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

On the 28th instant, having arrived at Hatteras Inlet in the steamer Winslow, I received a message from Colonel Martin, commanding the Seventh Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, on shore, that he wished to hold a conference with me. I immediately went to Fort Hatteras, accompanied by Colonel Bradford, colonel of artillery and engineers and chief of ordnance of North Carolina, and Lieutenants Murdaugh and Sharp, C. S. Navy. I found the colonel very much exhausted from exposure and hard fighting, which had lasted from 8 a. m. until after dark, during which period of time he had been driven from Fort Clark (after spiking the guns) to Fort Hatteras, the ammunition in the former magazine having been expended. I was exhorted by him and Major Andrews, commanding the post, to assume command of the fort, to which I assented, Colonel Bradford volunteering to assist me in the dirties of defense.

In assuming this grave responsibility I was not unaware that we could be shelled out of the fort, but expecting from New Berne the arrival of a regiment of North Carolina volunteers at or before midnight (the fleet having put to sea and appearances indicating bad weather), we designed an assault on Fort Clark, three-quarters of a mile distant from Fort Hatteras, which had been taken possession of by a party landed from the shipping, but unfortunately the regiment did not arrive until the following day, after the bombardment had commenced; and when the time came that I deemed evacuation or surrender unavoidable the means of escape were not at my command.

On the next morning, at 7.40 o'clock, the fleet-consisting of the Minnesota, Wabash, Susquehanna, Cumberland, Pawnee, and Harriet Lane, other steamers being in company-took their positions and opened fire. In addition to the batteries of the ships, the enemy had during the night erected a battery of rifled field guns near to Fort Clark, which also opened on us.

During the first hour the shells of the ships fell short, we only firing occasionally to ascertain whether our shots would reach them, and wishing to reserve our very limited supply of ammunition until the vessels might find it necessary to come nearer in; but they, after some practice, got the exact range of the 9, 10, and 11 inch guns, and did not find it necessary to alter their positions, while not a shot from our battery reached them with the greatest elevation we could get. This state of things-shells bursting over and in the fort every few seconds-having continued for about three hours, the men were directed to take shelter under the parapet and traverses, and I called a council of officers, at which it was unanimously agreed that holding out longer could only result in a greater loss of life, without the ability to damage our adversaries, and just at this time the magazine being reported on fire, a shell having fallen through the ventilator of the bomb-proof into the room adjoining the principal magazine, I ordered a white flag to be shown, when the firing ceased, and the surrender was made upon the conditions of the accompanying articles of capitulation.*

The personnel of the command are now prisoners of war on board this ship, where everything is done to make them as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, Flag Officer Stringham, Captain Van Brunt, and Commander Case extending to us characteristic courtesy and kindness. We are to be landed at Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor.

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*See Butler's report (Numbers 3), p. 586.

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38 R R-VOL IV