The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1911-12-28

GENERAL z. Il. MILRof, Q. S. A., LEADER
OF THE ATTACH AT GREENBRIER RIVER
to have been. he was not great enough
to win campaign in territory where
public sentiment was against him. On
the other hand, Grant gained prach-
cally all his victories In the enemy's
country. It is a truism in war that
men fight better on their own SOIL
when defending their homes. On the
defensive Lees generalship was mas
terly. When he invaded Union terri
tory he was undone. While his West
Virginia campaign is the least known
Of his entire military career. there is
none that more clearly brings out this
point. Even his own partisans admit
its weakness. Magnidcently planned,
its breakdown was almost pitiful.
Fight on Hatteras Island,
In the meantime things were hap
pening in the vicinity Of Hatteras In
let. After the capture OF the forts
there on aug. 2S Colonel Hawkins
was left with a part Of the Ninth New
York and several gnnboats to hold
them. Later he was REINFORCED by
Colonel Brown with the Twentieth
Indiana. he first dispatched an expe-
dition to disable the abandoned forts
at Ocracoke inlet, a few miles down
the shore. and later sent Colonel
Brown and the Twentieth Indiana up
Ratteras island to Chicomicomico for
the double purpose of protecting the In
habitants Of the island and OF observ-
ing the Confederates. who were gath
ering in some force on Roano island
to the north. Colonel Brown landed
on Sept. 80 with scapt supplies. On
Oct. the Fanny, United States pro-
peller, was to land stores and intrenchs
ing tools. No sooner had the ssaIFss.1syy
anchored. however, tha1 -ttlhtee Con-
5Sas7ss sssssee!s appeared. surrounded
Fed her. 1t was estimated
I'D $4,000 worth of supplies
all Of which fell into the
hands. This of itself defeat
purpose Of Colonel Browns ex-
but was not the worst OF the
IL store for him. The Confeder-
n Roanoke island now attempted
3 lrround and capture his entire
gnand and for this purpose landed
large forces. one above and one
low him on the narrow island. The
lily thing that saved him was that
s2he boats below were delayed in land
Ting, and as night was coming on Colo
mel Brown managed to retreat past
them in the darkness. Now began 6
weary march Of twenty eight miles to
Hatteras light To add to the miseries
Of the retreat, the inha bitants aban-
doned their homes and fed with The
troops, who had been their protectors.
among them being old men. women
and children. When the sun arose and
beat down on the hot sands both SOL
sdiers and natives began falling out,
overcome by the heat and by hunger
and thirst. The supply Of food and
water was almost exhausted. IN this
way almost fifty of Colonel Browns
men dropped In their tracks IN the
bnstering sands ard were captured BY
the enemy.
Turning the Tables.
At Hatteras light Colonel Hawkins
was happily encountered with about
500 men, who had marched to the re-
lief of their distressed comrades.
With these came the Monticello and
Susquehanna. The odds were now
suddenly turned Waiting for the ad-
vancing Confederates. who approached
with flying Tags and bands playing,
the Monticello steamed close in and
began shelling and scattering them.
Following them as they attempted to
retreat, driving them out of a copse
in which they tried to take refuge,
bombarding them as they fed across
the hot sands. she kept up the attack
for more than three hours. firing $50
shots. It was impossible to tell how
much execution was done, but guns
and supplies were left scattered along
the beach, and the Union officers estl
mated that the number of killed and
wounded must have been considera ole
The New York Tribune said that hard
~ in any action up to that time had
such execution been done. Neverthe-
less the southerners afterward report
ed that they had lost but one man.
The one sided battle continued until
darkness fell. when the Confederate
boats managed to get the remainder
Of their men of and with them put
back to Roanoke island During this
operation the Monticello continued her
bombardment. injuring some of the
enemy's vessels.
After this fight the Confederates re-
turned to Roanoke island and did not
again disturb the Federals in their
control Of Hatteras inlet and Hatteras
Island. General Mansfield was soon
sent down from Washington with re-
endorsements and was eventually re-
placed by General Thomas S. Williams.
Colonel Hawkins issued an address
to the people Of North Carolina. as
suring them that the northern rrr00ps>
had not come to melest them, but to
re-establish law and order. In re-
sponse to this the citizens IF Hyde
county, in the vicinity Of H;,tteras.
held public meeting and adopted res
oluions expressing loyalty to the
Union and declaring their independ:,