Naval Battles

Hatteras Inlet—Roanoke Island

Some 13 miles south of Cape Hatteras is Hatteras inlet, and 18 miles farther is Ocracoke. The usual depth of water on the bar of Hatteras inlet is 14 feet, the depth varying a foot or two from the effects of gales and freshets on the inland waters. By reason of the depth over the bar it formed the most convenient entrance into the sounds of North Carolina for the conveyance of supplies to the Confederate army in Virginia, Page 105 while the abundance of "naval stores" produced throughout the region adjacent to Pamlico and Albemarle sounds, and the cotton of the district, provided full cargoes for the blockade-runners outward bound. Scarcely had the war begun and the Norfolk navy-yard fallen into the hands of the Confederates, when they proceeded to fortify the inlets at Hatteras and Ocracoke with some of the heavy guns seized at the navy-yard in order to insure their control over the waters of the sounds. In consequence of this the navy department early planned an expedition which had for its object the reestablishment of the Federal authority over Hatteras island and the sounds, and invited the cooperation of the army. Flag-officer Stringham was assigned to the command of the expedition, which resulted in the first Union victory of the war. A number of transports were chartered by the navy to convey the troops, and on August 25, 1861, General Wool detailed 860 men under General B. F. Butler, with directions to report to Stringham as soon as the troops were ready and to return with the detachment to Fort Monroe, "as soon as the object of the expedition is attained."

In addition to the transports Adelaide, Captain H. S. Stellwagen and Peabody, Captain R. R. Lowry, with the troops under Butler on board, Stringham's force consisted of the steam frigate Minnesota, Captain G. I. Van Brunt (flag-ship); the steam frigate Wabash, Captain Samuel Mercer; the Monticello, Captain John P. Gillis; the Pawnee, Captain S. C. Rowan; and the Harriet Lane (revenue cutter), Captain John Faunce. The army tug Fanny, Lieutenant Pierce Crosby, also accompanied the expedition as a tender, and the transports towed 2 schooners with heavy surf-boats on board. The expedition got away with commendable promptness and on the afternoon of the 26th anchored some 3 miles above Hatteras inlet, where it was planned to make a landing. The surf-boats were made ready and all arrangements made to hurry forward the work of landing the Page 106 troops at daylight of the 27th. A body of marines under Captain Shuttleworth accompanied Butler's troops in the morning, increasing his force to 915 men. The Pawnee, Monticello and Harriet Lane were ordered to cover the landing, and vigorously searched the trees and undergrowth which lined the shore. While the disembarkation was in progress, the Minnesota and the Wabash, now joined by the sailing frigate Cumberland and the steam frigate Susquehanna, moved in to attack the batteries which had been erected for the defense of the inlet. The Minnesota led the procession, followed by the Wabash towing the Cumberland, and the Susquehanna. The vessels passed in and out over an elliptical route, engaging the batteries as they passed. There were two of these batteries, the larger and principal one known as Fort Hatteras, and a small earthwork called Fort Clark, mounting 5 guns and without a bomb-proof, located about a half mile east of Fort Hatteras. The squadron first encountered Fort Clark, both sides opening fire some time before the ships were within effective range. When they finally came within range, their fire proved so hot the fort was soon abandoned and the men within retired to the larger fort for protection. The fleet suspended firing at 12:30 in the belief that Fort Hatteras was about to surrender, as its flag was no longer flying and its fire had been smothered by the energetic bombardment of the squadron.

Meanwhile, 420 of the troops had succeeded in reaching the beach through the heavy surf, but efforts to land the remainder of the men were discontinued as the surf was constantly increasing. Two of the navy howitzers were also landed, but the men were without provisions or supplies and most of their paper cartridges were thoroughly wet. After the abandonment of Fort Clark the Federal troops were marched to it and hoisted the Union flag over the work at 2 p. m. Two hours later, when the Monticello attempted to effect an entrance through Page 107 the inlet, the engagement was renewed between the vessels and the fort and was continued without much effect until sunset, when the larger vessels withdrew for the night. The Pawnee, Monticello, and Harriet Lane went close inshore where they could protect the troops encamped up the beach some distance from the forts. Food was brought these troops during the night—a much needed relief, as they had been without provisions all day. The men threw up a sand battery facing the sound, "opened on the vessels in the sound in communication with the fort, which seems to have materially disconcerted the enemy," and drove off the intended reinforcements. On the following morning the vessels of the squadron again opened on Fort Hatteras from an anchorage, where the heavy pivot guns could deliver a plunging fire, though the shots of the enemy fell short, probably because he was unable to give his guns sufficient elevation. The destructive fire soon had its effect, damaging the bomb-proof within the fort and threatening the magazine with destruction from a shell which had dropped through a ventilator. At 11 a. m. a white flag was displayed by the Confederates and the firing ceased. The guns of the attacking squadron numbered 158, while the forts only mounted 25, so that the achievement was in no way a remarkable one, but the work was well done, and no casualties were sustained on the Union side. It is known that the enemy lost 2 killed and 13 wounded, and it is believed his losses were somewhat greater. As soon as the white flag was displayed, some of the smaller vessels entered the inlet and drove off a number of steamers and schooners which were evidently trying to reach the fort with reinforcements. "At 2:30 p. m. General Butler went on board Com. Stringham's flag-ship, taking with him Flag-officer Samuel Barron, C. S. N., commanding naval defenses of Virginia and North Carolina, Colonel Martin of the 7th North Carolina infantry, and Colonel Andrews, commanding Forts Hatteras and Clark, Page 108 who had surrendered unconditionally with their commands." The officers and men captured numbered 615, and there also came into Federal possession the 25 guns in the forts, about 1,000 muskets, and a quantity of ordnance stores. The forts at Hatteras inlet were garrisoned and remained in the possession of the Union forces throughout the war. Thus, a beginning was made in President Lincoln's announced purpose to regain possession of all the Southern ports and harbors, and one important avenue by which the Southern armies were supplied was closed. But most important of all the disheartening chain of Confederate victories was broken for the first time and the moral effect of the victory was very great.

Said General Butler in his report of the affair: "The importance of the point cannot be overrated. When the channel is buoyed out any vessel may carry 15 feet of water over it with ease. Once inside, there is a safe harbor and anchorage in all weathers. From there the whole coast of Virginia and North Carolina from Norfolk to Cape Lookout is within our reach by light-draught vessels, which cannot possibly live at sea during the winter months. From it offensive operations may be made upon the whole coast of North Carolina to Bogue inlet, extending many miles inland to Washington, New Berne, and Beaufort. In the language of the chief-engineer of the rebels, Colonel Thompson, in an official report, 'it is the key of the Albemarle.' In my judgment, it is a station second only in importance to Fortress Monroe on this coast. As a depot for coaling and supplies for the blockading squadron it is invaluable. As a harbor for our coasting trade, or inlet from the winter storms or from pirates, it is of the first importance." The fall of Forts Hatteras and Clark led to the abandonment of the fort at Ocracoke inlet, a party from the army tug Fanny destroyed the fort and rendered useless 22 guns and some munitions of war September 16.

"Meantime the 20th Ind. infantry, under Colonel Brown, of the Hatteras island garrison, got into serious trouble. The regiment had gone to a small settlement at the north end of the island—Chicamicomico by name—25 miles north of Cape Hatteras lighthouse. Just what purpose they were to serve there is not now apparent, but the Confederates, who had fortified Roanoke island, came with a superior force to cut them off from communication with the forces at the inlet and there was a most fatiguing race down the beach. The Union force won, the Confederates being driven off by the Union steamer Monticello, Captain D. L. Braine."

Owing to the pressure of other and larger operations the capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark was comparatively barren of results, as the enemy at once set to work to fortify and strengthen their hold on Roanoke island, which barred the shallow channel from Pamlico to Albemarle sound. The principal entrances to the sounds had been secured, it is true, but the enemy were still able to slip in and out with light-draught vessels through the many intricate and little-known channels. It was known that they were fitting out some powerful ironclads in the western waters, and in January, 1862, the navy department determined to fit out an expedition for the capture of Roanoke island, to regain complete control of all these inland waters. Rear-Admiral L. M. Goldsborough was selected to command the naval forces and General A. E. Burnside was in command of the troops. The cooperative force left Hampton Roads January n, 1862, but suffered a long delay at Hatteras Inlet bar, and the last of the war vessels and army transports did not succeed in getting over until February 5. In addition to nearly a score of naval vessels intended for action, there were 46 army transports, Carrying about 12,000 troops. The 19 vessels which composed the naval part of the expedition were named as follows: Stars and Stripes, Lieutenant Reed Worden; Louisiana, Lieutenant A. Murray; Page 110 Hetzel, Lieutenant H. K. Davenport; Underwriter, Lieutenant W. N. Jeffers; Delaware, Lieutenant S. P. Quackenbush; Commodore Perry, Lieutenant C. W. Flusser; Valley City, Lieutenant J. C. Chaplin; Commodore Barney, Act.-Lieutenant R. T. Renshaw; Hunchback, Act. Vol. Lieutenant E. R. Colhoun; Southfield, Act. Vol. Lieutenant C. F. W. Behm; Morse, Acting-Master Peter Hayes; Whitehead, Acting-Master Charles French; Lockwood, Acting-Master G. W. Graves; Brincker, Acting-Master John E. Giddings; I. N. Seymour, Acting-Master F. S. Wells; Ceres, Acting-Master John McDiarmid; Putnam, Acting-Master W. J. Hotchkiss; Shawsheen, Acting-Master T. G. Woodward; Granite, Acting-Master's Mate E. Boomer. The general command of the naval division was assigned by Admiral Goldsborough to Commander S. C. Rowan, who carried his divisional flag on the Delaware. As the flag-ship Philadelphia proved unfit for the purpose, Goldsborough temporarily transferred his flag to the Southfield. The troops which formed an important part of the attacking force were under Commander Samuel F. Hazard, U. S. N. Owing to the difficulty experienced by the navy department in securing suitable vessels for the expedition, the "squadron was a nondescript affair. It was made up of river-steamers, ferry-boats, tug-boats and almost anything that would turn a wheel or screw." The vessels were wholly unarmored, but mounted 48 heavy guns. The Confederate defenses at the north end of Roanoke island consisted of six separate works. Five were placed to guard the water approaches, and the other one was a masked battery designed to prevent the landing of troops for the purpose of attacking the works in the rear. The confederate squadron, consisting of 8 vessels, 2 side-wheel steamers and 6 propellers, under Commodore W. F. Lynch, were likewise unarmored, but, as in the case of the Union fleet, both the Confederate vessels and their batteries were provided with guns which were good for that day. The report of Goldsborough Page 111 states that the island's defenses "consisted of two elaborately constructed works, mounting altogether 20 guns, 3 of them being 100-pounder rifles; four other batteries, mounting together 20 guns, a large proportion of them being of larger caliber and some of them rifled; eight steamers, mounting 2 guns each, and each having a rifled gun with the diameter of a 32-pounder; a prolonged obstruction of sunken vessels and piles to thwart our advance, and, altogether a body of men numbering scarcely less than 5,000." The nature of these defenses had been ascertained by Goldsborough during the detention of the force at Hatteras inlet, and a plan of attack was arranged wherein the naval force was to lead until the enemy was finally encountered and then engage the batteries at Pork and Sandy points and the Confederate squadron, while the troops were to embark on light-draught vessels and boats and land under cover of the naval fire. The naval division under Rowan moved forward in three columns, commanded respectively by Lieuts. Worden, Murray and Davenport, and the army transports followed, also arranged in divisions. The force started early on the morning of the 5th, and two days were occupied in slowly feeling their way through the intricate channel of the marshes, beset by rainy, thick and windy weather. At last on Friday morning, February 7, keeping in close order, they found themselves close enough to begin the attack and opened with their heaviest fire on the battery at Pork point, another between Pork and Weir points, a third on Redstone point, and also hotly engaged the enemy's vessels at the same time. The transports with their rifled guns joined in the attack. At 1 30 p. m. the barracks behind Pork point were in full blaze from the destructive fire poured in by the fleet. At 3 p. m. the troops were transferred to light-draught steamers and boats and started to land at Ashby's harbor, an operation which was favored by the failure of the enemy to fortify Sandy point. The harbor Page 112 was guarded by a considerable force of the enemy with a field battery, "but Rowan in the Delaware, took up a flanking position to the southward of Pork point, turned his 9-inch guns towards the harbor and compelled the enemy to retreat, thus clearing the way for the landing." By midnight some 10,000 troops had been safely landed at the harbor, and in the course of the afternoon, Midshipman B. J. Porter landed with 6 navy howitzers "to assist the army in commanding the main road and its two forks during the night, and to assist in more active operations the following morning." On the afternoon of the second day's fighting the Confederate forts surrendered, and the Confederate squadron, with the exception of the Curlew which had been crippled and was blown up by the enemy himself, fled to Elizabeth City. The naval losses, including those of the howitzer battery operating with the army, were 6 killed, 17 wounded and 2 missing. The immediate result of this Union victory was highly important, as Wilmington was now the only port or inlet on the entire coast of North Carolina which remained in the possession of the Confederates. The operations of the South Atlantic blockading squadron under Flag-officer Du Pont along the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida soon after this were so successful that Charleston and Wilmington became the only entrances unclosed from Cape Henry to Cape Florida.

The 7 Confederate vessels which had made their escape into Albemarle sound were promptly pursued by Rowan with a force of vessels consisting of the Delaware (flag-ship), Louisiana Hetzel, Underwriter, Commodore Perry, Valley City, Morse, Seymour, Whitehead, Lockwood, Ceres, Shawsheen, Brincker and Putnam. The enemy's squadron was found drawn up in order of battle behind the battery at Cobb's point, and in a short but decisive engagement on the morning of the 10th, all the Confederate vessels were either captured or destroyed. The fort at Cobb's point Page 113 was also demolished and there was no one left to dispute the control of the interior waters of North Carolina. Says Soley: "Nothing more brilliant in naval dash occurred during the entire Civil war than appears in this attack." The splendid heroism displayed in this engagement by a gunner on the Valley City led to the creation by Congress of a Union navy medal: Says Lossing, in describing the incident: "An extraordinary example of heroism was exhibited during this engagement by John Davis, a Finlander, who was a gunner's mate on board the Valley City. A shell entered that vessel, and, exploding in the magazine, set fire to some wood-work. Davis was there, and seeing the imminent danger to the vessel and all on board, because of an open barrel of gunpowder from which he had been serving, he seated himself upon it, and so remained until the flames were extinguished. For this brave act the secretary of the navy rewarded him with the appointment of acting-gunner in the navy (March n, 1862), by which his salary was raised from $300 to $1,000 a year. Admiring citizens of New York raised and presented to him $1,100. The secretary of the navy, by authority of an act of Congress, approved December 21, 1862, presented him with a Medal of Honor, on which are inscribed the following words: 'Personal Valor, John Davis, Gunner's Mate, U. S. S. Valley City, Albemarle Sound, February 10, 1862.' Such medals were afterward presented to a considerable number of gallant men in subordinate stations, for acts of special bravery 'before the enemy.' Davis was the first recipient." After the above engagement, Com. Rowan sent a number of the steamers up to Elizabeth City, where a large amount of Confederate property was destroyed. Subsequently a number of expeditions were despatched through the sounds, which destroyed the enemy's property and blocked the canals in order to prevent all communication with Norfolk. These included expeditions to Edenton, on the west end of Albemarle sound, to the Chesapeake and Albemarle Page 114 canal, and to Winton, near the head of navigation on the Chowan river, about 50 miles above its mouth. Goldsborough having been ordered to Hampton Roads after the action between the Monitor and Merrimac, the naval force remained under the command of Rowan. The vessels of the squadron continued to patrol the waters of the sounds, while the army was making its preparations for an attack on New Berne. These preparations having been completed and the vessels of the squadron having received a much needed supply of ammunition, the joint expedition under Burnside and Rowan reached the place of landing at Slocum's creek March 12. In the battle of the 14th and the occupation of Washington, North Carolina, on the 21st, the navy took an active and important part. (For further accounts of Roanoke island, Elizabeth City, New Berne, etc., see Cyclopedia of Battles.)