The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-09-13
nications, made the reply which follows,
and sent it by Lieut.. Crosby:

Benjamin F. Butler, major general United
States army commanding. in reply to the COM
munication of Samuel Barron, commanding
forces at Fort Hatteras, cannot adm h sne 'erms
proposed. The terms offered are these;
Full capitulation.
The officers and men to be treated as prison.
ers of war.
No other terms admissible.
Commanding officers to meet on board flag.
ship Minnesota to arrange details.
August 20, 1861.
After waiting three-quarters of an hour,
Lieut.. Crosby returned, bringing with him
CAPTAIN Barron, Major Andrews and Col.
Martin, of the rebel forces, who, on being
received aboard the tug Fanny, Informed
me that they had accepted the terms pro-
posed in my memorandum, and had come to
surrender themselves and their command as
prisoners of war.
l informed them that as the expedition
was a combined one from the army and
navy, the surrender must be made on board
the flagship to Flag Officer Stringham, as
we'll as to myself We went on board the
Minnesota for that purpose. On arriving
there the following articles of capitulation
were signed, which l nope will meet your
approval:
1--WE omit the articles-they provided for
an unconditional surrender.
then landed and took a formal surren>
der of the forts, with all the men and mus
nitious of war, inspected the troops to see
that the arms had been properly surrender
ed, marched them out and embarked them
on board the Adelaide, and marched my
own troops into the fort, and raised our
flag upon it, amid the cheers of our men
and the salute of thirteen guns which had
been shotted by the enemy.
The general thus speaks of the impor-
lance of the affair:
Upon taking possession of Fort Hatteras,
found that it mounted ten guns, with four
yet unmounted, and one large ten inch CO.
lumbiad all ready for mounting: append
ed the official muster roll of Col. Martin,
furnished by him. of The officers and men
captured by US.
The position of the fort is an exceedingly
strong one, nearly surrounded on all sides
by water, and only to be approached by a
march of five hundred yards circuitously
over long neck of land, within half NUS
ket range, and over causeway few feet
only in width, and which was commanded
by two thirty-two pound guns loaded with
grape and canister, which were expended
in our salute. 1t has we'll protected mag.
azine and bOmbsproOf, capable of sheltering
some three hundred or four hundred OF our
men. The parapet was nearly of octagon
form, enclosing about two-thirds of an acre
of ground, we'll covered with sufficient tra-
verses and ramparts and parapets, upon
which our shells made but little impression.
The larger work nearer the inlet was known
as Fort Hatteras. Fort Clark, which was
about seven hundred yards nOrtherly, is a
square redoubt, mounting five guns, and
two six.pounders. The enemy had spiked
these guns, but in very Inefficient manner,
upon abandoning the fort the day before.
had all the troops on shore at the time
of the surrender of the forts; but re-em-
barked the regulars and the marines. Find
ing it impossible without a delay of the
feet,swhich could not be justified under the
state of things at Fortress Monroe, and
owing to the threatening appearance OF the
weather, disembarked the provisions, maxi
ing with the provisions captured about five
days. rations for the use of the troops.
On consulting with flag officer Stringham
and Commander Stellwagen, determined
to leave the troops and hold the fort be.
cause of the strength of the fertilization, its
importance, and because, if again in pos
session of the enemy with sufficient arma.
ment, of the very great difficulty of its cap
ture, until l could get some further instruc-
tions from their government.
Commodore Stringham directed the
steamers Monticello and Pawnee to remain
inside, and these, with the men in the forts,
are sufficient to hold the position against
any force which is likely, or indeed possible,
to be sent against it. The importance OF
the point cannot be Overrated. When the
channel is buoyed out any vessel may carry
fifteen feet OF water over it with ease. Once
inside, there is a safe harbor and anchorage
in all weathers. From there the whole
coast of Virginia and North Carolina, from
Norfolk to Cape Lookout, is within our
reach by light draught vessels, which can"
not possibly live at sea during the winter
months. From it, offensive operations may
be made upon the whole coast of North
Carolina to Bogue Inlet, exteniDg many
miles inland to Washington, Newbern and
Beaufort. In the language of the chief en-.
gineer of the rebels, Col. Thompson, in an
official report, it is the key of the Abe
marie. In my Judgment it is station Sec
ond in Importance only to Fortress Monroe
on this coast. AS depot for coaling and
supplies for the bockading squadron, it is
invaluable. AS harbor for our coasting
trade, or inlet from the winters storm, or
from pirates, it is Of the first Importance.
By holding it, Hatteras may again send
forth its cheering ray to the storm beaten
mariner, of which the worse than vandalism
OF the rebels, deprives him. 1t has but one
drawback want of water-but that q
condenser like the one now in operation at
Fortress Monroe, at cost of few hundred
dollars, will relieve.
append to this report tabular state
ment Of the prizes which have been taken
into that inlet within few days, compiled
from the official documents captured with
the fort. l add hereto an official report of
the chief engineer of the coast defences of
the rebels. Please find also appended a
statement of the arms and munitions of war
captured with the fort, as nearly as they
CON ho accnrtaiupd