Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-11-13
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H N''l'N'' "
lion of ftdaln hl llulcm, lnipt nom the
tltual VI iho Sew York Titgas or,ho Ith
instant
The land lolcc' nt This point atc now In
the midst NJ nuotl ~ engagements which
be- of more serious character than any or
the conflicts that have vet taken rlnsc ON
THE coa,i. II isn contest with ihe rle-
mcu,s. a great dclupo is upon us. Las.
evening gale s?rong up, witch contnu.
ed TO increase in luiy every moment Until
morning When ~ assumed The form of a
prilcc' whulwind, accompanied with rain,
Which at lines fell in torrents. About 3
o'closk thls morning, the waves from the
ocean began to sw,~p over the island lhalf
a mile wide into tho Sound, and before
daylight th,se two bodies Of water were
united, Not spot Of land vas to be seen
All the lower portion OF the island, where
FolH lIattcras aud Clark are situated
was under water, and 50 sudden was the
upheaying ard 50 violent the storm that
all chaucrs OF escape were cut off bcidro
the morning light came. II was utterly
impossible for any assistance to reach
them from our fleet, so terrible was this
llattera slsTA. And it was no! until
breaker swept across the island. carrying
men, shantios, tents, and ever creeping
thing with it, that the soldiers we've aware
of a great flood Men were washed out Of
their beds aud found all their clothes
(whut few had undreSsed) borno by the
water to the Sound, Live stock, such aS
pigs, chickens, horses, cattle, dogs, cats
and cooking utensils, lumber, drftwood
boxes, barrels, trunks, shaHtios, we've car
Iied forward, together witE men on them
and in them, some jumping out Of the
windows some cutting their way through
the roof, others jumping off into the water
which, IN many places was over their
heads in depth, and making for box or
barrel in order to reach the roof Of shan
ty still standing. Officers on horses were
riding or swimming through this moving
mass, giving orders to this floating army
of men, who, with gun in one hand and
with the o'her hanging on to some Kind
of AN object, kept themselves above water
The most mourntul sight of all, however,
was to witness the moving of the sick
some OF whom were in dying condition
before the storm came. They were car
ried on cots from place to place on the
shoulders of men who were wading thro'
water neck decp. 1t was also sad sight
to witness the destruction CT property -
At the wharf where all the government
property Is stored, a wholesale destruction
took place. Provisions Of every kind were
soon ahoat-bmrels OF crackers, bread, su-
gar pork, beef. molssses, beans, potatoes.
fish boxes Of candles, soa-, clothing, and
in fact everything required for an army
was seen to 20 with the flood, with the
buildings containing them in very Iii
!apidated condition. Tht steamer Snlul>
ding arrived the eVoniag before with u
large load Of provisions, clothing, ldmbcr,
&c, and as good lack would have it. she
wac unable to land bat smlll portion of
her cargo the night she camo in Unfor-
tunatelY there was, however. some cloth
ing landed for the Goth Indiana Regiment
Nearly half of this much needed freight
was placed on the pier, and went with the
waves Of the ocean within view of The SOL
diers, who, with fearful eyes and shivcring
forms, beheld this, to them, the most
mela cAo!y sight OF all. About 6 O'Clock
this morning the 10 was at its heighth,
and for two hours Col. Brown Of the 2O,h
Indiana Regiment and officers we're in
great suspense. 1t was very evident that
a new inlet below Fort Clark had been
made during the night, which entirely cut
off their escape; and as the waves were
rushing into Fort Clark by 6 in the NOR
ming it was apparent that all must NEE;
with wStery grave il the water con.inu.
ed to rise at the same rate for two hours
TO come. Fortunately, the country was
spared from hearing Of such horrible It'd.
ings as was momentafily threatening the
lives Of these loyal soldiers. The storm
began to aba,o by seven am, this morn.
ing, and by 9 o'clock narrow strip of
sandbeach was discovered above Fort
Clark, which was hailed with wild delight
10y the 10th Indiana Regiment who, bur
few minutes before wero making orupara,
tons to save themselves, if possible, from
a fearful fate. BY noon tho u le had gone
down, and left quite little SPOT for the
half drowned and exhausted men TO walk
upon and build some camp fires, which
them TO cook sclnty meal from
what few fragments ofprovisions had been
rescued from the water. What a sight to
behold. All was devastation and rain =
the entire camp was made desolate. Sew
eral feet Of sand were taken from the sur>
lace Of the island, leaving it in such a con-
dltion that it is sure 10 be under water as
eften as the tide comes up,
Between Fort Clark and lIaslcras, n
new inlet, some six feet deep, vas formed
during the night, and Mcw it is vast
sheet of water betv cen the two forts.
Fort llattcras now stands insulated from
the lam, and will be swept entirely away
in the next severe storm, its sandy walls
having already commenced to crumble.
In fact il is thought that the next great
storm (which is liable to visit this region
anv day, will level both forts, Clark and
llatteras. | understand that the Confed-
derates only built them for summer use,
expecting they would be swept away be, /.
fore Spring, which accounts for using the (
cneap material sand and tuIf) with which
these forts are constructed. This sweep
ing Hood makes good the predictions Of
the Conf derates when we took possession |
Of this treaChtrous and mysterious PENN .
-ula. They said we would be CAD to aban-
don HItteras Island when the winter