The National tribune., 1884-01-17

THE 2oTH INDIANA,
And How General Wise Didn't Gobble it Up 81
Fat4eras


To the Editor NATIONAL tribune:
The article in a recent number of THE
TRIBUNE on the Goth Indiana at Hatteras
in answer to G. Winter, of the Monticello re-
wives many recollections of that the dreariest
place on this continents.
Old coprade you are right! The Goth Indi-
ana was never captured or dispersed there or
elsewhere! Its reputation is too well estab-
lished to be injured by the somewhat reckless
statements OF our friend Winter. Its name and
fame, Won on more than score of battlefelds,
at a cost of over 700 killed and wounded, proves
the kind of men that flied its ranks Now
for the facts about Hatteras!
On the 18th day of September, 1861, if my
memory serves me, seven companies of the goth
Indiana, armed with Harper's Ferry muskets,
were landed from burgess at Chickamacomico,
the extreme north end of Hatteras bank forty
miles from Forts Hatteras and Clark. We had
three days rations in our hayersacks, and forty
rounds of ammunition, and that was all. We
| had no supplies of any kind and no transporta-
ton. There was not a wheeled vehicle nearer
than Fort Hatteras, and this on a barren sand
bank that produced nothing but sand fid-
dlers.' On the morning of October LIST the
steam-tug Fanny, arrived with supplies, but,
owing to the shoal, could not approach within
mile of the beach, At SUNRISE before she had
! landed any part of her cargo, two of the rebel
| (Tatnal's musquito feet, put in an appearance
and captured her with all on board. There
was aboard of her our quartermaster and suit
| Ter, with some twenty members of our regi-
ment and a gun-squad under Sergeant Pea
| cock, of the 9Th New York. This left us with
/ out hope OF supplies; but still we held post
till the morning of October 4th, when the rebels
made their appearance with twelve gunboats
! and transports filed with infantry, and opened
/ fire on our camp. We marched down to the
| beach and sheltered ourselves as best we could
hahit CT fl1air
/ landing, which could be effected only in small
boats. AS they stood off at twice the range of
! our muskets we had nothing to do but wait,
and this we did until after noon, the rebels
| bombarding and burning our camp, but max
! ing no serious attempt TO land when Captain
! Jardin arrived from Fort Hatteras with orders
! from Colonel Rush Hawkins to retreat to the
! forts. We set out at once for Hatteras Light
! twenty EIGHT miles distant,-the rebels landing
and following in considerable force As we had
/ no transportation, al who we're unable from
4 sickness or other cause TO keep up with the
| column (some thirty or forty were captured.
Captain Alfred Reed, with company K, acted
as guard, and won many curses (which
were afterward changed to bIessingsl by his
heroic endeavors to keep the faint and footsore
stragglers from filling into the hands of the
Johnnies. There was no assaGIt-uo disper-
I sion 1T was a retreat under orders in the face
4 of a vastly superior force. We arrived at Hat
teras Lighthouse late at night, pretty well used
up, and were met by portion Of the 9th New
/ York-as gallant set of fellows as ever fol-
lowed the flag. Here we slept in the sand
around the Lighthouse till morning We were
not disturbed by the enemy, nor did we feel
any apprehension of an attack. The Month
cello, and, I think, the Susquehanna, had
steamed up from the fort during the night. and
one Of them landed two or three barrels OF
hard-tack for breakfast-the first we had had
for some time After breakfast We continued
our march toward the forts, and the Monticello
steamed through the channel between Hatteras
shoals and the island, and shelled the rebe
infantry as vigorously, ] am willing to believe
as Comrade Winter described. Thus ended
Wise's attempt to reeapture Hatteras, which
was nothing more than an attempt TO gobble
some 500 Yankees foolishly and naedlessly
placed in his power, and thus it would have
ended even If the Monticello had been in the
Red Sea instead OF OFF Hatteras. don't want
TO be understood as wishing TO detract from tbs
services of the Monticello or any Of our com
rades of the navy Perhaps no regiment had {
better opportunity tojudge of their heroisn
than OURS. We witnessed not only the worthy
conduct of the Monticello on this occasion, bu
we saw the glorious aalense OF the Cumberland
and tee Congress, when suecess-Yhen hope
even-was impossible. We witnessed the COO
confidence with which the little Monitor crap
pied with the seemingly inFincible Merrima,
and put her to inglorious fight. Yes, com
rades of the navy, oHr hail is a friendly one
You never met your equal in a fair fight, ana
you never will. There is room around ou
campfire for all Co. E, 10Th IND. INF.
HO0PEsTOWN III.