42 Norra Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

Independent Grays, Captain Cahoon, four officers and six-

ty-nine men.

Roanoke Guards, Captain Jno. C. Lamb, three officers and
ninety-eight men. (Company A, Seventeenth N. C. T.)

Morris Guards, Captain Gilliam, four officers and sixty-
four men.

Hamilton Guards, Captain Clements.

Tar River Boys, Captain Johnston.

Hertford Light Infantry, Captain Thos. H. Sharp, three
officers.and sixty-four men. (Company C, Seventeenth N. C.)

Preston Guards, Captain Duke, three officers and sixty-
six men.

North Carolina Defenders, Captain Luke, three officers
and forty-seven men. (Company D, Seventeenth N. C. T.)

Lenoir Braves, Captain Sutton, three officers and —- men.

RETURN OF THE PICKETS.

Just before day, while it was yet dark, a body of men were
seen to approach the fort from the direction of the inlet. In

the dusk of the morning it looked like a large force. I at
once took it to be the returning pickets, but others insisted
that it looked too large. Quite a stir was made in the fort.
All the men were called to arms, the guns bearing on the
inlet and on the sally-port were shotted with grape, and the
men stood ready to fire. I could not understand how so large
a force could have passed the pickets without creating an
alarm, but then they might have landed in the inlet. It
was well enough to be cautious. A man was sent out to
challenge the force, but no answer was heard. The excite-
ment grew quite intense. Soon [ recognized the voice of
Lieutenant Whitehurst and called out that it was the picket
guard. This did not at first give satisfaction. Finally all

became assured, and the guard came into the fort and re

ported.

They had advanced to within a few yards of Fort Clark
and had seen no signs of the enemy. We learned afterwards
that only a small force was left there, and that they got drunk

on the whiskey found there and went to sleep. This is told
*

i neta tater nile n eee newer insomnia

THe Fay or Harreras. 43

me by one of the free negroes who remained there. The fort
might have been retaken had the fact heen known.

PREPARATIONS,

August 29, Thursday.—The cooks had been kept busy all
night providing food and coffee for the men. Some time
after daylight, all got some, but not much. Fasting, want of
sleep, and anxiety had quite exhausted me. A cup of coffee
and a little whiskey and sugar given me by Captain Clem-
ents quite revived me.

The companies that had come from Ocracoke were to man
the guns, while the men who had been on duty the day be-
fore were to be relieved.

I was ordered to form four detachments from my com-
pany, of eight men each and a gunner. They were to have
charge of the guns bearing on the inlet, one a 32 and one an
8-inch howitzer. The detachments were to be in charge of
one of my Lieutenants, and I was ordered to visit them in
person during the fight. I appointed the following gunners:
Sergeant Potts, Private Willis, Engineer Cornell and C. K.
Gallagher (a volunteer).

Gallagher came in port from the brig H. C. Brooks, on
which he was bound for Liverpool. He was fond of gun-

_hery, was drilled at Beacon Island and I gave him a gun
first assigned to W. W. Cordon. He was not called upon to
fire it.

I gave the first detachment to Lieutenant W. Shaw, and
the second to Lieutenant A. J. Thomas, who was to relieve
the firgt every two hours.

The Tar River Boys had charge of two 32-pounders on
the same face of the fort as my two, facing the inlet, and to
the left of mine.

My first two detachments and the Tar River Boys prac-
ticed at the drill of their guns, and received special instruc-
tions from Major Andrews as to the elevation of their guns.

The Morris Guards were assigned to two guns which bore
on the enemy, to-wit: The 8-inch howitzer in the pancoup
(or angle) bearing on the inlet and ocean (southeast), and
the Basket 32 near this. A traverse was between them.