Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-06-25
For Tue Sfandard.
SURRENDER OF FORT MACON.

Nh EDIroR Having had my attention directed
to an article in the Petersburg Erpress of the 9Th
ut taken from Noph CdrOiinl paper giving q
magniiOQuent account Of the engagement at Fort
Macon, the Goth Of April last, and having seen
something Of the proceedings of that day at the fort
as well as some ofthcir effects upon it, beg leave
with all due Difference, however to state for myself
that was not aware before reading the article
ferred to- that the destruction and demolition Of the
Fort was so complete! Il is not INV purpose to
deny any Of the statements set forth-for we'll do
know that iN any little street "scrimmage," half a
dozen witnesses give III testimony trial. all vary
ing in statements of what each saw. | only state
therefore that did not see that =" the walls Of
the Fort were preached at several points, nor that
they were literally torn to pieces every where"
that all the guns pointing inland and fronting
the enemy, except three, were dismounted" nor
was cOgniztnt OF the fact at the Fort that I" half
dozen more shots, which could be fired in rs many
minutes, would explode the magazine" although it
pOSSble-liahe-in the fortunes of conflict of
that sort; indeed, it might have been done
during the first hour OF the engagement, thus blow
ing the Fort and its garrison into Of ruins
and OF destruction. All these, Mr. Editor, with the
filling of the meat with debris" with the fright
full performance Of dropping hundreds Of shell and
solid shot the spot (whcre the magazine was To-
Gated y with the precision of a man piling them by
hand " were unseen by and unknown to me. But
do not deny any of them for the reason stated
above, with the additional, and most palplble ono,
that if they made to stick, zoe are all heroes
unrivaled Yet, in the very face of "a demolished
Fort" "moat full of debris" with "ohly three
guns" and magazine on the ere Of explosion"
the intrepid Colonel the account states, about
going again. into the fight and was only prevented
from daring and rash an act by the caying IL OF
the Yankee officer
Is it possible, that, under such circumstances,
skilful Colonel would thus have led his men to the
sacrifice, where the result in any event. could have
benefited the garrison the Confederacy so little!
Or it but the promptingS of one of those patrl-
otc impulses, of which each age furnishes, at most
but one example, Of unconquerable deternina-
ton to make the entire sacrifice OF ones sell ana
whole command, rather than yield an inch or com
promise a hair, from orig nal propositions Inc
Colonel WILL no doubt feel very much compliment
ed in the perusal of the article We notice. Who
else things at the Fort as stated, we have not
heard, out Of the expressions of several others
| am aware, Mr. Editor that the battle at the
Fort was holly contested, hard fought one, OF ii
hours Duration and believe that there have been
very few engagements during this war, of the same
duration, wherein there was harder and hotter
work-more cool and intrepid conduct and gallant
bearing among the men and officers, under heavy
cannonading from the enemy. With seven or elght
improved Parrot and other rife guns throwing ~
pound elongated balls, mortars, projecting 8, 10,
and 1linch Shells without intermsson, except late
in the evening, when some of them were evidently
disabled, and these projectiles aimed by the ald OF
signals from Beaufort, with almost mathematical
precision, whizzng, whisting, bursting, popping
and blowing near over on either side, all around US,
shattering Fragments spnters all over many oil US,
all constitute sufficient excitement to dsPel what
ever of ennui that may have been acquired But
was not aware of the extent of the Manage done,
or risk. ONE WHO SAW.
June II, 1862.