The national Republican., 1861-09-05
COMMODORE STRINGHAM'S
OFFIt IAL REPORT
OF THE
HATTERAS INLET kFF AIR.
UNITED STATES FLAG SHIP MINNESOTA,
NEw NnnK III Appnn CcnIcnihn,. lSMl

1851, lne eHFIlttl moment lnO weather WOuluI
permit, with the flag ship Minnesota Capt. G.
J. Van Brunt, having in company the United
States steamers Wabash, Captain Samuel Mcr.
GER; Monticello, Commander John p. Gllss;
Pawn, c, Commanders. G. Rowan; Harriet Lane,
Captain John Faunoe; United States chartered
steamers Adelaide, Commander Henry S. Stell.
wagen; George Peabody. Lieut. r. B. Lowry,
and tug Fanny, Lieut.. Pierce Crosby-all of
United States navy.
The transports adelaide and George Peabody,
towing schoOners with surl.boa,s on them ana
the Monticello and Pawnee, surf.boats only.
Major General Butler took passage in this
ship. The transports having parts of two regi-
men;s, and one company Of regulars, under the
command Of Colonels Max Weber and Hawkins
and Cap. Larnard, L. 5. A. =,
At = y. NJ, passed Cape Henry, and dis.
charged pilot. light airs from the southward
and eastward, with II ground SWELL
Tuesday, 27Ih. light airs from the southward
and eastward, with heavy ground swell
$50 A. NJ, Cape Hatteras light in sight;
rounded the shoals Il 1atteras, and, AT j p. NJ,
anchored at the southward of the cape, the
squadron in company. Hosted out the surf
bNats, and made preparations for landing troops |
in the morning.
Wednesday, 2sth, southerly winds; heavy |
surf rolling On the beach.
breakfast. Put l2.pound rife gun and l2pound
howitzer in one ui the surthoats, and sent II to
the Adelaide.
Major General Butler, and the marines of the
William l.. Shuttleworth, L. $. NJ. C.-were sent
to the Harriet Lane.
At Gas A. NJ, made signal to disembark
troops" and ordered Pawnee, Monticello, and
Harriet Lane to cover and assist in landing
them.
At S.45, the Wabash, with the Cumberland,
Captain John Marston in tow, led in towards
Fort Clark. the Minnesota following. At same
time, the Monticello, Pdwnee, Harriet Lane,
and the transports, stood in towards wreck
about two miles east of the fort, and commenced
landing the troops at ll.JO.
At 10 o'clock the Wabash and Cumberland
Upencd fire on Fort Clark. The fire was re.
! turned by the Fort.
| At 1910 the Minnesota PASSED inside Of the
| Wabash and Cumberland, and opened fire.
| These vessels continued passing and repassing
the Fort until it was abandoned by the enemy.
| The fire was returned from the Fort, the shot
| falling short or passing over the ships.
At II o'clock the Susquehannah, Captain J.
Chauncyj made her number, and was directed
to engage tie battery.
AT 1925 p. NJ. flags down on Forts Clark and
Hatleras. The first apparently abandoned by
| the enemy, who were running towards Fort
Hatteras, and leaving the shore in boats.
At 1890 P. NJ. made signal to "cease firing"
| At l.lOP. NJ, our troops moving UP the beach.
At2P.M., American Nag display ed from Fort
Clark by our plckets, who were in possession.
At 4, Captain Gs, of the Monticello, was
ordered to feel his way into the Inlet and take
. possession, but he had advanced only a short
distance when fire was opened on him from
Fort Hatteras, towards which Il tug steamer,
, towing II schooner filled with troops, was seen
coming from the southward. for its relief.
General signal engage batteries" was i'm.
1 mediately made. The Minnesota, Susquehan.
nah, and Pawnee opened fire at once, the
: Wabash having towed the Cumberland into the
osting.
The Monticello, from her advanced position,
4 was much exposed, and was struck several
times, but finally hauled off without serious
damage.
At j.I5, signal to "cease firing" was made,
and the squadron hauled OIL for the night with
exception of Monticello, Pawnee, and Harriet
/ Lane, they being ordered to go in shore and
protect the troops during the night.
Wind from southwark, and weather looking
squally.
Thursday 10Th, southwest Winds and pleas.
ant weather. Sea more moderate.
| At $50 \. NJ, made general signal "prepare
TO engage batteries, and follow my motions"
weighed anchor and stood in shore, discovered
the main body Of our troops near where they
landed.
; At lis, instructed commanders Of Monticello
aud Pawnee to attend to the troops on the
2 beach and embark them IL they wish d TO
come of; if they did not, to provision them
Al 49, made genc,al signal Attack bat.
I ,eries, but be careful not to fire near the bat
terry In our possession
At = A. NJ, Susquehannah, landing, opened
fire on Fort llatteras the Wabash following
Minnesota, passing inside the Wabash, anchored
between her and the Susquehannah, and opened
fire at S.l5. AT ., the Cumberland came In
: under SAIL handled handsomely, and anchored
/; in excellent position on the starbcard bow of
the Minnesota, and commenced firing with
effect.
Observing our shot to fall short some, made
signal Cease firing-use lj second fuses only
with l0.inch guns"
At 0 35, recommended firing, our shot now
falling in and around the battery with great
e effect.
' At 045, the Harriet Lane came up and ioined
"a in ha fro wit hpp riff naH unn
e At lilo A. NJ, white flag was displayed
y y from the fort. Made signal " cease firing"
:, The enemy returned our fire throughout the
engagement, but with no effect, their shot fall
ing short.
0 Almost at the commencement Of the engage
} ment they hauled down their coors, and
S showed none until the white flag was displayed
| When the flag was hauled doHn, 1t was
thought, by many, they had surrendercd but
rs the same thing had been done yesterday and
they afterwards fired on tho Monticello no at.
=, ten,ion was paid TO it. They soon recon-
] menced firing, and continued so to do until they
e any coiOrH dying.
1 Upon the appearance Of the white flag, our
l troops marched towards the fort, and, as ii by
I precCncerted signal, but without any order or
request, the officers and crews Of the squadron
: save three hearty cheers for our success.
I Al ll.3O, Major General Butler, in tho tug
Fanny, went into the inlet to the rear of the
forts to take possession Three steamers and
NtNeIdI HChooIelS Win tIoblS oE DOtTu were III
!, the sound watching the engagement; they all
n lett as the Fanny approached. She fired 1T
t them with her riilod piece.
q directed the Harriet Lane 10 60 in the inlet,
=. giving her my best pilot. She grounded, but
- soon got off.
% The chartered steamers, with the remaining
1t troops on board, wcntinto the inlet. The Lane
o IN following the steamers, grounded second
q time, and had been unable, at the time OF my
If departure from the inlet, g =. NJ, of the 3Oth J
g. tG get off. The weather being fine and sea
:. smooth, and having the assistance of the Sus
N quehannah, Monticello, and Pawnee, under my
" direction, TO render every aid, am in hopes
e that she has, ere this, succeeded in getting
e ailOat again,
r In this connection, may very appropriately
Of alprise the Department and congratulate my
l. sel', that have no accident to record, TO /
If single officer or man of the navy, army, ol
/, marines.
=, Al about 2.3O 4. NJ. Of the 10Th, Major Genera
e Butler came to this ship, bringing with hin
/ three senior Clicers, VIZ: Samuel Barron, flat
"nicer, c. 5. navy, commanding naval detensei
=