The National tribune., 1898-05-12

ing five and ten guns respectively, with
FIVE more ready for mounting on the
more important work; the whole de-
Tended by 700 Confederates, under Com.
S. Barron, late of the Federal Navy; the
infantry consisting of the 9Th n. c., Col.
Martin.
The forts were found far less formid-
able than they doubtless would have
been a few weeks later. The lombard
ment was commenced at 10 a. m. of the
2Sth; Fort Hatteras replying, with
signal industry, to little purpose; its
gunners being evidently inexperienced
and unskilled. Fort Clark had little or
nothing to say, and was next morning
found to have been already abandoned.
The Sound being still open, a heavily
laden transport reinforced Fort Hatteras
during the night; but this did no good.
| The bombardment having been reopened
by our ships on the morning of the 29th
and it being evident that to continue the
contest was simply to condemn his men
to useless slaughter, Com. Barron, at II
a. M, raised the white flag, and, On con-
sultation, offered to surrender the fort
| with its contents, on condition that the
garrison should be allowed to retire.
! Gen. Butler declined the profier; but
proposed, in his turn. to guarantee to
officers and men, On capitulation, the
treatment of prisoners Of war; and this
was ultimately accepted. The spoils
were 715 prisoners, % cannon, 1000
stand of arms and considerable guam
tity of provisions and stores. Our loss
was next to nothing. And the secret of
the expedition had been so well kept
that, for several DAYS thereafter, block
ade-runners from various quarters ran
int the inlet as a Confederate shelter,
and fell an easy prey to our arms.
REsCUING THE GOTH IND.
No effort being made by the Con-
federates to retake this important posi-
ton, Gen. Butler, with most of our
vessels. had departed on other service !;
when Col. Hawkins, commanding at
Hatteras, dispatched, late in September,
the Goth Ind, Col. Brown, to the petty
hamlet on the Hatteras Bank, known as
Chicamicomico, near Cape Hatteras,
and some 10 or 20 miles northeast of
the Inlet
The excuse for this perilous division
Of his forces was the protection of the
native residents, who claimed to be
Unionists A few days thereafter Sept.
29), the propeller Fanny, which had
transported the regiment to Chicami-
comico, and was now proceeding through
the Sound, carrying thither full cargo
of stores and 40 men. was bounced upon
by three armedIsteamers from the main
land, and easily captured and, six days
thereafter, Col. Brown discovered five
rebel steamers emerging from Croatan
Sound, with evident intent to attack
him.
, To this end, they landed a superior
force above his position. and then pro
| ceeded to land detachment furthe
: down, intending to cut off his retrea
! and compel his surrender. Col. Brown
: however, destroyed his tents and stores
and made rapid march to the Hattera
e Lighthouse, with loss of about 81
= stragglers taken prisoners.
|, Col. Hawkins, by this time fully ap
1 prised of the rebel movement, 500
:, started, with six companies, to the rescue
: while the Susquehanna and Monticello
Il our only two fighting vessels at tn
Inlet, moved up to the vicinity of tn
# Lighthouse, to take hand in the bus
/ ness. Doubling Cape Hatteras mex
r morning, the Monticello, Lieut.. Brains
!, came upon the main rebel force at 1:3
= p. M, and opened upon them wit
y shells, putting them instantly to figh
n with great slaughter. The bank {
beach between the ocean and the SOUND
:; being less than mile wide, afforde
y little protection to the fugitives, VIII
+. sustained an incessant fire from til