Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

sir: In obedience to your orders of the twentieth inst., I proceeded to this place, arriving at the obstructions, about five miles below, on the morning of the twenty-first. The naval column consisted of this vessel, the Delaware, Lieutenant Commanding Quackenbush, and the Commodore Perry, Lieut. Commanding Flusser. We were accompanied to the obstructions by the steamer Admiral, army transport, with eight companies of the Twenty-fourth regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, Colonel Stevenson, and a small tugboat, We met with no resistance, the batteries having been abandoned, and their armament removed by blasting and other processes. We soon forced a channel through the piles, though they had been driven very deep in triple row, and cut off three feet below the surface.

At eleven o'clock last night we arrived off the town, the Delaware bringing up from the transport the field-officers, two companies, and the regimental band. The authorities, with many of the citizens, met us on the wharf, where I briefly explained to them the object of our visit. The military formed, and we proceeded to the court-house, where, with all the ceremonies, we hoisted the “Flag of the Union.” The troops returned to the Delaware with unbroken ranks.

I found, on further consultation with the authorities, on whom I made my demand for the restoration of the Hatteras Light property, that underlying an apparent acquiescence of the people of the town and neighborhood, in permitting the building of gunboats, and the construction of batteries, to repel the approach of the Federal forces, was a deep-rooted affection for the old Union, and not a little animosity for its enemies; the latter element not being diminished by the importation of troops from a distant State. The result of this state of affairs was, as could be anticipated, the abandonment of its defences by the troops, followed by the destruction of what remained of confederate property by the people. The launched gunboats had been towed several miles up the river, loaded with turpentine, and fired the night of our arrival. A few hundred [350] bushels of meal and corn left in the commissary store, were distributed to the poor by my orders. The most valuable part of the Hatteras Light property, the lenses, have been taken to Farborough, but I have hopes of their recovery, through the instrumentality of the people of Washington. The rest of the property is secured, with channelbuoys and moorings.

In addition to the batteries on either side of the obstructions, the enemy has thrown up breast-works east of the town, joining and extending half a mile. They also had fortified their camp, which commanded the high road. A sketch of the river, from the obstructions to the bridge above the town, is enclosed; it includes all the fortifications.

The woods and swamps in this and Hyde County are represented as being alive with refugees from the draft; many of them, encouraged by our presence, came in. They are deep and bitter in their denunciations of the secession heresy, and promise a regiment, if called, to aid in the restoration of the flag.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,