Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-18
THE SIEGE OF FORT MACON.
Difficulties Encountered by cur Tresps-Ihe
.s Rebel Garrison In the Fort.

Correspondence Of the N. Y. Evening Post.l
NEwBKRN, N. C., April II have Just visited
the headquarters of Gen. Pafke, whose brigade
occupies little village called Carolina City, con-
tanning about half dozen houses, one of which,
that has heretofore made some pretensions to the
quality Of an inn, has been selected by the Gene
used as literary Institution, and which was
converted by the yebels into a barracks, was
burned few DAYS since. The Fourth Rhode
Island and the Eighth Connecticut regiments are
encamped In this vicinity-detachments occupy
Ing Morehead City, Beaufort and Bogue Island.
Bogue Island is held by Company X OF the
Fourth Rhode Island Regiment, and It's occupa-
ton virtually cuts OF communications with Fort
Macon. 1 was told by one of the officers Of Gen.
Bankss staff that Colonel Moses T. White, IA
nephew, ai you know, Of JEFF Davis who is
now In command Of the fort, said to one Of the
deserters who are daily coming into this camp,
that he would do his utmost to fight us off, and
that che would blow up the fort rather than
listen to propositions of surrender" According
10 the Inhabitants Of the place, Colonel White is
an impulsive man, governed by passion rather
than by reason, and apt to take some desperate
resolutions should he be compelled to capitulate.
1t is, however, believed that the rebel force
which garrisons Fort Macon Is not adequate to
the effective working Of the guns, and that either
for this reason, or from the fact that the garrison
10 gradually weakened by frequent desertons,
the ferocious colonel will be unable to fulAl any
one Of his promises.
/ DIFFICULTIES.
Although considerable progress has been made
in the Preparations for the taking Of Fort Macon,
great dificulty Is experienced in the trans potta-
tion Of siege material, which has to be carried
from Newbern fifteen miles TO the head Of Slocum
creek, hauled one mile to the railroad station Of
Havelock, and transported by mules from that
point to Gen. Parke's headquarters Once there,
the heavy guns and mortars have to be ferried
across Bogue Sound to Bogue beach-an opera
ton Of great difficulty for the sound is so shallow
that Il can be sounded by wading knee-deep for
more than half the distance.
Stil greater obstacles are to be found on the op-
posite shore. Between that point and Fort
Macon, distance Of about four miles, there is a
wide marsh, in the moving soil OF which the
artillery carriages sink to the hubs. After this
marsh has been safely crossed the siege trains
meet witt a succession OF sand bluffs running in
close proximity to the fort, which, though afford
ing excellent natural protection to our troops in
planting artillery, do not resist the pressure OF
the wheels. These bluffs are covered with
stunted growth Of brush and briars in which the
artillery trans sink to the axle and 1t requires
very great force TO move them out.
Owing to these dricuties, which 1t will take
time to surmount, week or two may elapse be-
known to contain about ave hundred men, mostly
drawn from the militia Of this part OF the State
and the fact that deserters are daily coming
to our side shows they are not satisfied with their
situation. Ii Is said that the garrison Ia also
weakened by disesse, and that there 10 no physi-
clan in the fort. All these circumstances make
some Of the old Inhabitants here believe that the
| soldiers will decline fighting, and that Colonel
w White will be compelled to surrender
The belt OF neutral ground between and the
rebels Is not very wide. Recently demonstra-
tration was made at Newport station by the rebel
cavalry, which compelled the 5th Rhode Island
and the New Jersey 29th TO form In line Of battle
This display forced the enemy to retire, and we
have not seen any Of them since.
FoRTIFYlNG NEwBsRN
Considerable progress has been made I'm forti-
flying the city Of Newbern, and in guarding IL
against rebel attack. Not many days will elapse
before they will be sufficient for protection.
Nhroo hn0 AroAr
Notifications, under Captain Williamson, OF the
Typographical Engineers Our hotilla OF gun
boats is anchored in the Neuse and Trent rivers,
and commands the approach of the town; for the
greater security Of which detachments Of New
York. Pennsylvania and Massac bus etts troops and
a regiment Of artillery have been encamped in
the plain extending west Of the town.
THE CoNrRABAHDs
Contrabands are still coming in. They are en-
gagged In fortifyiDg the city on the inland side.
The Notifications consist Of line Of breaStworks
from the Trent to the Neuse, about mile in the
rear OF the town. As the negroes have already
served their apprenticeship In this kind OF work
under the rebels their services OF great impor-
lance to the army, which 10 thus enabled 10 look
after the defence Of the place. The blacks ex-
hibit great Joy at working for master who, be-
sides giving them protection, food and clothing,
adds eig ght dollars month In cash for compensa.
ton
By the Jersey Blue to-day we learn that the
rebels have ordered General Burnside to leave
Newbern. On the 10th instant rebel officer,
under flag Of truce, was brought to Gen Burn
i side, and communicated message from the
rebel commander notifying him TO evscuate New
l bern agd the other points occupied by the Union
tRfces, and allowing him twenty days to accom-
plish the work, by which time the rebels would
storm his position. The scene IL described as a
most interesting one. General Burnside received
the message, and made substantially this reply
"l do not need so much time; come on whenever
yCI like-we will meet you en- the way I ex-
pect to pay you a visit before that time expires"
The indications were, when the Jersey Blue
sailed, that the General meant to keep his word.
nRJH sCHENCK. .es..