300 NortH Caronina Troops, 1861-65.

Henry Nutt, Nathaniel Chase, Herbert Manton, Transit,
and brig Hannah Balch. Mr. Jas. W. McCarrick, of Nor-

folk, Va., who was a master’s mate in the North Carolina

Navy, attached to the steamer Winslow, says “that the brig

Hannah Balch when captured, was in charge of a prize crew,
commanded by Past Midshipman Kautz, now a Rear Ad-
miral in the United States Navy. This brig loaded with
sugar and molasses, had been captured by a Federal vessel,
while attempting to enter harbor at Savannah, Ga., and put
in charge of the prize crew.” The vessels captured were
sent to New Bern, N. C., where they were condemned as
prizes. The State of North Carolina paid the officers and
crew of the Winslow full prize money.

The next steamer sent out was the Beaufort, mounting one
long 32-pounder, commanded by Lieutenant W. ©. Duvall.
On 9 July hoisted ensign, and put the Beaufort in commis-
sion, after taking on powder and other equipment, proceeded
under orders to her station in Pamlico Sound. “On 21 July
when off Oregon Inlet Lieutenant Duvall reports the first
naval engagement with the Federal forces. The Federal ves-
sel was a large three-masted propeller, carrying a battery of
eight guns, one rifle cannon forward and aft, working on
pivots, position taken by this vessel was not over 114 miles
from the Beaufort,from where she opened fire across a narrow
strip of land. Her shots were replied to by the Beaufort;
firing was kept up as long as the gun could be elevated suf-
ficient to graze the sand hill. The enemy not fancying the
shots, withdrew behind the high sand hills, where she was
out of range. On 30 July, came to anchor opposite Island
of Portsmouth.”

The steamer Raleigh was next fitted out, mounting one 32-
pounder. July 22 Lientenant Commanding J. W. Alexan-
der was ordered to command her. ;

The #ilis, mounting one 32-pounder, commanded by Com-
mander W. T. Muse, sailed from Norfolk 2 August, 1861,
arriving off Ocracoke Inlet the 4th.

The capture of these vessels by the Winslow produced an
outery from the commercial circles of the North, which no
doubt called the attention of the naval authorities to the ne

 

Nortu Carorina Navy. 301

cessity of blocking the inlets leading into the North Carolina
sounds.

In the early part of the Summer of 1861, the naval author-
ities of the North, seeing the advantage of taking possession
of these inland waters of North Carolina, commenced the
preparation of a naval expedition, and the work had so far
progressed as to enable the expedition to sail on 26 August.
The expedition consisted of the frigate Minnesota, flagship
of Flag Officer Stringham; steam frigate Wabash, steamers
Monticello, Pawnee and Harriet Lane. The army accom-
panying this expedition was in command of General B. F.
Butler. On the 28th the frigates Cumberland and Susque-
hana joined the fleet, and with the Wabash, opened fire on
Fort Clark, which was abandoned 28 August, after standing
the bombardment two and a half hours, the garrison falling

back to Fort Hatteras.
Early in the morning of the 28th, news reaching Ocracoke

Inlet of the attack on forts at Hatteras, Commander Muse
immediately made preparations for embarking the troops sta-
tioned on the Island of Portsmouth (being part of Seven-
teenth Regiment, N. ©. T.) taking on his vessel Captain
Sharp’s company. Remainder of the troops were taken on
board of schooner in tow of steamer. The Ellis weighed
anchor about 11 o’clock a. m. Commander Muse proceed-
ing with all dispatch to the assistance of the forts, arriving
early in the afternoon of the 28th. After landing Captain
Sharp’s company, assisted in landing the troops from the vee-
sel, and ammunition from the Winslow just arrived, Com-
mander Muse having sent ashore all of the ammunition he
could spare from his ship. All of this work was accom-
plished under direct fire from the Federal fleet, without any
damage being done. Flag officer Barron, who was in com-
mand of the naval forces, arrived on the Winslow. Imme-

‘diately after his arrival, Flag Officer Barron landed, and

went into Fort Hatteras, “when at the request of the com-
manding officer, Major W. 8. G. Andrews, he assumed com-
mand, Colonel Martin, of the Seventeenth North Carolina,

§ F . ee
being completely exhausted from his previous day’s fighting.

.