EARLY COAST OPERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
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the Fanny, after several unsuccessfulbackings into the breakers, whichevery moment were becoming moredangerous, succeeded in getting lineson board the hulks and towing themto calmer water. But the few troops(318) who had effected a landing wereleft on shore in face of an enemytwice their numbers. The next daythe vessels came in from sea and re-commenced the action as early as 8o’clock A. m., and by 11 o’clock thelast gun on Fort Hatteras had ceasedfiring, and before noon the white flaghad taken the place of the Confeder-ate colors. During the bombardmentour troops on shore gained possessionof Fort Clark, but were driven out byour own guns, a fragment of a shellstriking private Lembreelit, of Com-pany G, 9th New York, making a pain-ful wound in the hand. This was theonly casualty among the Union forces.
The immediate results of this expe-dition were the capture of 670 men,1000 stand of arms, 35 cannon, and 2strong forts; the possession of the bestsea entrance to the inland waters ofNorth Carolina ; and the stoppage of asupplies had been carried for the use o
The whole affair was conceived and
REAR-ADMIRAL SILAS H. STRINGHAM.FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.
km
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favorite channel through which manyf the Confederate forces.carried out with simplicity and pro-
J The vessels detailed were the Minnesota (flag-ship), Captain G. J. Van Brunt; Wabash, CaptainSamuel Mercer; Susquehanna, Captain I. S. Chaun-eey; Pawnee, Commander S. C. Rowan; Montieello,Commander J. P. Gillis ; Harriet Lane, CaptainJohn Faunce ; and the Cumberland (sailing-ship),Captain John Marston,—.carrying in all 143 guns.For the transportation of troops there were thechartered steamers Adelaide , Commander H. S.Stellwagen, and George Peabody , Lieutenant R. B.Lowry, and the tug Fanny, Lieutenant PierceCrosby. Upon these were embarked detachmentsof infantry from the 9th and 20th New York Volun-teers, the Union Coast Guard, and a company ofthe 2d U. S. Artillery, — in all numbering about880 men.
Both the forts were under command of MajorW. S. G. Andrews, the North Carolina troops beingunder Colonel Wm. F. Martin. Flag-Officer Sam-uel Barron, C. S. N., who was charged with thedefense of this coast, arrived during the attack,
and, taking command, was included in the capitu-lation, of which he says in his report made onboard the Minnesota :
“ During the first hour the shells of the ships fell short,we only firing occasionally to ascertain whether ourshots would reach them, and wishing to reserve ourvery limited supply of ammunition until the vesselsmight find it necessary to come nearer in; but they,after some practice, got the exact range of the 9,10, and11 inch guns, and did not find it necessary to alter theirpositions, while not a shot from our battery reachedthem with the greatest elevation we could get. Thisstate of things — shells bursting over and in the fortevery few seconds — having continued for about threehours, the men were directed to take shelter under theparapet and traverses, and I called a council of officers,at which it was unanimously agreed that holding outlonger could only result in a greater loss of life. . . .The personnel of the command are now prisoners of waron board this ship, where everything is done to makethem as comfortable as possible under the circum-stances, Flag-Officer Striugham, Captain]Van Brunt, andCommander Case extending to us characteristic cour-tesy and kindness.” Editors.