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40 Nortu Caroxtina Troops, 1861-

The night was somewhat advanced before the Morris
Guards wal Hertford Light Infantry got into the fort.

It became difficult after dark to find an officer until by
common consent the tent of Captain Cahoon, in the south
angle of the fort, towards Fort Clark, became headquarters
and remained so for the balance of the time, until the sur-
render.

. ORDERS OF THE NIGUT.

A sort of consultation was held on the steps near the navy
gun, by Commodore Barron and the superior officers, at which
I chanced to be present.

Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston remarked to me that he in-
tended to take “that concern,’ meaning Fort Clark, during
the night. This project was discussed and inquiry made as
to the number of the enemy on the beach. The impression I
derived from the answers of Captains Clements, Lamb and
others, were that they numbered from seven hundred to eight
hundred. They had landed howitzers and rifle guns, and
had possession of two field pieces abandoned by our forces
that morning. . The forces in the fort were worn down with
fasting and fatigue. Part only of the forces from Ocracoke
were landed, and it was well in the night before all were on
shore.

We were short of shell, powder and shot, provisions and
water. All these had to be got into the fort. We had to
send off for candles, as not one was to be had in the fort.
These were needed for the Ordnance Officer to make up car-
tridges for the morrow’s use. It was concluded that we
might hold the fort another day, and that on the night fol-
lowing we should take Fort Clark. It was also resolved that
we should waste no ammunition, and should fire only when
we could so do, with effect.

T was ordered to detail an officer to take charge of a picket
guard of one hundred men and to select thirty men from my
own company for this duty. I named Lieutenant James J.
Whitehurst to take charge of the guard, and ordered him to
select from our company thirty men, which he did. I was
also ordered by Major Andrews to select a force from the
various companies, and to get a 10-inch Columbiad from the

Tue Faux or Harreras. 41

sound side into the fort, and to put it into position during

the night. I detailed eu men from my company, ten fons

Captain Sharp’s, and fiye each from four other companies

for this duty. I gave charge of the whole to Private Wil

liam B. Willis, who was a ais carpenter, and had handled
heavy guns successfully at Ocracoke.

There was no block and tackle, nor anything of the sort,
and no shears that could be used in moving or handling the
guns. We succeeded in getting a line and some pieces of
scantling for slides.

I was engaged at the shore in a seemingly vain effort to
move the clashed: with our imperfect means, when I was
ordered to desist by M ajor Andrews, he alleging as a reason
for the order that “there were neither 10- inch hel nor shell
in the fort, and therefore the gun would be useless if
mounted.”

THE NIGHT.

Besides such of my men as were on picket duty, and other
duty, some of them with Lieutenant Shaw, were occupied in
eidiog men, water and ammunition a gbbd part of the night.
This left but few in the fort, not on duty. These I left with
Sergeant Robbins behind the second traverse from the sally-
port, facing the inlet, where they remained during the night.
They leaned with ii muskets against the traverses and slept
upon the gun platforms as best they could, without blankets
or covering of any sort.

There came up a little seud of rain in the night, and to
protect their muskets the men generally turned them butt up-
wards, with the bayonets in the sand.

’ The soldiers were some in the bomb-proof, some against
the bomb-proof on the outside, some behind the traverses,
some on the platforms, and some in the tents.

I slept but little—not half an hour in all. I sat in Cap-
tain Cahoon’s tent with Colonel Martin at times, tried to
sleep in my chair a little, and would go thence to where my
few men were. I always found Sergeant Robbins awake.

FORCES IN THE FORT.

Washington Grays, Captain Sparrow, four offigers and
forty-seven men. (Company G, Seventeenth N. C. T.)