Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-11-20

Ma- have to leave here soon, ana WIN oe certain
to re. ,en, any how, IL directed to that point So
l will close. Excuse this imperfect letter.
,3tsrs% $Affectionately, W. B. g.
HIGHLY INTERESTING LETTER.
H4ttsras prisone,s-their defsnes Of tho Forte
Surreader-terms of capitulatiOn-detence of
Com. Barron-Tanke land DC.
The following interesting letter which we copy
from the Petersburg Eepress is from the pen of one
of our released Hattcras prisoners Mr.. Joseph d.
Barnes, Of Hartford Co. N. C. 1t will be read
with interest: t.-l
November 10Th, 1851. 4
Editors Of Express: Having seen frequent quota
tons in your paper and in the Dag Book IN REFER
to conversations held with one or others of my
brother prisoners, on our return from Yankeedom,
l have concluded that, perhaps full statement Of
facts and opinions Cleaned during our visit on the
unholy side of Jordan, may be read with interest
BY some of you patrons.
During our sojourn in New York. as prisoners Of
war, We were held in close and well-watched i'm
prisonment in Castle Williams on Governors Island
Our officers however, having more extended range
and liberal privileges were domciled in Fort Column
bus on the same island. We were enabled, through
the kindness of many friends in the city, to pro-
cure anything that we might need to render our
unhappy condition comfortable as the circum
stances would permit. We had frequent assurances
that oar friends were many, and that we should
lack for nothing if they should te permitted to ad-
minister to our wants.
There has been evidently sofening of feeling,
attended with demonstrations of kindness. towards
us and the cause We represented. Kindness and
deeds Of charity manifested towards the Federal
prisoners in Richmond have been circulated through
the Northtrn papers with happy effect. We have
more than once been recipients of donations from
the fathers OR mothers of prisoners held such in
the South
We were assured that men of influence and stand
ing using their utmost enleavors to bring about
reaction aud change of sentiment This is extern
sively felt and is ripenng into rebellion. The
greatest anxiety was felt from the consequences
that might arise from the slip Of the blockade by
Messrs. Mason and Slidell. Three steamers were
sent immediately in search Of them From the same
source learn that all circles anxious to bring
| about full exchange of prisoners.
Being frequently asked the terms on which we
were released will give them as follows: ~ do
soemn!y affirm that will rot take up against
the United States or assist in any way in carrying
warfare against the government until We are by
the laws Of civil warfare exchanged and thereby
| freed from this obligation" We who have taken
this Obligation were invalds or wounded men and
/ unfit for further service.
Of the dSloyalty, disatfection and treachery that
exists in the enemy camp there is positive vidence.
will give only few instances and leave your read
; ers to draw their own conclusions. While at the
! RIP Raps or Fort Calhoun, the report Of the Lees
! burg fight was received and with it that all the
captains Of the *ranmany Regiment were killed
! This readily accounted for by one Of the New
! York Volunteers, who said that he knew the reg-
mrnt and had been with the men IN encampment
and on marches, and confidently affirmed that these
captains were killed by their men. for they had
! sworn to do so. few days before the sailing of
the fleet :ran Of powder was found connected with
! the magazine in Fortress Monroe, and but for the
| discovery and interrogation it would have blown up
part OF the fort at least This they charged upon
! some of their own men. Another instance is the
desertion of Mr. Hale. secretary to the commodore
of the expedition, taking with him the signals and
thereby delaying its departure for several days in
order to OBTAIN new signals from Washington This
| circumstance gave rise to the Pawnees attempt on
! the Potomac. Information was also received that
she was ridded and Tad thrown her guns overheard
and has since been condemned. have mentioned
The sc ins ances because they were topics of CONVEX
saton in the enemy s camp.
There were twenty six of the a. Y. volunteers
from one regiment on the Rip Raps, living IN an ul-
comfortable state Of Punishment for INDUCING in such
innocent amusement as mutiny so common in the
Northern camps. These men were almost destitute
of clothing with only suniciency OF food to sustain
life. An adjustment of the difficulties between the
two sections of our country IS hoped for and expect
cd by all with whom have converSed on the sub
iect TO be made ut the assembling Of the Rump
Congress.
AS some mention was made Of the traitor. c. H
Fosters conversation with me- will state the par
ticulars. On entering the room he seemed to have
known that was there, as was the only one o
our number that had ever seen him before. 10 hi
question of recognition, sarcastically remarked
that had frequently met with him in our Demo
cratic meetings of Ecrttord in its conventions
! He then wished to administer to my wants or ne
cessics, pecunary or otherwise, which oosti
nalely refused, and assured him than an abundance
, awaited our arrival in Dixie. His utmatum of i'm
pudence soon followed gutteral eflsion of euloge
and deurecations about the stars and stripes, ant
0 the cause in which were engaged in offering III
n ! position under the old Government. This pre-
scented with all the asperity the circumstances wou
2 admit demanding that he should not make an allu
d sion Of the kind in my presence, and turned iron
l. the traitor with contempt Capt Leach, then Il
j. command at the Fort who was near and listenIn
with interest to what said severely reprlmano
Il ed him for asking improper questions, and intimate
r that their Government did not wish their armle
augmented with men like himself who were traitor
e to their own My object in calling the attention {
the press to this circumstance is to confirm the put
v lie mind that G. II. Foster is not only himself
:. traitor to the cause he has to protect, bu
that he using his utmost endeavors, at every OF
v portunity, to induce others to follow his own il
j. famous and tratorous course.
It NEW PICTURE OF THE BATTLE AT HATrERAs.
e. The first day of the bombardment, the line
battle ships were engaged with Fort Clark, and tn
little battery of six guns. located near the edge
ID the SURF would have succeeded in keeping our en-
n mys ships beyond anchorage and in that situate
N they could have done us no material damage. if It
of guns had been in proper trm and the fort supple
ID with shot and she'll But will mention here th
IN there has come under my own observation but OF
$ gun with proper attachments for regulating its ell
to walton and sighting in all my stay on the coast
= And through the neglect Of some one our cannt
re had not even been furnished with sights the smp
re invention of the of 1912 that rendered our ca
d. non 50 effective during that struggle. r
eS AT one O'Clock the gunners Oh tnls ntte Iort III
as discharged their last cartridge, and ceased firing
ct So soon as this was discovered by the enemy, thu
rt hove to and fired in shower of shot and shell
on great for men In defencelcss condition to withstan
is After spiking their cannon, they retreated to Fc