Newbern weekly progress. [volume] (Newbern, N.C.) 1858-1863, 1861-11-26
IRON the Richmond Examiner
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Norfolk, November eth, 1851. {

Sir: My last communication will have III
formed you of the disposition made of the yes
sells of this squadron, to aid in the defence of
Newbern and Washington, then believed to be
threatened with an attack on our departure,
on the first subsistence of the gale, for a recon
nolsance of the Atlantic coast from Cove sound
to Hatteras inlet; that there was nothing to
be seen of the enemy's flotila; that the forti-
dcatlons of Hatteras had scarce been affected
by the storm, and that there were six Federal
steamers lying there, among which we sent
two 32-pound shot.
Sending the Winslow to reconnoitre along
tAe Northern coast from Hatteras to Chicami-
comico, L repaired with the remainder of the
squadron to Washington, sending from the
first battery on the Pamlico an express to
General Hill notifying him Of the result of our
reconnaissance.
On the 9Th, P NJ, the winslow returned re-
porting nothing visible along the Northern coast
but that the schooner Napoleon which, as you
have been advised, l had armed with three
guns and uaoored in the river for the protec-
ton of Newbern, was then on Pamlico sound
under tow of small private steamer. This
seemingly incredible report being confirmed
from other sources, I left with the whole
squadron that right to hasten to rescue the
men whose lives were thus upaccountablY im-
peried
On our way down the river we spoke fish
ing boz t, which reported one of the enemy's
large steamers ashore on Ocracoke bar. Ia
king tie siow-moving gun-boats in tow, we
pressed on and reached Ocraco5e inlet st I, P N
of the 9Th. We there found the private steam
hlbemarie, the Napoleon with the troops,
having been sent back in consequence Of the
abandonment of the undertaking to retake
Hatteras. The Albermale, having Col Single
tary on board, had humanely waited for the
purpose, and that morning vainly attempted
to relieve the vessel ashore, which proved to be
the French steam corvette Prony, carrying six
large guns with a crew of one hundred and
forty men, commanded by Captain Fontanges.
[ dispatched the Curlew, Conmander Hunter,
with Lieutenant Commanding Alexander, who
volunteered for the service some spare men
and boats, with an extra pilot, to the wreck,
and with this and the remaining vessels took
position to protect her from any interruption
by the enemy. The Albemarle followed the
Curlew, and gallantIy did all she could with
her boat Zone having been losD in rescuing
the shipwrecked
By night-fall every officer and man v7as
brought off and distributed between this ship,
the Curlew and the Albemarle. The next
III orlng l again sent the Curlew TO bring off all
the personal effects of the officers and crew,
in which should have been aided by the AL
benarle, but At an carly hour she left for New
bern, carrying off, without consulting Captain
the rest he wished to be conveyed to Norfolk.
This dese!tion might have been attended with
more serious consequences os the people on
shore, we'll ourselves, we're persuaded that
the enemy would that morning come down
from Hatteras, only fifteen miles distant, and
attack US. In such an event had purposed
placing the officers and crew Of the French
corvette on board OF the AlbeDaarle, which
unarmed, but by her desertion we would have
been compelled, if attacked, to fight with
crowded decks.
As soon as the departure Of the 3lbenarle
was known, Captain Eontanges wrote an
der to his officer on board of her to return in
the Winslow, which dispatched in pursuit Of
n er. Unfortunately, in passing through the
narrow channel, which leads from the Atlantic
into The sound, the Winsfow struck upon
sunken wreck and immediately went
down.
BY +, p NJ, We had I'll the personal effec;s
from the Prony, excepting three or four Of the
sailors clothes bags which the boats could
carry. This successful result is mainly
attributable to the we'll directed energies Of
Commander Hunter and Lieutenant Comrlan-
ding AleXander, combined with the intrepidlty
aud suborGiration of the men under his com
mand. Twelve hours after The French vessel
was ashore four Federal steamers came down
from Hatteras-Captain Fontangcs sent his
boat, through the surf to one Of them, and
was promised assistance but in about an hour
to his dismav, they took their departure, and
dil not return although he fired signal guns,
and in the night threw up rockets and blrned
blue lights.
He found the wreck on our arrival, sixteen
hours after their departure, broken in two
and remained by it 26 hours without seeing
anything of the enemy.
The high wind, the strong current, the surf
and the expectation Of an attack by the enemy,
kept US well employed, and | take pride IN
saying that every officer and man undtr my
exhibited the greatest alacrity in a :
sisting the unfortunate and preparing to resist
the fec.
Soon after the Pr2ny was wrecked, her COM
mandcr drowned his magazines and threw the
small arms overheard. At his request, ait
the removal of his personal effects, | set tire to
her.
Taking everything out Of the Winslow that
her condition would allow, | set her on fire to
prevent the enemy from doing the same and
claiming triumph She was Il side wheel
steamer and only useful in emergencies.
After the wreck Of the Winslow, sent an
other steamer for tue men carried off by the
Albemare. They have been brought back,
and, with the rest of the crew, delivered TO
Flag Officer Forrest, while Captain Fontangcs
and his officers have quarters III the principal
hotel Of the place at the public expense.
have the honor to be, &c,
w. F. LYNCH,
Flag Officer Commanding Naval DefenceS of
Vir.rinia and North Carolina
Hon. S. r. MALLORY, Secretary Of the
Navy.
COPY -TRANsLAT1oH.
NORFOLK, Va, 9th Nov, 1861.