Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-13
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From the New York Tribune, 9Th inst.
Interesting from Hatteras Inlet.

From the New York Tribune, 9Th in,t,
interesting from Hatteras Inlet.
Great Storm and Fiood-TA. Island Subme,o.,
oIents, ShaaIiis and Pyorisiqas Spept Of
Uredt D.ityess and Priuat oa--D Dsplorable Con
da'oH Of the Tosatieth Iadiana. y y ~ ~
MI. HATTERAs INLET, Nov. 2, 1861.
ne lana forces at this point are now In the
mlost OF another engagement which is of a mors
serious Character than any of the conAicts thal
nave yes taken place on this coaat. Il Ia a con
test with the elements. A great deluRe is upou
u.s. Last evening Q gale sprADg up, which con.
unued 10 Increase In fury every moment unit
m'fning, when 1t assumed the form Of perfect
wnriwind, accompanied, with rain, which al
LINES iell 10 torrents. About three O'Clock this
morning the waves from the ocean began 70
sweep over the island (half mile wide) into
tae sound, and before daylight these two bodies
OF water were united. Not spot of land was
70 pe seen. All the lower portions of the Island
where torts HattsrAs and Clark are situated,
was under water, and so sudden was the upheav.
ing aud 30 violent the storm, that all chances Of
escape were cut of before the morning light
came IL was utterly impossible for any assist
ance 70 reach them from our feet, so terrible
was this Hatteras storm Aud IL was not ratl
oieaker swept across the island, carrying men,
tents, shanties and every creeping thing with
w snat the soldiers were aware OF the presence Of
great Hood. Men were suddenly washed out OF
tnelr beds and found their clothes (What few had
nnoressed) borne by the water to the Sound. Live
stock,such as pigs, chickens, horses cattle, dogs,
cats, and cooking utensils, lumber, drittwood,
6oxes' barrels, trunks, shanties, were carried
forward, together with men on them and In
N en-. I'M M MIN onfn IF s,sn
ting their way through the roof, others jumping
of into the water, which, 10 many places, was
over their heads in depth, and making for b. Z
or barrel In order to reach the roof Of stanty
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 other hanging on
to some kind Of an object, kept themselves
above water. The most mournful 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 carried on cots
from place to place on the shoulders of men
who were wadDg through water nearly neck
deep. IL was also sad sight to witness such
Destruction OF property. At the wharf where
all the Government property is stored, a whole
sale destruction took place. Provisions Of
every kind were soon sfost-barrels of crack.
ers, bread, eugar, pork, beef, molasses, beans,
potatoes, fish, boxes Of candles, soap, clothing,
and, in fact, every thing required for an army,
was seen to 90 with the food, with the build.
ings containing them in a very dilapidated
condition. The steamer Spaulding arrived the
evening before with large load of provisions,
clothing, lumber, etc, and, as good luck would
have it, she was unable to land but q small
portion of her cargo the night she came in.
Unfortunately there was, however, some cloth.
ing landed for the naked Twentieth 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 shivering
forms, beheld this, to them, the most melan,
choly sightof all. About six O'Clock this morn.
Ing the food was at it's hight, and for two hours
Colonel Brown, of the Twentieth Indiana Reg.
lment, and officers, were in great suspense. Il
was very evident that new inlet below Fort
Clark had been made during the night, which
entirely cut of their escapes and as the waves
were rushing into Fort Clark by six 10 the
morning, it was apparent that all must meet
with watery grave If the water continued to
rise at the same rate for two hours TO come
fortunately, the country was spared from hear.
ing OF such horrible tidings as was momenari.
y threatening the lives OF these loyal soldiers.
The storm began to abate by seven this morn
Ing, ana by nine O'Clock q narrow ridge of sand.
beach was discovered above Fort Clark, which
was hailed with wild delight by the Twentieth
Indiana Regiment, who, but few minutes be-
Tore, we're making preparations to cave them.
selves, 1t possible, from fearful fate. By noon
,he tide hhd gone down, and left quite q little
'pot for the half-drowned and exhausted men
N NJ alk a nd hpftd g. Il
enabled them to cook q scsnty meal from what
lew fragments OF provisions bad been rescued
rom the water. What sight to behold! All
was devastation and ruin; the entire camp was
made desolate. Several feet of eand are taken
rom the surface Of the island. leaving &c in
such condition that 1t is sure to be under water
ID often as the tide comes up.
Between Fort Clark and Hatterss, a new in.
let, some six feet deep, was formed through the
,ight, and now IL is q vast sheet of water be.
tween the two forts. Fort Hatteras nov stands
ISOLATED from the land, and will be swept entire.
y away in the next severe storm, les sand walls
having already commenced to crumble. In fact
. is thought that the next great storm (Which
Is liable to visit this region at any day) will
evel both forts, Clark and Hatteras. Iunder,
stand that the Confederates only built them for
summer use, expecting they would be swept
ssay before spring, which accounts for using
The cheap material (sand and turf with which
these forts are constructed. This sweepipp
aood makes good the predictions Of the Con.
Iederates, when we took possession of this
ireaeherous and mysterious peninsula. They
Iaid we would be glad TO abandon Hatteras Isl.
and when the winter storme came. It has been
laid all along by our most experienced military
men, that land force on Hatteras Island was
,Dtirely unnecessary, that O small feet would
effectually guard the Inlet.
Camp Wool (where the Ninth New York
Volunteers are quartered), some three miles
above Fort Hatteras, was also much DANA eed
~ this storm. Their large hospital, some sixty
~ forty feet, was carried away; the sick, how.
sver, we're saved. They lost nearly all their
provisions, and many other stores Camp Bal
Icy, seven miles up the island, where Captain
Bailey, with portion Of the Indiana Regiment,
% stationed, has, learn, escaped with but lit
lie loss, they being on a higher point Of land
which Is strongly fortified. Six companies Of
his regiment left Fort Clark to day for C Amp
Bailey, leaving only three companies at Fort
Clark, who, learn, will also abandon this d.
apidated and orumbling iortifcaton on the NOR
'ow, and doubtless they will be followed soon By
he regulars not stationed at Fort Hatteras.-
Camp Bailey, or Fort Bailey, is the best place
IN the island TO make stand ahd resist an at,
Jack from the enemy, which is now moment
.rily expected. / do not believe that an army
If twenty thousand could assail this position
With any hopes Of success. The Confederates
rave been making ready oil along to give US
,attle az soon as the winter storms came to their
They have been concentrating near.
y all their forces in the State on Roanoke Il.
and, some fifty miles above ne, at the head Of
his island, with this intention. In case Of an
attack We shall be assisted by our feet, which
will be able to command the ocean side of the
ISLAND, while tho Confederates will, with their
small feet of gunboats, command the Sound,