The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-09
OUR HATTERAs INLET CORRESPONDENCE.

OUR HATTERAS INLET CORRESPONDENCE.
HArrERAs INLET, Sept. 4, 1861.
The Accident 10 the Harriet Lane-How She Got Of
The Amount Of Damage DoN--Coonel Hdukins Soearing
in the Peopie9 the Nei9h5oraood Union Spirit
The Necessity Of Light Draft Boats--A Depot for Priya.
teers-7Ae R5e, Loss at Hatteras Inlet, de-, dc.
Having written you hty account Of the dongs Of the
NAVAL this place by the first conveyance that left
after the capture of forts Clark and Hatteas send
you a few items OF interest to your readers To
begin with, the most gratifying since the
capture Of this place. is the saving Of the Harriet Lane
After pounding for two days and nights the bottom
she finally got into deep water by the exerons Of
officers and gent from the United States steamer Sus
Quehanna 1t very fortunate that good weather pre-
vailed during the time otherwise she would gone TO
destruction She has proved herself very strong
vessel the hull does not appear 10 have suffered in the
least but her machinery is partially disabled owing
sand being taken in through the injection pipes In
hat way filing up the channel ways and mir pumps and
bending Of the rods all Of which be rect
fed but the serious damage Of her boilers
which has been damaged in the bottom by pounding
of the ship that it is nearly quite useless Ali her coal
was thrown overheard, also all her ammunition and
broadside guns but the pivot bow gun disturb
Cd Had she lost the rebels have sworn that
they sunk her. hence consider that the simple fact OF
saving her Is worth moro than ten times her cost and
renders the whole affair perfect We did not
lose man, or anything else worthy Of note.
Colonels Hawkins and Max Webber are busly
engaged putting their respective forts in the best
possible sr defence the former in Fort Clark
and tho latter in Fort Hatteras. Colonel Hawkins
has been very bssS the list TIVE days swearing In the in
habitsnts Of this vicinity two hundred q whom have
already boon In. Thsy say they have always been
Union men, and intend to remain. Out Of vote Of
two hundred and forty only seventeen for secession
have seen copy Of petition TO the Governor of the
State from these people, mpsrng him not TO press them
into the ranks stating that they did not vote for secession
and don't want IT, One Of tho party has gone
over report these people FOR taking the oath of asg
Uncle Sam hence they very uneasy for fear
of being punished aud have applied 10 Colonel Hawkins
for protection.
An immense number of letters have been found In va
rious shanties adjoining the forts all Of them showing
concusvey that secession and the very unpopu.
lar and that mpressment is the principal mode by which
their troops obtained The letters referred 70 are Of
all descriptions, Official, business friendly and love-
In letter written at WILLIAMSON, the writer says tina,
she would send something nice IL it could be had but
that nothing is TO be had but bread and meat meat
and bread. There two letters Of considerable into
rest that will cndeavor 70 get for you at all eveats
will get COPIES possible One is written by the arch
traitor JEFF Davis and the other by Senator Bggs Of
North Carolina.
This place is Of much importance to the rebels, and
should In consequence be held by Uncle Sam. we only
had one two light draught steamers, such rs the
O. H. Petit, Young America or Ceres tugboats from New
York. and which, believe have been secured by the
government, the entire inland navigation OF North Caro-
lima could be stopped; aso tho outlet for Norfolk The
capturing Of this place has struck terror into the
rounding forts and batteries, and all want now ID
some light draught steamers for the inland navigation.
This has proved blow in the right direction. On tho
night Of the LIST the enemy burned everything
in the battery at Oregon inlet that they could
not take away, aud have gone 10 Roanoke island to
strengthen that position but light draught steamer would
command their channel and render their Notifications
null On the night Of the I'd tbs orcatons At Ocracoke
Inlet were destroyed by the aud then they made
tracks The plan OF sinking huiks loaded with stones in
the channel at this place. and then abandoning after
sroying the forts &c, &c. Is not in my opinion good
one for the fact that the mouth Of the inlet is so very