Year: 1862

One wear and eleven days since Fort Macon passed
out of the hands of the United States, and the ma
tional colors are once hosied on its rampars.
Taken by teachery, it is recovered by force; and
some Of the very men who aided in dishonorng their
country's fag saw it raised over them to-day, as
they stacked arms and gave themselves up as pris-
oners Of war. Clause by clause the Presidents
prophecies of last Spring being fulfilled; and the
public property and places are recovered by the
strong arm of the Government.


Ny last letter having been deyotedto description
Of Fort Macon, and the first steps taken By Gen.
Psrke toward its reduction, resume the thread OF
nv narrative where il was dropped. by the active
exertons Of Leut. ID. w. Flagler, Ordnance Officer
in Chief, and Capt King, Qaarternasier Of Gen.
Parke's Division the ordnance and ordnance stores
were rated across the shoals Of Boguo Sound, and
the mortar batteries in such state of forward
nefs when Gen. Burnside came down on Saturday
last, that he pronounced them almost ready for action
The battery of Parrott guns also completed ana
ready to be unmasked, and he returned to Newbern
at once to bring down two floating batteries, and
witness tie siege in person. The Generals visit TO
our advanced posts WAS attended with no little risk,
for the guns Of the fort were turned upon erery con-


adorable party which moved up or down the beach.
The wagon in which he rode WAS made target ioT
twelve rounds Of shot and she'll but happily his n'na


good fortune prevailed, ard lie escaped without
injury In the afternoon LIE tried the range OF the
Sharps rifles OF the sth Connecticut, and the Belgian
rifles Of the 4th Rhode Island, firing at target at


900 Yards bis object being TO ascertain if parry oi
sharpshooters could not be placed in position within
our lines to pick of tie Rebel gunners and the look
outs which had been kept the flagstaff Of the
fort to observe our operations. Ii was found that
both pieces carried the required distance, the former
exccling in accuracy and range, and the sharpshoot


ers would have been used ii the reduction Of The fort
bad not been 30 speedily accomplished.


There being but two regiments and battalion en-
gagged in the siege, and five companies being re-
qured for guard duty at the batteries the labor has
been extremely onerous, and the health of the conf
mand has suffered in consequence. Lying out on
picket tw y-(our hours ont Of every seventy-,wo
exposed TO the heat Of day and the fogs and cold
bleezes OF the ocean by night; haze Of fine sand
blowing with scarcely any intermissiou; fired at
with shot and shell at all hours of the day or night
obliged to march three miles over the beach from
camp to outpost or return is it wonderful that the
surgeons call almost any morning for the last fort
night has summoned large number TO his tent-doori
Is il not strange rather that volunteer troops shoud
have endured such hardships without murmur, and
acted with the steadiness Of veterans under WELL
directed fire, which they not ready to return


The garrison Of tho fort consisting Of five compa-
nies Of men rendered desperate by the circumstances
of their position, sore was to be spprehended, and
our pickets were kept in state Of constant readiness
to repel the attempt. The only serious affair Of the
kind, however occurred during the night Of Sunday,
when about three hundred of the enemy engaged our
skrmisben, but were repulsed. During the affair


private in the 5th Rhode Island was wounded in the
leg, and Lieut., Landers Of Company c, by careless
handling Of his pistol shot himself in the The
Rebel force had hardly got under cover Of the gacis
,oupe6, when several rounds Of grape and canister
were ired upon us from tho fort the only effect being
TO static the whole advance guard and break their
rest for the balance Of the night. In the morning, at
O'Clock, when the battalion was being relieved by
the 4th Rhode Island, eighteen shots were fred in
succession by tho fort, but without injurng man.
The gunbost Ellis, Capt. Franklin which had been
lying four miles up Cove Sound to close that approach
10 the fort moved up within short range, and fred
two shots from her lOO-pound gun. Both fell short
Of their marb and the miserable nefiiciency OF the
piece was made 30 apparent that the Captain wisely
concluded TO steam back TO his anchorage and
content himself with the easier duty TO
which he had been assigned. That evening
the people at Beaufort lad an opportunity of
witnessing the picturesque effects OF bombardment
by night, and as long Id the spectacle lasted they
tlrougcd the streets and piazzas which overlooked
the water. There being no mortars in the fort, the
heavy columbiads Were used for the prrpose tie
proper elevation being given and a small charge OF
powder used. There is something very grand ii
the eject Of shell practice at night, for the whole
coursc a the proecte can be seen and It's terrible
destmctiveness appreciated. First comes binding
lash of fire aud cloud Of made visible by smoke
tle blast then the boom Of the cannon, the fight
Of the shell, marked, as it slowly mounts and falls
By the twiulng fuse, then brilliant light as the
explosion comes and at of all the noise of the burst
in shell, sometimes louder than the report from the
gun itself Some Of the Secessionists in Beaufort,
when they saw the shells falling among our batteries,
could hardly conceal their exutation, but our men
conented themselves in the thought that this sort Of
thing would not last long, for that was u game at
which two would play before long.


Cooped up in the fort, in full sight Of their homes


the two Beaufort companies in the garrison resorted
to various deyises to get news Of their welfare 70
their friends. Every few days for the pa't ior..
night little sDooJs properly tsJssted, and w''e |"