The National tribune., 1894-05-03
DID SEE REBELS.
1t Was ON Oct. 8. and Yet the Day Of the
Smelling.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your
issue of March i, under the head Will Not
Retreat" Comrade WEIGH is made to appear
to make his position plain TO Naval veterans
and think he has accomplished that part
with remarkable accuracy so plain that every
participant in that little affair at Chicami-
cOmico will agree with me that he nor his
informant was ever there. There are plenty,
suppose, of the Sd Ga. and Doth Ind. alive
let them write up their views and expert
ence; and there is Admiral Braine, of Brook
Ign, and others whose address l cannot give
Comrade Welch, to write to for information,
and offer his bet of 25 cents that they did
not see rebel On the beach Oct. 4, 1861, if
he was really sincere in his statements and
positive in his assertions; but think he is
only using bluff or misquotes.
We saw no rebels Oct. A; but when he re-
fers to the day of the Smelling, Oct 5, he is
as far away from the right.
/ read his quotations from history, that
on given date in October 1861, we of the
Monticello shelled our own comrades-in-
arms, the Goth Ind.
The men we fred at ran for the rebel feet
in great disorder Could it be that the goth
would seek refuge on rebel transports?
At early dawn Oct. few of our men
(stragglers) were seen around the lighthouse,
who were too much fatigued to keep up with
the rest the day before, and by hiding among
bushes escaped rebel observation, and dur
ing the night worked their way TO the light
house. We gave them food, and got our first
information of what had transpired the day
before, and how their supplies and ammuni-
ton had been captured some days ago by
the rebels with the capture of the steamer
Fanny; how the rebels, under Gen. Wise,
5000 strong, had landed to cut off their re-
treat.
This was the report of escaped prisoners cap
tured the day before, and no doubt let go on
purpose to raise the report of the rebel strength
5000. The same was reported in Northern
papers, of which / still hold copies I, with
others, believed the same to be authoritive
until some years ago. After writing an ac-
count of the affair to THE NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE was corrected by one of the Sd Ca
stating the facts, which have lately been
corroborated by S. r. Hazen, of North Caro-
lima, as stated to him by citizens living on
the island at that time in 1861. 1t seems
the rebel troops landed were the Sd Ca,
1000 strong, commanded by Col. Rance
Wright.
The 9Th N. Y and all but few stragglers
of the Goth Ind. were at Fort Hatteras, 30
miles away from the scene of action, Oct. 5,
1861, time of Smelling. The Monticello
alone dealt with the rebels for over As min
utes, by landing our shells in their midst,
and making them retreat to their boats.
As reported by rebel and Union alike I
would take it as true statement that the
Goth retreated in good order and showed
bold rear, with scant ammunition, no water,
and nothing to eat for some time past. They
kept the rebels at bay, and the reason no
losses occurred to the Goth or Sd Ga. was
because the Goth were short of ammunition,
and the Sd got most of theirs wet in landing.
CHARLES WINTERS, Quartermaster q. S.
Steamer Monticello, White Lake, N. Y.