Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-11
FROM HATTERAs INLET.

we are not able to learn.
FROM HATTERAs INLET.
PAMLIco SOUND, Feb. 8.
There is a large body of rebels at Nag's
Head, near Roanoke Island, and the Chippewa
has been ordered up from Wilmington TO take
position outside and shell them. The collec.
ton of so large a body of troops as are said
to be at Nays Head gives rise 10 some con
lecture as to what is intended by what would
seem to be an untimely movement. Ordina.
rily it would be a menace of Forts Clark and
Hatteras down the banks but to do that the
force would have to cross Oregon Inlet nearly
half mile wide, and lrom three to five feet
deep To place this in their rear, without
superior facilities for recrossing in an emer
gency, with the open sea on one side and
Roanoke Sound on the other, would be
blunder too great to expect even from wise.
The more reasonable suggestion is that the
troops have been congregated at that point as
the nearest where in this iuclement season,
and in the straitened condition Of the rebels III
the matter OF supplies and camp equlpage,
they can be housed and fed for at Mays Head
there are buildings that will house several
thousand men, while on the banks in that
vicinity there are cattle, hugs, and sheep which
the rebels, without money, will not hesitate to
appropriate without price. From Mays Head
| there is a good roadway, on the beach, TO
Norfolk, and it is notimprobable that the troops
came by this route, and made halt in their
present position, which is from nine to eleven
miles above Oregon Inlet. Encamped there,
| it is difficult to perceive how they can strength
en- Roanoke Island or sCccor their brethren
| when attacked, for Roanoke Sound, which
separates them, has depth of from five to
seven feet, and is one or two miles wide AS
at Oregon Inlet, here extraordinary facilities
would be required to cross and recrOss troops
in an emergency. The larger the force on the
island, the greater the number of rebels that
will be bagged, for l do not permit myself for
single instance TO doubt that the island will
be cut off from the main shore, and the banks
as well so that, even should our land forces
not gain footing on the island-a failure
do not contempate-the rebels would be coop
ed up within the circumference of a few miles,
where they would be soon reduced to an eX'
IRENE condition and surrender would be inev.
liable. While this would seem to be the I'M
pending fate of the forces, small or great, Oh
Roanoke Island, it would appear to be equal
ly certain that those at Nays Head must make
a rapid retrograde movement up the beach 10
escape the shells OF the gunboats on the out
side. What circumstances may arise to save
the enemy from the consequences of having
placed themselves in the position they were
| SNHHOSNN ONNNHJ
STILL while the present situation of affairs au.
thorizes confidence in the success of our arms,
it is neither wise nor necessary to disguise
that even the best laid plans are liable to be
but partially realized and even wholly defeat.
ed.
ARRIVAL OF CoUTRABANDS.
This morning, soon after daylight, an open
boat filled with people, was seen on the sound
making toward the fleet and the Ceres put off
IN rNip thaD nm no hat fol- nod nine
teen colored persons-four men, five women,
and ten children, the latter small, all tugitives
from the neighborhoOd Of Middletown, on the
main shore. Being not quite sure whether
the Ceres was a Union or rebel steamer, (she
having no flag up at the time, the fugitives
did not come to till several nfusket shots had
been fred ahead of them. When, however,
they were certain of the character OF the Ceres
the JOY of the poor creatures was unbounded
Their boat was half filled with water, and men,
women, and children were completely drench
ed, and some of them, when lifted to the deck,
were so benumbed that they could not stand.
They left the mouth of Middleton creek about
midnight. Tie night was extremely bolster
Gus, the coolest and the most incem.
ent of the season. The capacity of their
boat was not more than one half Of
the number crowded into it, and, under
the most favorable circumstances, their situa
ton would have been sufficiently critical
They had one ragged sail, which they hoist
ed, taking in tow another boat, containing four
men and quantity of clothing. and chattels
They had not long been out before the boat III
tow broke adriit and this one nearly swamp
ed, so furious was the gale and rough the
sound. What became of the second boat is
not known, though the fugitives think that it
will yet come in In this perilous condition,
in this boat, more than half filled with water,
and ready to swamp at any moment, the wind
blowing gale, the waves threatening to en-.
gulf them, drenched to the skin, and the
weather bitter cold, the miserable fugitives
neither turned back nor faltered, but with
skill equaled only by their fortitude, kept on
their course. 1t was a bold stroke for free.
dom. On receiving them on board, Capt
Macdiarmont took means to get them warm,
and conveyed them to the Philadelphia
where Flag. officer Goldsboroug ereceived them
kindly, and without delay directed warm
breakfast served to them. 1t would be diff
cnlt to imagine more wretched spectacle
than this group of miserable fugitives present.
ed, as halt famished and benumbed, they hud
died around the warm stove, and afterwards
partook of their breakfast. They were placed
in charge of Captain Morris at fort Hatteras
The iugtiges say that the negroes on the main
shore of North Carolina are fleeing to the
woods; where thousands are already congre
Baleu, 10 escape being sent DacK into the coun
try, whittier their owners and the population
generally are fleeing. They represent that
Union men are quite numerous who dare not
declare their sentiments, and that a panic pre-,
walls throughout the country. The fugitive1
say they were to have been met by another
boat with twenty more fugitives, who were to
keep them company. Though this arrange.
ment failed, il is believed the second party will
be along in due time.
LATEST BY LETTER.
Tuesday, Feb. 4.-The detention of the dis.
patch boat enables me to add another day to
this journal. AS foreshaIowed might be tho
case, the movement up the sound, which was
to have been made to-day, is postponed again,
and for the reasons that have heretofore oper,
ated. 1t may go within the next three days
probably not later than Thursday or Friday
Otherwise there is nothing to add
On Sunday evening there were two inter
estng presentations made by the Providence
sunday schools, at the close of their monthly
concerts. Geo. A. Snow, a teacher in tile
Benifcent Congregational Sabbath School,
who is about to leave, was presented with q
silver water pitcher, and a purse of 1905.
And at the Central Congregational church
| tho eunortntardanf nao VIZ, r Igi,O