The invasion of North Carolina.
The Newbern (N. C.) Progress, of Monday, has the following in reference to the operations of the Federalists on the coast: A rumor reached here on Saturday morning that Beacon Island and Oregon fortifications had fallen in the hands of the enemy and that Portsmouth had been burned. This report, however, was discredited. Later in the day the garrison, all except eight or ten, from Beacon Island arrived here, having abandoned the place from a sense of inability to hold it, who report that the citizens had nearly all left the town of Portsmouth, but did not confirm the report of the burning, or its occupation by the Federals. Our patriotic citizen, Henry A. Brown, remained at Beacon Island in company with one or two white men and five or six negroes, and avowed that, as he had been the first to go there to superintend the construction of the fortification, he would not leave it until he had spiked the guns and blown it up so as to make it worthless to the enemy. He kept a yawl boat, and when he has completed the work of destruction intends to row himself away at his leisure. Nothing further has been learned of the fate of Hatteras or Oregon. We understand, however, that the Albemarle left on Saturday for Oregon to try to learn its condition, and that the Post Boy went down to Hatteras under a flag of truce to look after the dead and wounded; so we may expect to have something more soon. The Progress, of Tuesday, says: ‘ The flag steamer sent down on Saturday has returned; also one sent down last Saturday night returned late Sunday night, and reports everything quiet below. No forward movement has yet been made in this direction. Two steamers and two tug boats are inside lying between the bar and swash, and a large body of Federal troops, supposed to be about 3,000, are busily engaged in mounting heavy guns and putting the fortifications in a thorough state of defence. Our officers were not permitted to land, but were informed by Capt. Rowan, of the Pawnee, who has command of the post, that only seven were found dead and twenty-five wounded, besides those brought up on the Winslow, two of which had since died. The wounded had been placed upon a steamer under the care of an experienced surgeon and, together with the prisoners, sent to Portress Monroe for further orders. The names of the dead and wounded could not be ascertained. We understand that it is the opinion of Capt. Crossan that it will be impossible, at present, to dispossess them of the ground, and we heartily concur with him in opinion, but that they can be held to their present position, or, at least, prevented from making any decisive inland demonstration, we are equally confident, if the amount of energy is manifested that North Carolinians are capable of when fully aroused. The only possible way to accomplish this desirable object now, is by fortifying our inland waters, which, of course, must be done at an enormous expense; but it must be done. For if it should cost $50,000,000, and every cent of it had to be paid by the population east of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad in our own State, it would be immensely cheaper than to permit the polluted hoofs of the invaders to rove over our country to pillage, burn, and devastate our houses and farms and steal our negroes. Meantime, while our rivers are being fortified let hands be set to work building gunboats or floating-batteries at this place of sufficient strength to move down the river and drive the Federal fleet into the Atlantic, where it belongs. This, we believe, is a practicable thing, and if the Government will not engage in it, individuals who have a few hundred thousand at command, by taking the matter in hand, may embalm their tombstones with a wreath of fame as durable as the annals of time. ’ The same paper says, editorially: ‘ Truly a crisis is upon us!--one that we have long feared, and against which we have tried, with all the energy and unceasing warning that prudence would permit, to guard our authorities; but they have seemed to disregard it all with an indifference, or it may be, a stupidity, as disastrous to the public good as it has been disgusting and heart-sickening to well-informed persons on the sea-coast. The case is a distressing one; but then, ‘"it won't do to grieve over spilt milk." ’ The long dreaded calamity has come upon us. Hatteras, Ocracoke and Oregon Inlets have fallen into the hands of the Federals, and with them free access to the entire inland waters of Eastern North Carolina--more extensive, perhaps, than that of any other State on the continent. But if we trust in God and put our shoulder to the wheel, it may all yet result in our favor. If our military directors can possibly be stimulated to the exercise of energy commensurate with the exigencies of the times, and our towns and principal districts adjacent to the rivers and sounds can be properly defended to prevent their destruction, it may, and we think will, result in disadvantage to the enemy also, by the heavy draw it will make upon their navy, thus weakening them at important points outside. At all events, let our people go to work immediately at fortifying our rivers and principal points so as to put them on a footing of defence, and make the best of it we can; and, be the final result what it may, let us act like men and determine to die sooner than abandon this the loveliest heritage in God's creation to the occupation of such vile wretches. Let every man trust in God, keep his powder dry, and stand firm and unflinching at the breech of his piece, and the victory is sure to be ours in the end. The editor of the Progress, with characteristic patriotism, has ‘"volunteered for the war,"’ and, in Monday's paper, gracefully bids his readers farewell. The Wilmington Journal states the number of prisoners taken at Hatteras at 580, that being the amount of the force in both Fort Hatteras and Fort Clark. ’ The Journal says: ‘ The capture of Hatteras, Oregon and Ocracoke — and the Newbern Progress says that all these have been captured — will have the effect of detaining certain regiments to guard the coast of Pamlico Sound against hen-roost robbing, house-burning and negro-thieving forays, but it will hardly require more men to guard the coast than to hold the banks. With any reasonable alertness and preparation, no force need be allowed to penetrate into Albemarle Sound, nor when they do go on a hen-roosting expedition will the Butteries find the immediate vicinity of the landing very encouraging. They will probably get tired as soon as anybody else. But surely enough Butler will make a big noise over this, almost the only success of the war. Some poorly and recently ot up works manned by inexperienced and probably ill, drilled men, have been captured by the most powerful steam fleet that the Federal Government has yet sent out, with five times the number of men that our people had; with the most powerful naval batteries in the world; with plenty of shells, of which our people had none; with plenty of powder and solid shot, of which our people had next to none. Small favors thankfully received, larger ones in proportion. ’ The Thirtieth Regiment of North Carolina militia, assembled at Wilmington on Monday. The Journal remarks: ‘ We can hardly state definitely the object of calling this regiment together but presume the object was to ascertain its efficiency in numbers, organization, arms, ammunition and equipments. The notice was very short, but for all the turn-out was large, very large, we think. Some three captain's commands failed to be present, from inability to get here in time, no doubt. There was the material for a large body of capital troops, but except the independent companies, such as the ‘"Independent Guards,"’ splendidly drilled and equipped, and Col. McRae's company, and the Howard Fire Company, who are nearly all armed and drilled, there was not much uniformity either in weapons, equipments or movements. There was bone, sinew and patriotism, however, in any quantity. ’[from our special correspondent.]
Newbern, N. C., Sept. 1st, 1861.
I arrived here to-day and found the town greatly excited, all the women and children having left or leaving on extra trains for the interior, the citizens being apprehensive of an attack from old Picayune Butler.
From various correct and reliable sources I gather the following: On Wednesday morning the fleet, under Butler, opened fire on Fort Hatteras about 9 o'clock. Our men gallantly replied, being exposed to the fire of shells, as the Fort was recently built, and was not bomb-proof.
All day Wednesday the action lasted.
The Federals poured in shell in perfect showers.
Our boys returned their fire with great spirit; but the Federals had better guns and kept out of range of ours.
At dark on Wednesday evening the Yankees ceased firing, shoaled off a little distance, leaving our men under the impression that they had given it up as a bad job; but during the darkness of the night they secretly landed about 2,000 men some distance up the coast, and the next day, Thursday, commenced the attack again.
At about 10 o'clock it was evident that the Fort must surrender, inasmuch as the Federals, having got their guns in exact range, fired with great precision and rapidity, and our ammunition was entirely exhausted.
Our entire force then surrendered, and the Hessians marched in and took them prisoners.
This event caused great excitement along the whole coast, and, indeed, all over the State.
The citizens have deserted Plymouth, Rosefort, and Morehead city, and nearly all the women and children have gone to the interior.
We are now entirely cut off by water, and the Yankees cannot be driven out unless the Government will send down some guns boats.
Our people are making extensive preparations to receive the enemy should he attempt further encroachments.
There being great anxiety to ascertain who was injured in the battle, a steamer went over yesterday under a flag of truce, and returned
to-night about 8 P. M., and reports 7 killed and 26 wounded on our side, and the balance, except a few who escaped, were sent away prisoners of war — it is supposed to Old Point.
The wounded were also carried off. Of the military movements of our forces I am not at liberty to speak.
The Alliance and St. Johns, the two British ships which ‘"ran the blockade,"’ are discharging their cargoes at Morehead city.
The Alliance was warned by the blockading fleet at Charleston, on the 27th May, but patiently waited an opportunity, and slipped in unperceived by the Hessian fleet.
Their cargoes are indeed most valuable, containing, besides ‘"munitions of war,"’ 5,000 sacks of salt.
September 2d, 1861.
I learn from one of the citizens who went down on the steamer with the flag of truce, that the Federal commander asked our party how many killed and wounded they had carried off. Our spokesman replied, ‘"one."’ ‘"You are a liar,"’ replied the Yankee, Showing that they disbelieved the fact that after nearly twenty-four hours bombardment so few should have been killed out of about 580 men who occupied the fort.
Commodore Barron, who arrived at Newbern on Tuesday to take command of the fort, went down immediately on his reaching here, with what little ammunition he could get, got to the fort safe, went to a gun, but saw how useless it was to prolong the conflict under such immense disadvantage, and was taken prisoner.
Intelligence from the coast this morning is that the entire fleet, seventeen ships-of the line, had left the coast.
Some of their gunboats are now inside the bar, and have complete away of the Sound. Lieutenant Murdaugh, who had his left arm horribly fractured by a shell, was fortunate enough to escape from Hatteras, and was brought up here to have his arm amputated.
He stood the operation manfully, scarcely uttering a murmur; and yesterday afternoon, when he was put into an extra car to be carried to Goldsboro', he was very cheerful.
It is thought here that the Yankees will make Hatteras a basis of operations against Norfolk, as there is good water communication by the Sound and Canal. R. O. C. 