The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-05-19
THE CIVIL WAR in DARE COUNTY
Summary by j, Fred Roush, Park Historian
Cape Hattera National Seashore
and ammunition.

ana ammunition.
The bombardment by the naval
ships continued as the return fire
from Fort Clark became more fee
BILE and stopped. Then the Confed-
crate flags were lowered in both
forts, and men were seen running
from Fort Clark to Fort Hatteras
and to the sound shore beyond
where Confederate vessels were
waiting. A detachment of Union
troops took Fort Clark, which they
found deserted, and raised the
United States flag.
Moving in to take Fort Hatteras,
the U. S. S. Monticello entered the
inlet, moving slowly to avoid
shoals, and was close to Fort Hat
teras when a broadside from the
fort hit her. 1t looked as though
the Monticello was trapped, but
somehow she got out without be-
ing grounded or too badly damag-
ed. Other ships joined her in firing
on Fort Hatteras. Unfortunately,
their aim was poor and so many
shells landed in Fort Clark that
the soldiers had to abandon it, leav-
ing their flag flying.
When darkness came, the wind
shifted, blowing even harder, and
the Union ships had to withdraw
to avoid being wrecked on this
dangerous coast. Confederates re-
Inducements arrived, both men and
ships, from the other places on the
sound. Commodore Samuel Barron,
an experienced naval officer, was
put in charge of Fart Hatteras be-
cause the guns mounted there were
former naval guns. Because of dis
agreement among the officers, they
did not try to recapture Fort Clark,
but concentrated on strengthening
Fort Hatteras.
By daybreak the next morning,
the sea was calmer and the Union
fleet moved in closer, anchoring
just out of range of Confederate
guns and opened fire. The troops
on shore were now able to aid the
fleet in the bombardment, Fort
Hatteras. After three hours and
Twenty-Five minutes of heavy bonn
bardment, Fort Hatteras surrend-
cred to save futher loss Of life,
Losses on both sides had been sur
prisingly light in the two-day bat
tie. There were no deaths on the
Federal side, and only one serious
injury. The Confederate dead were
variously reported as from four to
fourteen, and the wounded from
twenty to forty-five.
The capture of Hatteras Inlet
was big boost to Northern mo-
rale. It was their first victory; it
gave them a foothold on Southern
soil and overcame the depressing
effect of recent Northern reverses.
Confederate reinforcements in
tended for Hatteras, and the troops
stationed at Oregon Inlet, went to
Roanoke Island, which they started
to fortify.
The Union troops repaired and
strengthened Fort Hatteras, and IN
September achievements arrived
LAKE in the month rumors came to
the commander there, Colonel
Hawkins, that the Confederates on
Roanoke Island were planning an
attack on his position. He sent
troops to establish a base at Chic
amacomico. The Confederate COM
mander on Roanoke Island, like
wise heard that Union forces were
planning to attack him. He sent
fleet of small ships to attack the
Federal forces. The result was ar
exceedingly confused engagement
The Federals reiterated in haste
with many of the local people also
fleeing from the enemy. They were
pursued by the Confederates, who
pursued them most of the way te
the lighthouse, before giving W
the chase. Thus ended the "Chlca
macomico Races"
By the fall of 1861, it became ap
parent that a major battle for the
control of northeastern North Car
DINA would be fought on Roanoke
Island. The main change in the to
biography of the vicinity since ther
has been the washing away OF the
string of islands between the lowe
end of Roanoke Island and thu
mainland. In 1861, there was
lighthouse built on pilings on ont
of the marsh islands near the mid
die of the sound. A good channel
but only about 200 yards wide, Gu
through the marshes to the ives
connecting Pamlico and Albemari'
Sounds. The Confederates had y
decide whether TO try to prevent
union fleet from using this channe
by terrifying the marsh island
and the low land near them, or tr.
to stop the enemy on the northern
reaches of Croatan Sound, wher
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