OPERATIONS IN N. C. AND S. E. VA. [CHAP.XIII.

there. (The color was afterwards delivered to Commodore Stringham, who claimed the same.) A rifle 6-pounder was also landed, and I ordered Lieutenant Johnson, of the Union Coast Guard, to advance with it as far as possible and to fire upon the secession steamers, which was done with great success; they soon left entirely. We remained thus four hours in this position, the shells bursting over us, when at last the white flag was hoisted on the second fort.

Captain Nixon, the nearest to the fort, prepared immediately to meet the enemy, and was the first who entered the fort. Lieutenant-Colonel Weiss, Captain Von Doehn, and myself followed; the troops remained 50 yards distant from the fort. I ordered also the surgeons-Dr. Fritz, of the Twentieth Regiment; Dr. Humphreys, of the Ninth Regiment; and Dr. King, of the Navy-to assist dressing the wounded.

I take also the opportunity of mentioning Captain Larned and Lieutenant Lodor and the marine officers, who have rendered me great assistance, and I am greatly obliged to them for their support during the whole expedition.

Though the troops of my regiment had but little occasion to distinguish themselves, I think it still my duty to say that all of them did their duty in every respect.

I have the honor to be, your most obedient servant,

MAX WEBER, Colonel, Commanding Fort Hatteras.

Major-General BUTLER.

Numbers 5. Report of Commander John P. Gillis, U. S. Navy.

U. S. STEAMER MONTICELLO, Hampton Roads, Va., September 5, 1861.

SIR: Previous to our leaving Hatteras Inlet with the Harriet Lane in convoy we had cruised along and off the coast to the southward; ran close in to Ocracoke Inlet several times. The fort near the beacon-house and apparently no guns mounted, and there was no evidence of its being occupied. In Portsmouth, a small town near by to the southward, a white flag was hoisted on one of the houses, and a number of negroes came down to the beach waving another. Some two or three small schooners were seen in the sound. They left for the interior.

This fort and inlet could readily be taken possession of and held by a small force.

The steamer Peabody, with supplies, arrived at Fort Hatteras on the 4th instant.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. P. GILLIS, Commander.

Major-General WOOL, U. S. A., Commanding Fortress Monroe, &c.

Numbers 6. Report of Lieutenant F. U. Farquhar, U. S. Engineer Corps.

FORTRESS MONROE, VA., September 7, 1861.

GENERAL: In obedience to your orders of the 3rd instant, I left this post at 4 p. m. on the same day for Hatteras Inlet. On my arrival there