on all sides by
water, and only to be approached by u march
OF 800 yards crcuitousIy over long neck of
sand within half musket range. and over a
csuseway few feet only in width, and which
was commanded by two 32-pound guns loaded
with grape and canister, which we expended
in our sa Lutte
II had a we'll protected magazine and bomb
proof capable of shetering some three or four
hundred men. The parapet was nearly of on
octagon form, enclosing about two-Ghirds of
: an acre ground, covered with sufficient ira
verses and rampaTts upon which our shells had
, made but little impression. The larger work
nearer this inlet, was known as Fort Hatteras
Fort Clark, which was about seven hundred
yards northerly is a square redoubi mounting
i've guns and two SIX Founders. The enemy
had spiked these guns, but in very Inefficient
manner, upon abandoning the WORK the day be.
} fore.
| had all the troops on shore at the time Of
the surrender Of the forts, but re-embarked
. the regulars and marines. | disembarked the
provisions, making, with the stores captured,
Z FIVE days rsiiOns for the use OF the troops
On consultation with fla g.Ofiicer String han
AID Commander Stellwagen, | determined 10
. leave the troops and hold the forts, because OF
n the ST ength OF the ratification, its HpOrta nc o.
n and because of the difficulty of it's reca pture
0 if again in the possession ofthc enemy with q
sufficient armament, until | could get further
instructions from the Government Commo-
l' doTe S,rlngham directed the steamers Mont
: cello and Pawnee 10 remain inside and these
: with the men IN the forts, are sufficient to hole
the position against any force which Is likely tC
7" be sent against il.
= The importance ef the point cannot be over
rated. When the channel is buoyed out any
vessel may carry fifteen feet Of water over il
with ease. Once inside there is safe haYbo
aud anchorage in all weather.
From there the whole coast of Virginia anC
North Carolina, from Norfolk 10 Cape Look
out is within our reach by light dra # vessels
which cannot possibly live at sea curing tn
8. winter months. From it offensive operation
may be made upon the whole coast of Nort
Carolina to Boque inlet, extending many mile
= inland TO Washington, Newbern and Beaufort
So In the language OF the chief engineer Of tn
rebels, Col, Thompson, in an official report
ait lie the key of the AlbeBarle."
10 fine, General, may congratulate yo
~ and the country upon a glorious victory il
your departments, in which we captured NOR
than seven hundred men, twenty five piece
N of artillery, a thousand stand Of arms, q larg
quality of ordinance stores, provisions tire
valuable prizes, two light boats and four stand
'S of coOrs, one Of which had been presente
le within q week by the ladies Of NeWbern, n
ut c., 10 the North Carolina Defenders
Il. By the goodness of that Providence whic
.. reaches over our nation, no one Of the fleet o
army was in the least degree injured.
e. The enemy's loss was not officially reporte
is 10 us. but was ascertained to be twelve or Fl
n. teen killed and died OF wounds, and lhirty.fv
ad wounded.
:. also enclose herewith an official report
~ the wounded, by DR.. VIM. u. King, OF the L
S. storeship supply.
have the honor to be very respectfully
o. your obedient servant,
[Sgned) Benz. F. EurLER.
Maj. Gen. U. 8. Army, cmm'g Volunteers
Maj Gen. John E. Wool.
Dc IMPORTANT iEFORMATIoN OBTAINED AT For
:. HArTENAs.-Among the papers captured ,
Fort IIatteras was a press copy OF a letter fror
"a the late American Consul at Rio, Robert
on Scott giving a list of all the vessels lsavin
lst or 10 leave that port during month. with
'a full description OF their esrgoes and destination
ir- BY this information the rebel privatsers kner
he and six named in the list were captured.
Areport oftheir engineer in chief, also cal
raj tured, states that the stock OF good guns
Norfolk is exhausted also. the entire stock
fuses.
Some handmade percussion caps were four
and it was aseeriained that the copper hs
~! IN been stripped from one of their prizes, the Lii
lue wood, to furnish material for caps.
rue Among the guns captured was enc large tel
IS inch eolumbiad. from the Tredegar Work
'"o Richmond, which had not been mounted.
oil Samuel Barron, late captain in The nav
In' had on. when captured, the regular u. 8. ia
W. form, buttons and all.
10 ADVERTISERS John w. Savin gives notit
~ ~ that he is prepared to furnish coal at form
rates.
,ne Administrators of d. Cummins, dec.,--:
eet .ha req of Rank stock