CHAP.XIII.] CAPTURE OF BATTERIES AT HATTERAS INLET, N. C.

on the following morning, at about 10 o'clock, I first visited Captain Rovan, of the U. S. steamer Pawnee, in order to report my arrival and the object of my coming, and to solicit such and as he might be able to render me in the way of boats, &c. He very kindly put a boat at my disposal whenever I might want it.

The two forts or batteries lately captured by our troops are situated on a long sandy island known as Hatteras Island. They are on the southwest end of the island; the larger one, Fort Hatteras, being about one-eighth, and the smaller, Fort Clark, about one mile from the inlet. The sketches accompanying this report will better show the relative positions of the forts and inlet. Fort Hatteras is situated S. 50 deg. W. from the he inlet, and at a distance of about one-eighth of a mile. It is a square redoubt, with put compels at all the salients. It is constructed of sand, well revetted with sods from the neighboring salt marshes. Its command is about 10 feet above the level of the ocean at high water. It completely commands all the approaches by land and sea. With guns of long range it can successfully defend itself from any fleet, and is so placed with reference to the land approaches that any assaulting column must experience a heavy fire during a long time before reaching it. There is room in the fort for twenty large guns-four on each face and one in each salient. At present there are twelve guns mounted, their positions and caliber being indicated in the accompanying plan.* As most of the guns are on the land and sea fronts, I suggested to the commanding officer the propriety of placing some guns on the front looking toward the approaches by Pamlico Sound.

A causeway leads from the fort to the landing. It is made of sand, filled in between two parallel rows of plank, driven in the sand and covered with sod, thus raising the road about 2 feet above the sand. This causeway is of importance, as with a high tide and easterly wind the whole of the beach up to the foot of the exterior slope is covered with water. On the causeway, near the beach, I found a 10-inch columbiad, together with its carriage and platform. This gun is, at the suggestion of Captain Rowan, being mounted on the causeway near the water. In this position it has a great horizontal range of fire, and will effectually prevent our shipping from being annoyed by the enemy's light-draught gunboats. A wharf and storehouse for provisions are absolutely needed if the position is to be held during the war, for the fort has just room enough for its own garrison, and the beach, for before-mentioned reasons, is not a secure place to place provisions. The magazine and bomb-proof shelter is large, but its top being about 5 feet above the interior crest, renders it a conspicuous mark for the enemy's artillery. It is a well constructed as possible, having at least 6 feet of sand on top of the wooden casing. The floor of the magazine is on a level with the site, below which it could not be sunk on account of the water.

Fort Clark, a redoubt of irregular figure, is situated about three-fourths of a mile from Fort Hatteras, and bearing from it S. 49 deg. E. It is midway between the sound and the ocean-the crest of the exterior slope on the ocean fronts nearly coinciding with the ridge of sand. It has about the same command as Fort Hatteras. On the sea fronts and the front farthest from the inlet the parapet is eighteen feet thick, and armed with 8-inch navy guns. The tenailled front, looking towards Pamlico Sound, has its parapet but 5 feet thick, and was arranged for a musketry defense. Since the capture of the fort three rifled and one old 6-pounder have been mounted on the latter front, small mer-

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*Not found.

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