James Barnes, author of David G. Farragut, Naval Actions of 1812, Yank ee Ships and Yankee Sailors, Commodore Bainbridge , The Blockaders, and other naval and historical works, The Photographic History of The Civil War: in ten volumes, Thousands of Scenes Photographed 1861-65, with Text by many Special Authorities, Volume 6: The Navy.
Francis Trevelyan Miller, Ed.

[102] ordered to cover their landing. Now the difficulties increased; the iron surf-boats were rolled broadside on the beach, and what men got ashore had to wade through the heavy surf. But three hundred or so succeeded in reaching dry land, a rather forlorn end to the land expedition, as it had no supplies and the ammunition was soaked through. But in the mean time, the Wabash got under way, and towing the old Cumberland with the Minnesota following, led in toward Fort Clark. Soon the battle was on between the land and sea. Flag-Officer Stringham deserves great praise for the way he handled his small squadron; ships were kept in constant movement, and, though well within range, suffered little or no damage from the shots of the fort. The concentrated fire of the vessels upon the little battery, which mounted but five guns, soon bore results. Shortly after noon Fort Clark was abandoned, and the shivering troops that had reached the beach took possession and hoisted the Federal flag.

It was at first thought that Fort Hatteras had surrendered after the short bombardment, but on approaching closer the Confederate batteries once more reopened. The next morning, however, the bombardment being resumed, the Fort was seriously damaged, and the powder magazine, having been set on fire, the Confederates hoisted the white flag shortly after eleven o'clock. There was an amusing little note added to the morning's work by the fact that Flag-Officer Barron, who lately had been an officer of the United States navy, refused to surrender the Fort to the land forces that now came up from the direction of Fort Clark, the Confederate commander claiming that they had taken no part in the action. Therefore he was rowed off to the flagship, where he gave up his sword to his former friend, Flag-Officer Stringham.

Six hundred and fifteen men and officers were captured at Fort Hatteras, and twenty-five guns, all of which had come from the navy-yard at Norfolk. The moral effect of this easily earned victory was great throughout the North. The real