The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-02
Capture Of Vessels Laden with
Cotton and Tobacco.
The Revenue Cutter Harriet
Lane Aground.
MILITARY IMPORTANCE OF THE MOVEMENT
Sketches Of the Officers Who Took Part
in the Engagement,

ne naval expedition which left Fortress Monroe on
Monday last, ON service under command Of Major
General Butler and Commodore Stringham has achieved
splendid success. The rebel Notifications at Haeras
lle which Of vast Importance in military point OF
view have fallen beneath the attack of intrepid navy
and the occupants Of the forts, among whom there
several distinguished officers have been taken prisoners.
The rebels, who were commanded by Commodore Samuel
Barron late Of the United States Navy fought with much
spirit but navy carried too many guns for them and
they were obliged TO surrender Internationally. Forty
I'VE rebel officers, six hundred and sixty five
issioned officers and prvates, thousand stand Of
arms thirty five cannon large amount Of ammunition
and stores and several small vessels laden with cotton
and tobacco captured through the bravery Of
mon. Our special correspondent, who has arrived from
the Of the contest which he left Friday afternoon
with General Butler and STAFF in the steamer Adelaide
under command Of Commander H. s. sellwagen U. S N,
ssuchIng for short time at Fortress Nonroe ence
Annapolis and Washington, gives the following account
e the brilliant affair."
The expedition, consisting Of the frgates Minnesota,
Commodore Stringham; Wabash, Captain Mercer; the
gunboats Pawnee, Captain Rowan; Monticello, Com
mander ellis, and the Harriet lane, Captain Faunce,
with the transports Adelaide and George Peabody,
conveying troops to the number Of about q
thousand, left Fortress Monroe last Monday, and
reached the rendezvous off Hattcras Inlet fifteen miles
below Cape Hateras Tuesday morning. the Minnesota
and Wabash coming In in the afternoon and the Cumoor
hnd joined the feet the same day.
Preparations Immediately made TO land the troops
she following morning. which time the transports ran
tho beach, two miles north Of the Inlet and covered
by the Monticello, Harriet Lane aud Pawnee, about
three hundred men were landed through heavy surf
the force consisting OF Capt. Larneds company Of regular
companies OF the Twentieth New York. with Col. Weber
and Lieut. Col Heiss detachment of marines from the
figates under command Of Majors Doughty and Shuttle
worth, and detachment Of sailors from the Pawnee,
under euts Crosby and Blue with Drs King and Jones
The gunboats swept the beach and neighborng cepse
Of scrub oaks. All the boats being swamped and bged
- the surf, could be thrown ashore. Mean
while, the Minnesota and Wabash-the latter with the
Cumberland in towseaed up to the front Of Of the
rebel batteries and took their position at long range
AT ten O'Clock the Wabash fred the first gun, the
eleven inch shell striking the battery and bursting
with tremendous force. The battery, which of sand
covered with turf and mounting five long thirty twos in
santy returned the re the shot falling short The Min
nesota Cumberland Immediately opened fire and raned
nine and eleven inch shells into and about t. The fire
terrific and the battery's responses few
far between save when the frgates suspended fire for
while to get new position, when the enemy's fire
most spirited
No damage was sustained by ships, and when they
again took their position the cannonading intensely
hot the shells dropping in the enemys works falling
the ramparts, exploding in death dealing fragments
and carrying death and destruction with them. TIT
small wooden structures about the fort torn
perforated with flying shells At eleven O'Clock the i'm
rnense Flagstaff shot away and the rebel flag cam
down. but the FIRE still continued by them
At twelve O'Clock the Susquchanna steamed in, and
dropping her boats astern, opened effective FIRE. TIT
cannonading on our part inccssant and the air
alive with the hum and explosion of flying shells tn
enemy did not return the fire with any regularity tn
battery being too hot for them, from the explosion
shells that dropped the rate Of above half doze
aminute
The enemy ceased rng little before two. and after
few more shells had been thrown in the Commodore sig
nslized to firing.
yhc troops had meantime advanced to within shor
distance of the fort and before ceased firing some
our men got in and raised the Stars and Stripes Tn
place was too hot for the but the flag left
ing Coxswan Benjamin Sweares OF the Pawnees frs
cutter stood for time on the ramparts waving th
flag arsid fight Of shells.
When the firing ceased the fort occupied u fore
and held afterwards.
The Monticello had proceeded ahead Of the land force
protect them and had reached the Inlet when
large fort. Of an octagon sh'pe, to The rear ant
right Of the small battery, mounting ten thirty