Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-09-18

ing minute and graphic account furnished
by an eyewitness to the Washington { N
CD Dispatch
Z. 5. STEAMER, G ELLIs,")
Il HATTERAs INLET, Aug. 29,4I861.
Editor Of the Dispatch--D Dear Sir =
On Tuesday, the 9th instant, information
reached US that large feet of some ls wa,
vessels wege anchored off Fort Hatteras
Ihis was also officially communicated to
Lieut.. Col. Johnston, commanding the
forces on Portsmouth, with II despatch to
bring up all his available men Immediate
~. johnson having made all preparations
for leaving with his command, requested
our gallant Captain, w. I. Muse. to con,
Vey portion of them up for him. which
our kind captain Immediately and cour-
teously granted. Accordingly the troops
consisting of the Washington Gravs .
Capt. Sparrow, the Hertford Ligbt In
fantry," Capt. Sharp, the " Morris Guards. y
Capt. Gillian, and the g Tar River Bows :"
Capt, or rather now, Colonel Johnson
were embarked as soon as possible. After
weighing anchor, we moved cheeriIy ahead
under the control of our scientific enoi.
neer, Whomslev, and all seemed hapnv -
marriage belle. The day which was to
realize our hopes of a battle had now ar
rived, and We were all more than anxious
to reach Hatteras, and participate in the
action, and to relieve the devoted band
who must, by this time, be bearing the
rude shock of war. Who could look mn
on the brave and determined set of men
with US and doubt the issue! Everywhere
was seen smiling faces and happy counte.
nances. Would to God that the comino
morrow had brought no change upon those
bronzed and manly cheeks; but the Ru
Ter OF all things had otherwise ordered
Proceeding up the Sound, we came m
with the little dispatch boat " NJ. G. Down.
ing," just from Hatteras, bringing up the
intelligence that the patriotic little band
OF 100 men who were at Fort Clark, lit
tie above Fort Hatteras, after making a
desperate resistance, firing their last shot
had evacuated the Fort, having previously
rendered the guns useless by spiking and
d'smounting them, and that the yandal
horde of the North, led on by traitorou.
Minister, had landed and taken
possession of the Fort, and now the Stars
and Stripes were floating over the time.
lonored soil of the Old North State: tba.
Fort Hatteras was still galIantly fighting.
out was in need of men and munitions Of
saF preseacs s @sn sust Se sonia sssi.g sRaalE
the steamer Winslow approaching with
a plenty of ammunition, and the following
officers on board Capt. Samuel Barron,
Lieuts. Sharp anG Murdaugh, and Surgeon
Greenbow. She came to anchor about
two and a half or three miles from the
Fort. This was indeed cheering, and our
expectations knew no bounds. All this
time a severe and constant cannonade was
being kept up, and the feet firing contln-
nal broadsides of shell, while we replied at
intervals with shot, our she'll having been
expended. The shot and she'll dropped
thick and fast upon the Fort and Island,
but so far no one WAS hurt, except two men
killed and Lieut.. Knight wounded, while
retreatine from Fort Clark. In the face
Of this dreadful storm of iron, our Cap
tain. with that irmness and tranquility
which ever characterizes the true officer
and gentleman, ran the Z. 5. Steamer Eli
| l;s near the Fort, which now of course be
came the prominent mark of the Yankees
as we were not only gun-boat, but on
decks were crowded with men. Protecte'
by our Heavenly Father, though the ball
vbistled close and fast by us we remaine
unhurt. One thing can vouch tor Il
that there is not man upon this lltti
steamer but who has grown familiar wit
that peculiar whizzing sound, which alway
accompanies ball in its flight through tn
air. Several rifle cannon balls passed
close proximity to US, and though perEaI
it was the first time that some of them Ia
: ever heard cannon fired, yet the ere
and officers stood it with the most perfe
, nonchalance, exhibiting throughout tt
. whole action perfect confidence 10 the
, officers, and a reliance upon the Almigh
. hand. After safely landing the troops, '
aoa;n returned to the Winslow, and takiI
4 u 7prUrrs+s--.--rrl.--n of ammunition, we we
along side of the schooners anu stUon
: the TROOPS on board, and safely land
! everything at the Fort. Our escape y
trnly miraculous. Nobly has the Ellis p
formed her duty in this terrible encount
&c and It's due to her that her services sho'
" be acknowledged.
~ " The enemy, after an incessant hre
- - about 6 hours, having sounded all abe
= and planted buoys ready for the dreat
= work Of to morrow, retired for the MS
\, and. no doubt employed themselves Tor
1sr coming struggle. Nearly all night
he were employed in making the fort imp
" nable. as we then thought. Much OF
- disaster which occurred on Thursday,
=. " he attributed to the fact that ,0e did
' of possess ourselves of Fort Clark by tie
- onet that night but wiser and older :. D
'ass than mine thought otherwise. Serla
is. in my opinion, it was one OF ,e. Ine ca. :.
,,.u second only to the shameful negie0. q
'asy authorities in not properly fortlfyIng
n, nal coast. that caused our defeat; from !. .
anu two causes we have the following re-
In .he .h nossession of -Hatteras, the Key ol
se Sonpd--the almost entire eontro' ol
pc Sound-the road open to invasion al
oPle moment-Capt. Barron, Lieut. onarp
are, abont 100 or 400 gallant men priso
reao saken by the Abolition Kangaroos' oe
lra" raw prolopg:ng, in my opinion the wa
sink half a year. :.
/ must not here forget to ment