302 NortH CaRroLina Troops, 1861-’65.

See Flag Officer Barron’s report, Union and Confed. Navies,
Series 1, Vol. 6, page 139.

During the night of the 28th, Lieutenant W. H. Mur-
daugh, formerly of the United States N avy, and Lieutenant
William Sharp, formerly of the United States Navy with
Midshipman Stafford, of the Ellis, landed and went into the
fort and took charge of gun No. 8, which was mounted on a
navy gun carriage. Early in the morning of the 29th the
Federal fleet opened fire on the fort, and kept up an inces-
sant fire, throwing 9, 10 and 11 inch shells. From the posi-
tion taken by the Northern fleet the guns from Fort Hatteras
were unable to reach them. After standing the heavy fire
from the ship for more than three hours, the commanding
officer, seeing that to hold out longer would only entail heavy
loss of life, without his being able to inflict any damage to
the enemy, wisely decided to surrender, and about noon,
hoisted a white flag. In the meantime the officers and men,
who succeeded in getting out of the fort, were taken aboard
the Winslow, commanded by Commander Arthur Sinclair,
who had succeeded Lieutenant T. M. Orossan, among them
Lieutenant Murdangh, who had his left arm shattered during
the bombardment. After the surrender of Fort Hatteras,
the Harriet Lane, in attempting to cross the Inlet, grounded,
and remained ashore several days.

Flag Officer Stringham, in his report, Union and Confed.
Navies, Series 1, Vol 6, page 122, says “that General Butler,
on the steamer Fanny, went into the inlet to the rear of the
forts to take possesion, and about 2:30 p. m., returned to the
flagship, bringing with him three senior officers, viz.: Sam-
uel Barron, Flag Officer C. S. N, commanding naval defences
of North Carolina and Virginia; William F. Martin, Colo-
nel of the Seventh Regiment North Carolina Volunteers;
Major W. S. G. Andrews, commanding Forts Hatteras and
Clark. The officers and troops captured were carried North
on the flagship Minnesota.” See Commander Rowan’s let-
ter to Warren Winslow, Esq., Military Secretary, same vol-
ume at page 155.

The L£ilis returned to the Island of Portsmouth, and
taking on board the officers’ wives and other families sojourn-

Nortu Carona Navy. 303

ing there, proceeded to Washington, North Carolina, arriv-
ing there on the afternoon of the 30th. The Winslow and
other ships were ordered to New Bern, N. C.

Flag Officer Wm. F. Lynch having been ordered to com-
mand the naval defences of North Carolina and Virginia,
ordered Commander Muse to keep close watch from the
mouth of the Pamlico river. Similar orders were given to
Lieutenant Commander W. H. Parker, commanding the
Beaufort, to keep a lookout from the mouth of the Neuse
river. On 29 October the Hilis left Pamlico Point for New
Bern.

On the 30th Lieutenant-Commander J. W. Cooke took
command of the Hillis, Commander Muse being ordered to
the command of the naval station at Wilmington, when the
propeller, Uncle Ben, was fitted out as a gun-boat, and sta-
tioned inside of New Inlet. The Uncle Ben, as I remember,
was turned over to the Confederate Government by the State
of North Carolina.

The vessels under Flag Officer Lynch were assembled in
the sounds of North Carolina, where he cruised to intercept
any steamer that might be found in the sounds.

“On the afternoon of 1 October, the Federal steamer
Fanny, mounting two rifled cannon and loaded with ammu-
nition and supplies for the Federal forces at Loggerhead In-
let, was sighted. After an engagement with the Curlew,
Raleigh and Junaluski, lasting fifty-five minutes, the Fanny
surrendered.” See Colonel Wright’s report, Union and Con-
fed. Navies, Series 1, Vol. 6, page 278. This was the first
naval success in North Carolina, and the first capture made
of an armed vessel of the enemy.

I am indebted to Mr. James W. McCarrick, of Norfolk,
who was a master’s mate in the North Carolina Navy, for
the following, in reference to the saving of the officers and

crew of the French corvette Proney:

“On 4 November, 1861, the French Corvette Proney, Com-
mander DeFontanges, was wrecked at Ocracoke Inlet., The
steamer Winslow, Master Patrick MeCarrick, commanding,