or pursuit from the rebels, whom they left in possession of their camp, to rejoice over their success, but their rejoicing was somewhat marred by the fact that they had not annihilated the whole regiment, as they considered the destruction of Colonel Tyler's command but the beginning of an onset that should sweep every vestige of the Union army out of that part of Virginia. The Union loss was fifteen killed, including six officers, and thirty wounded.

August 26. The sailing of the great naval expedition under General Butler and Commodore Stringham.

When General Butler resigned his command at Fortress Monroe, in favor of General Wool, the public mind was at once exercised and anxious to know the whys and wherefores of this movement, and their wondering eyes were turned in the direction of Fortress Monroe to discover, if possible, what disposition the general would make of his talents in future; but their suspense was of short duration, for, on the twenty-sixth of August, ten days after his resignation, it was announced that an expedition under General Butler had sailed from Old Point, consisting of the frigates Minnesota and Wabash, the sloop of war Pawnee, gunboats Monticello and Harriet Lane, the steamers Adelaide and George Peabody, the propellers Fanny and Adriatic, with a large number of schooners, barges, etc. The vessels carried over one hundred guns, and about four thousand men.

This somewhat relieved the minds of the curious, but then its destination was unknown; yet they were willing to believe that something good would result from it, and a brilliant achievement was expected.

August 28. The bombardment and surrender of Forts Hatteras and Clark.

The expedition under General Butler steamed out of Hampton Roads in fine style. The weather was beautiful, and the sea smooth. It was about the hour of two

in the afternoon, and the sun shone forth in all the splendor of the tropics. The evening drew on, with a steady breeze from the southeast. The Monticello took the lead, while the Adelaide, not being armed with large guns, immediately followed.

Hitherto the precise nature, extent, and destination of the fleet and troops had been kept a profound secret, not only from the public, but from those on board the stemers, with the exception of a few especially authorized to know of its movements.

They soon passed Cape Henry, though the speed of the leading steamer was limited to a certain point, and as the night advanced, a mild August moon arose to light their passage, while the winds continued to blow gently and the waves were smooth. The morning of the twenty-seventh found them opposite Cape Hatteras, and the Pawnee, Lane, and Peabody in sight; and as the morning advanced, that part of the fleet already off Hatteras gathered together, following the Monticello in toward shore, when the flag-ship Minnesota, Commodore Stringham, and Wabash hove in sight. It was now announced to the men on board that their destination was Hatteras Inlet, and that their purpose was to destroy certain fortifications erected there; but the day had so far advanced, and the ships Fanny and Tempest not having arrived, it was decided to lie by for the night, and carefully complete all their preparations for an attack in the morning. All night the sea remained as smooth as a summer lake, and the squadron lay silent at its post, through all its tedious watches.

The morning of the twenty-eighth broke clear and beautiful, and the Fanny and Tempest having arrived the previous evening, the squadron was now all mustered, with the exception of the Susquehannah, soon to arrive. Orders were issued for the disembarkation of troops on the beach, to the east of Hatteras Inlet.

It was now discovered that there were two forts and one camp at the inlet and vicinity. The first is called Fort Hatteras, and the second Fort Clark, after the Governor of North Carolina, while Camp Gwinn is at the end of a clump of trees near by.

The landing was effected in the following order,Hawkins on the right; the Regulars, Union Coast Guard, and marines in the centre; Max Weber on the left. The advance of the ships to effect and protect the landing was a splendid sight, such a one as it was worth going to see. It was now a little after 8 o'clock. The ships steadily and firmly advanced toward the two forts, which were in plain sight on the point of Hatteras Inlet, with the disunion flag flying on a small staff.

About nine o'clock the Susquehannah arrived, and prepared to join the action. The fleet continued to advance in battle array, and the most perfect silence prevailed; every thing was done by signals from the flag-ship. It is a moment big with intensest anxiety, — with hopes and fears, with rapid thoughts of home and friends, of breathless emotions. The entire squadron is in the field. Each ship is in her place slowly, steadily, calmly advancing. The morning continues beautiful, and the usually rough sea of Cape Hatteras is in perfect calm. It looks as if the finger of the Almighty was laid directly on the billows, and had bound them into quiet. The flag, embankment, barracks, and tents of the fort are now merging into view each moment, and the silence is perfectly awful.

At ten o'clock the following signal appeared on the flag-ship, "Prepare to disembark the troops."

At a quarter past ten the first gun boomed from the Susquehannah; it passed directly over the fort, but elicited no reply. A gun followed from the Wabash, and the sand flies over the beach in all directions where the shot strikes. The firing now commenced from all

the ships in regular order. The Harriet Lane led the way ahead of all the rest, her drums beating to quarters, the Adelaide, with the troops, following closely at hand. The firing now became rapid, and continued for some moments, the thunder and boom of cannon, and the bursting of the shells in the air over the forts presented a startling scene to the thousands who were looking on.

Another fifteen minutes and General Butler appeared on the wheel-house of the Harriet Lane, close by the Adelaide, and pointing to the selected spot, shouts the command, "Land the troops." The preparations now went forward with great rapidity; the men and arms were soon made ready and the tows swing for the shore. There were no signs of movement in the fort, though it had replied with a few guns, all the shot of which fell far short; not a vessel was hit. At eleven o'clock the firing had increased with terrible rapidity, and the fort replied with great spirit, while the troops were landing with artillery in the order proposed.

At half-past eleven the Susquehannah changed her place in the line of battle, and fired a gun that made a terrific echo; her aim was direct, and the result was at once seen on the parapets. At twelve o'clock the Minnesota opened her ports from the centre, and the Pawnee commenced firing into the woods, where it was supposed the secessionists might be lying in ambush to interfere with the landing of the forces; while the Harriet Lane and the remainder of the fleet kept up their firing on the forts.

At two o'clock the troops were formed in line on the shore, bearing the old "Stars and Stripes," and from that time until five the bombardment continued at intervals; and not a vessel had been hit, though the forts had fired with the utmost animation.

At six o'clock the sky, for the first time since the sailing of the expedition, began to grow lowering, and

fears were entertained that a gale might speedily arise and scatter the fleet, but at nine o'clock it was all again clear, and the moon appeared in her silvery beauty, and the sea continued wonderfully calm, to the astonishment of all old sailors in the fleet. On the morning of the twenty-ninth, precisely at the hour appointed, the firing again commenced. Secession troops had been landed at the forts during the night, brought down the Sound, and the guns were worked with new ardor and skill. The firing on the part of the fleet was now at a still better. range, and the first morning gun of the Susquehannah told with a fearful effect. The shells continued exploding over, around, and directly in the forts, with a fearful havoc. The inner fort- Fort Clark appeared to have been silenced, as the flag had disappeared. The troops on shore were again moving toward it at doublequick. The guns from the outer fort-Hatterasgrew faint and few.. The whole squadron were firing at once. The Monticello, with great courage, advanced far beyond any other ship, and poured her fire directly into the battery. One of her boats was knocked from the davits, and the ship was hit in two places. She reported the result of her observations to the flag-ship, and the shells exploded now more rapidly than ever directly within Fort Hatteras. Fort Clark was silenced. Our troops continued to advance along the shore, and the American flag was soon waving from the parapets of Fort Clark. Fort Hatteras continued to reply to our fire, but at slow intervals, and without effect. The Harriet Lane approached still nearer, and discharged one of her large guns, with destructive results. The Susquehannah then plunged a large shell directly into the spot where the disunion magazine was found to be, and in a few moments a white flag appeared on Fort Hatteras, and it was surrendered.

The Union men were now seen advancing along from