The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-08-25

tnNdSlou VI NoItH OdtOllha SOL W
Federal forces in the Civil War.
On August 90, 1861, vastly SUI
perior Union force of men and
ships captured the vital opening
to the North Carolina sound re-
gion, Hatteras Inlet.
To the North, demcralized by de-
feats at Bethel and Manassas, the
faction gave cause for rejoicing. To
the South, it was a fatal blow, for
| it opened the entire coast of North
Carolina to possible Federal invas-
ion.
Strategically located on the
southern tip of Hatteras Island in
1.-THE North Carolina Outer Banks
region, Hatteras Inlet guarded the
eastern coast against enemy invas-
ion. Two departments had been set
up by the Military and Naval Board
to maintain coastal defenses. It
was within the Northern Depart
ment, extending from Norfolk to
New River Inlet, that Hatteras In
let was located.
Two forts were constructed as
part of the defense system of the
Northern Department. Fort Hat
teras, the. larger Of the two, was
situated one-eighth mile from the
Inlet and was constructed Of sand
and sod. Twelve guns commanded
the water and the land approaches.
Fort Clark was midway between
the ocean and the sound and. was
armed with eight inch navy guns.
The Inlet was now considered safe
against attack unless--and here a
qualification was made the enc
my should effect landing in the
blight Of Hatteras." To withstand
whatever attack might come was
the lone Seventh North Carolina
Regiment, commanded by Colonel
William F. Martin and comprised
of 800 men who We're little more
than raw recruits. .ii!9
In the North, it was becoming
evident that Hatteras had to be
taken. It's strategic value, guarding
as it did the "back door" to Nor
folk, was not the only considera-
ton. Privateers, blockade runners
and the mosquito fleet of the North
Carolina navy found refuge in the
sounds along the coast and used
them as a base of operations
against northern commercial YES
sells.
In August, 1861, an expedition,
organized by the United States
Navy and commanded by Flag Of
ficer Silas Stringham, was dis
patched to Hatteras Inlet. Against
the poorly armed and greatly OUT
numbered forces at Clark and Hat
teras was sent fleet of seven war
vessels, with 149 guns and crews
numbering 1872 men, and trans
ports carrying 800 infantry under
the command of General Benjamin
F. Butler. A number Of tugs,
schooners, and surf boats also ac-
companied the expedition.
Receiving news of the approach
ing armada, Colonel Martin had
sent message to Portsmouth, six
teen miles south on Portsmouth Is
land, ordering Colonel George W..
Johnston's command of four in-
fantry companies forward to Hat
steras. This gave the defending
forces strength of a little over
TOO men. Commodore Samuel Bar
ron, in charge of Confederate naval
forces in the North Carolina Wir-
ginia area, was put in overall COM
mand.
On Tuesday night, August %,
1861, the Federal fleet dropped an
Choir to the south of Cape Hatteras
and by morning was prepared to
land its infantry. Because of the
heavy surf only 31S men made it
ashore, and these were left with
wet ammunition and without pro-
visions. The heavy bombardnient
Of Fort Clark soon forced its de-
tenders to eyacuate, however, and
the infantry forces under Union
Colonel Max Weber were able to
take the Fort.
After q brief engagement be-
tween the Federal fleet and the
guns of Hatteras, the battle was
called of for the night. The troops
in possession of Fort Clark were
left relatively vulnerable to attack.
Had the men from Fort Hatteras
and those from Clark, who had
taken refuge there. instituted a.
night attack upon the fallen fort,
the outcome of the Battle of Hat
teras Inlet might have been a diff
feren one. The decision not to at
tack was to inspire heated debate
during the subsequent military IN
vestigation of the action.
Morning found full-scale att
tack being made on Hatteras. Here,
a new form of naval engagement
was introduced. The ships, rather