Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-09-05

already landed, upon the beach.
The Harriet Lane, by my Director, tried
to cross the bar and get iato the smooth wa
ter of the inlet, when fire was sopened upon
the Monticello which bad proceeded IN ad
vance Of US, from the other fort. Several
shots struck her, but without any casualty,
as am informed. So well convinced were
the officers of the Navy aud Amy that the
forts had surrendered ct this time, that tine
Susquehanna' bad lowed the Frigate Cum
befland' TO an ofing.
The FIRE was then re-opened upon both
forts.
In the meantime, few men from the
Coast Guard had advanced up the beach with
Mr.. Wiegel. who was actiag as q volunteer
aid, and whose calamity and services wish
to commend, and took possession of the small
fort. which was found to have been abandon
ed by the enemy, aud raised the American
flag thereon.
Early next morning the Harriet Lane ran
in shore for the the purpose of covering any
attack upon the troops. At the same time
large steamer was observed coming dowa
the Sound inside the land, with reinforce
meuts tor the ensmy ; but she was prevented
from landing BY Captain Johnston, on the
the ship and FOUNDER from the enemy in
a small stand battery, and open frs upon the
Rebel steamer,
AT eight o'clock the feet opened Ere again
the flag ship being anchored as near ss the
water allowed, and the other ship coming
CALAMITY iuto.action. 1t was evident. .afcer
few experiments, that our shot iell short.
An increased length of fuse was signalled,
lsI.a aoA pran ri
teen seconds fuse. | had sent Mr.. Fiske,
acting aid de camp, on shore for the purpose
of the troops. and of the enemy.
| then went with the Fanny for the pur-
pose of effectng landing of the remainder
OF the troops when white flag was run up
from the forts, l then went with the Fanny
| over the bar into the Inlet. At the same
time the tr cops under Col. Weber marched
| M the beach and signel was made for the
flag ship to cease firing.
A the FanHy rounded in over the bar, the
| Rebel steamer " Winslow" went up the
| channel, having large number Of secession
troops oD board, which she had not landed.
| We threw a large shot at her from the Fan
nv but she proved to be out of range. /
then sent Lieut.. Crosby on shore to demand
! the meaning of the white flag. The boat
! soon returned with the memorandum from
| Commodore Barron, (already given,) and a
/ verbal communication stating that he had III
| the fort 6t5 men, and 1000 more within q
! few hours call, but that be was anxious to
spare the effusiou of blood To both the
| written and verbal communications made
| the reply (inserted 10 other dispatches
After waiting three quarters OF an hour
| Lieutenaut Crosby returned, bringing with
| him Captain Barron, Major Andrews and
| Colonel Martin, Of the Rebel forces, who on
being received on board the tug Fanny IN
! formed me that they had accepted the terms
pl ploposed in my memorandum.
! inform med them that as the expedition was
a combined one, that the surrender must be
made on board the flag chip TO flag officer
! Stringham, as well as 10 myself, We went
on board tbs Minnesota for that purpose,
when the articles of eapitulation were agreed
\ on. (Airaady given
then landed aud took q formal surrender
Of the ports with All the men and munitions
! of war, inspected the troops to see that the
arms had been properly surrendered, march
ed them out. and embarked them on board
the Adelaide, and marching my own men
! into the fort and raised our flag upon it amid
the cheers Of our meB and a salute of Ii guhs
which been shotted by the enemy. !.
nav mention that the 'Aielaide' in car
rying in the troops at the moment that my
terms Of capitnation were under censideTa-
iod nv the enemy, had grounded on the bar
but the active aud judieious exertlons Of
/ Commander Seflvagen, after some delay,
was got off,
Al The some time, the Harriet Lane he'd
| grounded and remained last. Both were
under the guns Of the f1rt. This, to me,
was a moment Of the greatest anxiety. BY
these aocldents a yaluabie ship OF war and
transport steamer, with large portion Of my
troops on board, we're within tbe power OF
the enemy.
had demanded the strongest terms which
ne was considering lie might refuse, and
seeing ocr disadvantage, renew the action.
But / determined not to abate q title OF
what | believed TO be due to the dignity Of
the government, not even to give an official
title 20 the officer in command Of the rebes.
Besides my tug was in the inlet, and at
least could carry on the engagement with
NY TWO rife 6-pounders, we'll supplied with
Sawyer she'll.
Upon taxing possession of Fort Hetteras
found that it mounted ten guns, with fCur
yet uamounted.
The position of the fort is an exceedingly
strong one, nearly surrounded on all sides
by water, and only to be approached by a
march of 500 yards circutously over a long
neck of sand with half musket range, and
over causeway few feet only in width,
aud which was commanded by two 32-poun-
ders loaded with grape an canister II nieh
was. expended in our salute
L has a well protected magazine and
bomb proof capable Of sheltering some three
or four hundred men.
Fort Clark, which is about 500 yards to
the North, is a square redoubt. mounting
Gve guns and two 6-pounders. The enemy
had spiked these guns, but in a very ineffi-
cient manner, upon abandoning these works
the day before.
The Importance Of the point cannot be
overrated. When the channel is buoyed out
any vessel may carry fifteen feet of water
over it with ease. Once crossed there is a
safe harbor and anchorage in all weathers
From there the whole coast of Virginia
and North Carolina, from Norfolk to Cape
Lookout is within our reach by light-dratt
vessels, which cannot possibly live at sea
during the winter months. From it often-
sive operations may be made may be made
en- the whole coast of North Carolina to
Rogue Inlet, extending many miles inland
to Washington, Beaufort and Newburn.
In the language of the Chief Engineer ei
the rebels, Col. Thompson, in an official re-