The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-09-19

the soldiers would Charge along the
beach and capture them by storming.
The surf rolls with terrible violence
upon the beach along Hatteras. and
iron surf boats had been provided for
the troops to get ashore. The Montl-
cello and Harriet Lane. both of light
draft, ran close inshore to cover the
landing in case of attack. The first
landing was made early on the 2Sth.
but the work went slowly, and the
surf increased in violence. Finally
the boats were hurled on the beach
and destroyed. and after about 3OO
men had reached shore it was found
impossible to reinforce them or to
take them back to the ships. TWO
howitzers went ashore with the troops.
but the ammunition was wet. and the
situation was very desperate. The
gunboats were compelled to stand Off
shore out of range of the landing.
Without provisions or water the de
tachment was left to it's fate and
later in the war would have Jared
roughly at the hands of the John,
MES" But in August. 1861, the south
erners were still praying ito be let
| alone"
The frigates and sloops. four in num-
Der, opened fire on Fort Clark about
| the middle of the forenoon, using new
and bold tactics to avoid direct shots
! from the fort The vessels moved
steadily on. passing and repasslng the
guns at varying distances SO that the
southerners could not fix the range.
| Their guns had moving targets and
| from the ships speedily made the fort
too hot for the Confederate gunners.
| Soon past noon shot carried away
the flag on the fort, and afterward the
garrison left the works. some taking
fight in boats and others running
along shore toward Fort Hatteras.
Seeing the fight of the Confederates
from Fort Clark. the detachment OF
Buffers soldiers on the beach moved
down and took possession. but the
shells of the feet aimed at Fort Hat
teras passed over that work into For
Clark. Driven from shelter by theil
own fire, the troops returned to the
beach and passed the night in rail-
on the wet beach. with no food bu
what they picked up on their marcel
to the fort During the night Con
federate regiment from Newbern cam
to the beach to help the garrison bea
off the enemy, but they were TOT
T busy repairing the parapets and cham
: bers injured by the bombardment t
look for outside trouble.
Barron Takes Command.
: Seeing great confusion on land afte
the Confederate flag fell from For
; Clark, Flag Officer Stringham suppo:
ed that both forts had given up th
, fight. Fort Hatteras ceased firing
;, The former commander of Fort Clarl
o Colonel w. F. Martin of the Sevent
:. North Carolina, went into Fort Ha
teras, reporting his little garrison {
= 100 men worn out by fighting. Abor
: that time Flag Officer Barron of tt
. Confederate navy entered the fo
h and at the request of the commander
tOOk CudASC VI lhS 0OiChSS. AAAA -
= guns in the fort were Of naval patter
r and it was thought that naval offic'
: could handle the force with best e
= ecution. There were three guns
= Fort Hatteras bearing upon Flo
n Clark, and another was put In pc:
% ton to keep the enemy out of Il
IA abandoned work.
- Meanwhile the steamer Monticel
h. had an exciting time trying to RI
- through the inlet. When it seemed e.
>. dent that the Confederates had aba
doned both forts the Monticello ma
her way with difficulty In the shallo
water to the mouth Of the inlet. s
as often grounded, and Hatteras GU
oy paid no attention. but finally when S
m was caught in shallow weter the gu
10, opened, landing five shells in her VII
be in a few minutes. One shot went co
le- pletely through the ship from starboa
ed to port and landed in coal bunk
he. Under cover of the feet the steam
RS got out from under the Confederi
of guns. and the ships soon anchored
he the night. During this days fight
,rt Confederate war steamers lay idle
m the sound After the abandonment
ice Fort Clark the Ellis carried troops q