The national Republican., 1861-09-25

sound A shot from the Fanny brought them
alongside, and they ploted us TO within AZ
hundred yards of the fort. II Is called fur
Ocrac coke and is situated on the seward fac"
of Beacon Island IL was entirely deserted: IL
is octagUn in shape contains four shell-rooms
about twenty five feet square, and in the centre
large bomb-proof one hundred feet square
with the magazine within H. Directly above
the magazine, on each fide, were four larg,
tanks containing water. -
The fort has been constructed with grrat
care, of sand in barrels covered with earth and
turf. The inner framing of the bomb proCf wa
built of heavy pine timber.
There were platforms for twenty guns. which
had been partially destroyed by fire The gun
carriages had been all burned. There were
eighteen guns in the fort, viz Four eight-'nGh
navy shell guns and fourteen long thirty-two
Founders.
The steamer Albemarle left on Sunday nf
ternoon. carrying cff two guns. found one
hundred and arty barrels also, many OF them
filed with water there being no water in the
fort they had brought itfrom Washington aud
Newbcrn. .a...
landed the men at hhlf-past one O'Clock
and commenced breaking of the trunions Of
the guns. l.
While Il portion Of our men and the naval
brigade were so employed. sent Lieutenant
Ets'man in The launch 10 Portsmouth. where
he found three eight-inch navy shell guns lyi'g
on the beach, and one mounted on q carriage {;
they had all been spiked. There was no bat
terry erected. although we were Informed thli
one would have been built but for our coming
There had been camp at Portsmouth, called
Camp Washington. but portion Of the troops
were sent 10 Fort lIatteras, when IL wGE at
tackled. on August 2S. and the remainder re-
| tired to the mainland.
Portsmouth. which formerly contained 80
| inhabitants. was nearly deserted, but The
people are expected to return. Those remaining
| seem to be Union men. and expressed satisidc-
ton at our coming
| Lieut.. Eastman assured them thai they
woud not be molcstsd by tha Government
and that they might return to their usual occu
pations. r".
There are no entrcnchments nor guns al
| Ocracoke. The fishermen aud pilots, who fled
after our attack, have generally returned.
tried to destroy the guns by breaking The
trunions of fwth sledges and by dropping solid
| shot upon them from an elevation, with little
success | then fired solid shot from GA
pounder at them, and in this manner disabled
them.
Lient Eastman disabled the guns at Ports,
mouth, by knocking off the cascades, md
leaving them in the salt water on the beach.
After destroying the guns, | collected all the
lumber, barrels and wheeibarrows, aud
placed them in and about the bomb proof sci
| fire to the pile and entirely destroyed it.
A light ship, which had been used as a store
ship, and which was run upon the shore, some
distance from the fort, with the intention
of subsequently owing off and arming, also
set fire to.
At half past six o'clock this morning, l
started on our return we met with no de-
tention, and arrived safely at half past
eleven o'clock.
am happy TO report that the conduct Of
our men and the naval brigade, was excellent.
Lieut.. Eastman and and Lieuts. Tillotson and
Rowe, of the naval brigade, reuderc,! me- most
efficient assistance
| | am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
| JAMES f. MAXWELL,
| Lieut.. U. S. Navy
Commander S. G. Rowan,
US. Steamer Pawnec.