Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-09-28
S}listcllaneous.
Confederate Account of the Hatteras
Fight.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF MAJOR ANDREWS.
The Robel officers taken at Fort Hatterss
hav" requested Commodore String ban to for.
ward their reports.

ward their reports.
! MAJOR ANDREWS REPORT.
On BOARD U. S. SUR MINxEsorA,
September lst, 1861.
To The ddjutant General of North Carolina:
Sr:- beg leave to report that after q
bombardment Of three hours and twenty mi.
mites. on August 30. 1861, l surrendered to
Commodore >. II. StrDgham, Flag Officer,
and Major General Benjamin F. Butler,
Commanding United States forces, Fort Hat
teras. Ut Hatterss inlet. North Carolina.
10 making this report desire briefly to re-.
laie the circumstances attending the cspitula.
Z tion.
| arrived at Fort Ha,teras on the evening
of the 2Sh of August, 10 company with Com
Barron Flag Officer c. s. Navy, in charge of
the defencps of Virginia and North Caroiua.
and found that during the day the enemy had
attacked the forces under the command Of
Col. Wn. +. Martin, as well as Forts Clark
aud Hatteras, under my command, aud aftei
| day OF most severe aud unceasing fighting
the Colonel had succeeded 10 concentrating
all the forces within the walls of Fort HATTIE.
ras. Col Martin himself was utterly prostra
ted by the duties of the day, aud after consul.
tation with HIN ! proposed that we invite
Commodore Barron, an officer OF great expe
rience, TO take the general command and di.
Barron sssented, aud assumed command. ]
then proceeded 10 examine our guns and mu.
nitions, and prepare the fort for the action Of
the coming morning.
There were hut two guns mounted on the
side next to Fort Clark. both 81. Founders,
and one gun on the corner next the bar, an 8.
inch shell gun. During the night tore away
a traverse on the back face of the wort and
brought another gun 10 bear iU the same di.
rection. Che companies of my command, IN.
der Capts. CobdoD, Lamb and Sutton, having
been 10 action oil the previous day. displaying
great courage and DEVOTION being perfectly
exhausted, placed the batteries 10 charge of
fresh troops. as follows Nos. 2 and Of the
channel battery under Capt. Thomas Sparrow,
assisted by his Lieutenants Shaw aud Thomas
Nos. and of the same battery we're under
command OF Lieutenant Colonel George w.
johnson, assisted by First Lieutenant Nose
and Second Lieutenant George w. Daniel /:
No. 6. facing the bar aud No 7, facing Fort
Clark. we're placed in charge Of Major Henry
A. Gilion assisted by Leutenan,s Johnston
md Grimes No. 8, a gun mounted on naval
carriage, was commanded by Lieutenant Muir
daugb, of the q. S. n assisted by Lieuteuant
Sharp and Midshipman Stafford
Capt. Thomas H. Sharp had command of
No. |. but owing to the wrenches not fitting
to action lie stad by his gnu during most
Of the engagement, but could not Gre Thus
we had but three guns We could bring to bear
(if the enemy took up his position of the pre-.
vious day., viz: Nos. 6. I, aud g.
, At 7. 40 O'clock A. NJ. ou the 29th, the en-
emy opened fire on US from the steam .frigate
r Minnesota" (43 guns). wabash" (43 guns)
: "Susquehana"( rs guGs). frigate Cumberland
! pa guns) steamer "Pawuee" no guns), aud
} "Harrie. Lane" Is guns), aud riaed battery
OF three guns erected in the sand hills three
miles east OF Fort Clark Thus you will see
} they brought 73 guns of the most approved
make and heaviest metal to bear on us-the
r shells being 9 inch, l0.inch, and IL iDch Dahl
J, gren, Paixhan. aud Columbua while, from
the position taken, We were unable TO reach
them with the greatest elevation. TIE men
I of the channel battery were ordered 10 leave
2 their guns and protect themselves as well as
y possible, the council Of the commanding Off
I GERS having decided that it was to be an actor
q of endurance until our rein'orcements came
y up. After a few shots had been fred, and il
I was ascertained that we could not reach them
o oar guns ceused fire, and oufy answered th'
d fire Of the enemy occasionally, 10 show WI
h had not surrendered. The shower Of shells il
t half an hour became literally tremendous u:
7, we had falling into and Immediately arount
tUb WOI I'D not less, ou du hNeIuSe, tuou w
o each minute. and the sea being smooth, tn
the firing was remarkably accurate.
y One officer counted % shells as falling so q
to inure us in one minute, and several other
IS connted 20 10 minute. At quarter o
i. eleven O'Clock d council OF the officers wa
a held aud it was determined TO surrender.-
b A white Gag was raised, and the hiring ceased
IS at | o'clock. Tins for three hours and TWEEN
Il ty minutes Fort l1atteras resisted storm o
70 shells perhaps more terrible than ever fell up
e on any other works. At the time the counc
determined to surrender, two oil orr guns weI
H. dismounted. 1 men were redorted killed, an
10 between 25 and 80 badly wounded. Que She
a had fallen into the room adjoining the tnaga
q zine and the magazine was reported on tire
il 1t is useless to attempt further description
g. The men generally behaved well. Nearl
every officer, from the Commodore down, wa
more or less wounded. and fifty Of the mol
commissioned officers aud men, who would nc
Y report to the surgeon.
u. Lieut. j. l.. Johnston, Company Il, SeVenl
e' Regiment. fired the lust shu; ut the euem!
- and raised the flag of truce On the ooml
!" proof.
h. The details of the capitalization were a
tr ranged on the flag ship Minnesota. by whc
nj we laid down our arms aud marched out pr
a' soners of war.
s. desire especially to speak of the condn'
~ of the officers aud men et the naval gun, VII
~ fred frequently 10 try the range. LieutepaI
S' Murtangh was badly wounded, Lieat, Shar
IN was knocked down by she'll, which passt
ne through the parapet near his head, and b'o Q
q the blood from his right ear aud cheek
Pt considerable quantity, killing man at b
ut side ond at the same time Knocking down al
20 covering Col. j. A. j. Bradford with cart
ne Midshpman Stafford eheered on the meI, b
lei having in the most gallant manner.
en After the fall OF Lieutenant Murdaugh, h
men bore him to the Commodore's boat al
be escaped.
IVA am, very truly and respectfully yours
w S. q ANDREws, Muj1r, &c.
n sal