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

[83] Hawkins, and the remaining companies of the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, are encamped four or five miles further north on the island, at Camp Winfield and Camp Wool. A battery is in course of construction near the camps, which is nearly ready to receive its armament.

Brig.-Gen. Williams is in command of this post.

January 15.

The prospect for a better day is promising this morning. The wind, which changed to northeast during the night, has fallen to a gentle breeze, but there is a high tide which rushes through the inlet like a mill-race. I enclose a chapter of incidents which have had a somewhat depressing influence on the spirits of officers and men in the division, but all are too much engaged to be seriously affected by them. Although the crew of the City of New-York have been saved from a terrible fate, the worst fears for the vessel and cargo have received confirmation. There is a probability of saving the rifles and some shells; in fact, some of the latter have been taken off by the boats of the George Peabody. The remains of Col. Allen, and the surgeon of the New-Jersey regiment, have been recovered. They were washed ashore by the tide, this afternoon.

A consultation was held to-day by Gens. Burnside, Foster, Reno, Parke, and Williams, the result of which is preparation for an advance, probably toward Roanoke Island, on which the rebels are known to be encamped in considerable force, and the possession of which is desirable, as it will cut off communication between Pamlico and Albermale Sounds.

Eight gunboats have been stationed about three miles to the north-west of the inlet, as a picket-guard against a night attack from rebel gunboats from the mainland.

The Cossack is the most advanced toward this point, of the transport fleet, and such precautions as placing blankets over the windows through which lights may be visible, have been resorted to. In more exposed positions lights are prohibited. Your correspondent's state-room is on the side nearest the advanced gunboats, but as the room is lighted from a deck-light in the ceiling of the room, the precaution of concealing the light is not resorted to.

As the weather will now admit of vessels leaving their anchorage, it is anticipated that shots will be exchanged to-night, with some rebel boat that may attempt to make a reconnoissance. There are known to be six or seven gunboats on the sound, but whether they will dare to show themselves is doubtful. Our boats will probably advance until they discover their haunts, and then sharp work is anticipated.

Hatteras Inlet, January 15.

Next to the interest with which the ebbing of a human life is watched, is that with which a noble ship, that is thumping her life out, is regarded. The propeller City of New-York has just foundered within sight of over thirty vessels of all kinds, and not one able to stretch forth a hand to aid her in her terrible necessity. Throughout the whole of yesterday she was watched with anxious eyes from the decks of an entire fleet, and all the probabilities of her condition canvassed, while the imagination, in the absence of facts, was left to picture the state of her crew, as being attended by all the horrors which sympathy with them could inspire.

Providentially her crew were saved, but after what terrible sufferings, physical and mental, and what a depth of despair, is best understood when it is known that they spent the whole of Tuesday and Tuesday night lashed to the rigging to prevent being washed off by the sea, which made a clean breach over her every few minutes, and that all her boats but one, which could not be launched safely in the foaming surf about her, had been destroyed; another having been taken away by the first officer and four of the crew, shortly after she grounded.

heroism of two mechanics.

To the heroism of two men is chiefly due the salvation of the crew. The captain, and the officers remaining on board, would take no action in relation to lowering the last remaining one of the five ship's boats, when William H. Beach, and his brother, Charles A. Beach, both mechanics from Newark, N. J., determined, as a last resort, to launch the yawl, and make an effort to gain the fleet, whence they expected assistance. Having done this successfully, they asked the captain and pilot to accompany them, but they declining, the second engineer, William Miller, of Nashville, Tenn., Hugh McCabe, of Providence, R. I., fireman, and George Mason, of Staten Island, (the colored steward of the vessel,) resolved to accompany them. They pulled over the bar with the flowing tide, and gave notice to several vessels of the fleet, from which were immediately sent surf and other boats to their aid, and thus the crew were saved.

From various sources I have compiled the history of the vessel, her cargo, her voyage here, and the catastrophe in which it terminated.

The City of New York was a six hundred ton propeller, built by Mr. Cope, of Hoboken, for the Philadelphia and Boston line about ten years ago, and rated A2. Her engine was a double cylinder, three hundred and fifty horse-power, made by Hogg & Delamater, of New-York, and was in excellent condition. About two years ago she was chartered by the Government for the coast survey, when she was plated with three eighth inch iron. She drew about sixteen feet of water, and was built very sharp. She was offered to the Government not long ago for sixty thousand dollars, but she was considered to be of too deep draft for service.

The steamer left New-York at ten A. M., on Tuesday, the seventh inst., with a cargo consisting of eight hundred uncharged sixty-four pounder shells, sixty cases of rifles, four hundred barrels of cannon-powder, some barrels of cartridges, and rifle-powder in tin cases, a supply of Sibley tents, mattresses, blankets and cots, and large stores of baled hay and oats. She arrived at Fortress Monroe