New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-05

headquarters. Among other curiosities which were
cast ashore, was board panel from wreck, bear
ing the following communication:
"FoRr MACON, April the 3oth 1862
r.. LADTs OH o, or. ~. m &
resch hpr port of destiny you VIII hnd th.. we are 81 1
well and alive and win not leave MI we sea the ruS' q Hs.s
aes Picket Gard the old op', gTds sena' ttsrs os Ss
country. Joseph (. Csnsd,y."
As Major Allen did not have time to deliver this
message from the sea to all the ladies Of Beaufort
and surrounding country, be simpG6ed matters by
sending it to Gen. Parke as North Carolina con-
tribution to the Curiosiiies Of Literature.
On Tuesday and Wednesday the shot and shell
practice Of the fort was continued but a. previously,
without wounding man. On Wednesday, while
watching party of Rebel officers OH the ramparts
was surprised 10 them suddenly thrown into COM
motion. Their glasses were at once pointed up Coo
Sound, and on looking in that direction, the white
hull of the Alice Price to be seen looming up to-
ward Harker's Island. She bad the two armed
barges, or "hoating batteries in tow, and moved
down for On anchorage of Steep Point. Not many
minutes passed before the sixinch ried gun on the
s. f. augle of the fort was cleared away, and shot
was thrown in line fair and square for the Price. It
went more than four mies few over the deck Of tho
Ellis and dropped in the water within ten feet OF the
gig which was returning TO the Ellis, after leaving
Capt. Franklin aboard the Price, As soon as the gun
could be reloaded, another shot, which ranged even
further than the first, SENT and the boats were
then moved half mile further up the sound to get
beyond range.
The arrival Of the vessels created quite as much
excitement in Beaufort as in the fort for il was re-
aarded as the immediate precursor to the commence
ment Of hostilities. close watch was kept on
them the fort, and the batteries, and many citizens
kept their weary watch under hot sun all day long,
At o'clock in the afternoon, the Alice Price was
seen moving slowly down, under a flag Of truce, to-
ward the point Of Shsckleford Banks, and ali eyso
were turned to observe her movements. sai-boat
was launched from the for. beach, and two officers
and crew of Rebel soldiers got in and quietly
waited the approach of our steamer. Presently .
ten-oared cutter, flying white flag, put out from the
Alice Price, and moved rapidly ahead. The two
small boats approach and meet, brief conference
ensuos the Prices boat makes for the Shackleford
beach and the Rebel craft returns ~ the fort where
her crew, on landing, are surrounded by a host OF
their comrades, whc in their gray clothes look from
our point Of view like 50 many S.ate-P Prison men.
Can't. Bggs Chief Quartermaster, bears from Gen.
Burnside a peremptory summons TO surrender, and
waits at the place designated by tie Rebel officers
Tor Col. Whites answer; which is delayed an hour
and hail. but, when finally received, Id found to be
refusal c)nched in the respectful terms which one
soldier would use toward another. TIE excuse given
by the Rebel officers for deainiog Capt. Biges so
.on, was that Col. White no, in the post;"
xhich seems little else tnan lIevarication, snce he
con a not move thousand yards from the glacis
without risking capture by our pickeis Probably
the summons, so unex peeedly received. induced one
one of his attacks of epilepsy, rendering him for
the time quite unf, 10 attend to business.
While Capt. Biggs waiting for the answer,
three sho,s were fred by the fort from the seaward
guns at the biocsading feet which happened to be
s,eaning slowly past within short range. 1t is not
likely that flag Of truce ooUld have been seen
from their decks and their movement was therefore
made without any idea of a breach of courtesy.
They cerainly fired no guns, nor made any reply to
the fort and the action Of the officer in charge OF
tie battery will hardly admit Of excuse.
While the Price was lying to for her boat to re-
turn, one OF the miniature masloops from the fort
came so near that it picked up, but the or
so Of letters which were found in her contained
nothing of public interest. The tiny craft was taken
as legitimate prize, and now lies on her beam.ends
in the private cabin Of Gen. Burnside.
The decision Of Col. White being ascerained, and
our batteries being all in readiness was determined
TO open fire at once Capt Pe asked and obtained
permission from Gen. Burnside to serve in the To-
inch mortar battery under Lieut.. Flagler and accord
incly went over to the Banks by way of Beaufort.
= L.. -
three 30-pounder Parrot guns, commanded by Capt.
Lewis o. Morris Of Co. c., lst artillery (regulars);
one of four lO.inch mortars commanded by Lieut. ID.
W. Flagler in person. and one Of four S-inch NOR
ars, commanded by Second-Lieut. NJ. +. Prouty Of
Co. c., 25th Massachusetts volunteers. Capt. Morris
was assisted by lst Lieut. Cowan and Seccnd-Lieut.
Pollock Lieut.. Flsgler by Capt. Duncan A. Pell Of
Cen. Burnsidss staff and Capt. Amnon of the Sd n.
Y artillery; Lieut.. Prouty in part by Capt. Csswel
aud his fighting .alor james Judge. The mortan
were worked by detschmeu,s from Co. l, Sd N. Y.
artillery; the PARROTS by Capt. Mors's own regu.
lars The batteries were all constructed at the
of the sand.hs the sides and front being formed Of
sand-bag., of which the walls OF the service maya
zines were also made. The platforms were laid az
substantially the shifting nature Of the sand would
allow, and suitable embrasures were constructed for
the Parrott guns. The l0-inch mortars were placed
furthest from the fort the distance being $50 yards
the Parott guns were 200 yards directly in front;
and the S-nch mortars 200 yards still further on, and
a little nearer the beach. Beside these, small rifed
howitzer was taken from the little captured steamer
N.rh State and placed in battery, in charge OF Capt.
Csswell of that vessel and some of his crew. Ths
whole siege train then, consisted OF eight mortars
and three riAed cannon Give except the small how.
tier. which. however good in ships launch, can