Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-01-15

FORT llATTEKAs.-A writer iii the Richmond Err
0ainsT, defending the naval officers in the COnetl-
crate service from an mputatIon of Inchciency, in
that "ali the batteries Commanded 10y naval officers
were taken when attacked 10y the enemy cites two
on the Potomac where such as not the result
and then adds follows in regard to Forts HatteraS
and Hilton Head, which think /; right to copy,
in spite OF the Charleston Curriers' depreciation of
comparisons between the dcfcnceS of Those two
posts, because we think it throws light upon the
Hatterss affair. Ii will be remembered that the
yankee reports stated that they landed 3l5 men at
Fort Clark On the evening OF the first day of the
bombardmcnt. This writer diSCrediIs the statement
and probably with reason for it Is scar cely credible
that they would have landed small force Just at
night and then Withdrawn ali their ships out of
supporting distance. 1t may be well here to remark
what was not sufficiently borne in mind by those
who made comments deprecatlvc or otherwise upon
the conduct OF the defence, that all our Information
with regard TO the second days bombardment, as
also to the number Of men landed at Fort Clark on
the night of the first derived from yaI.kee
According to the same authority, our most
glorious victories were our greatest dISgraces, and
Manassas even brought US but little glory when we
whipped with difficulty one third number
Fayetteville ObseTrer.
The Examiner writer says
Com. Barron was in Newborn, \. c. organizing
his little force when he received intelligence of the
threatened attack upon llattcras, and Immediately
FASTENED thiiher. lie arrived at ten in the evening
Of the first days fight, when Fort Clark had been
abandoned The garrison consisted of volunteer
militia, sufficiently brave, but wholly ignorant Of
the management OF artillery. There not one
gun OF heavy artillery, and 10 inch columbiad lay
upon the beach unprOvided with a carriage wherein
to move it. Nevertheless, in spirit which docs
HIM honor, he accepted the protfered command and
spent tue night IN preparation.
"One of the first subjects discussed was night
attack upon Fort Clark but owing to positive
ton that it III possession Of 25O0 men, the idea
WAS abandoned. The statement Of the enemy as to
the number Of men landed, We know, from their
neneacity in other matters is not to be relied upon.
Under the terrible cannonade Of the following,
day shot could only reach the and smaller
vessels, which were so severely handled that they
Withdrew beyond range. At the time of surrender
the battery was unteEable, there being imminent
danger Of the explosion of the magazine, and no
shelter for the protecting force except in its lmme-
date vicinity Lieut.. Peacock taken in the prize
steamer Fanny, told the writer that he went INTO
the battery with Gen. Butler, and never before had
proper conception oil the devastating effects of shot
and SHE'LL and that short of insanity the place could
not longer have been held The batteries at Hilton
Head and Bay Point were commanded by Gen.
Drayton and never had been in charge of, nor were
their garrison instructed by, naval officers If they
had so many guns would not have been disabled
from precpitancy if driven from them they would
have been carefully spiked or with their magazines,
blown up and it is not Improbable considering the
admirable construction of the batteries"