155 Years Ago: Hatteras Inlet Secured By Stringham's Squadron

AUGUST 29TH, 1861:  Hatteras Inlet, N.C., secured as Forts Hatteras and Clark surrendered unconditionally to Flag Officer Stringham and General Butler.  The Union triumph sealed off commerce raiding and blockade running from Pamlico Sound.

Hatteras Inlet became a coal and supply depot for blockading ships.

Of this most successful joint operation Admiral David D. Porter later wrote: "This was our first naval victory of any kind, and should not be forgotten.  The Union cause was then in a depressed condition, owing to the recent reverses it had experienced (Battle of Bull Run).  The morale effect of this affair was very great, as it gave us a foothold on Southern soil and possession of the Sounds of North Carolina if we chose to occupy them.  It was a death-blow to blockade running in that vicinity, and ultimately proved one of the most important events of the war."

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Bombardment of Forts Hatteras and Clark Begins

AUGUST 28TH, 1861:  Flag Officer Stringham's squadron commenced bombardment of Forts Hatteras and Clark; Marines and troops were landed from surf boats above the forts under cover of naval gunfire.  the ships' heavy cannonade forced the Confederates to evacuate Fort Clark.

Commodore Samuel Barron, CSN, with two small vessels joined the defenders of Fort Hatteras that evening.

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago: Stringham's Squadron Reaches Hatteras Inlet

AUGUST 27TH, 1861:  Flag Officer Stringham's squadron anchored off Hatteras Inlet and prepared to land the troops and take Forts Hatteras and Clark under attack.

--Old B-Runner

Some of the Imprisoned at Fort Warren-- Part 2: Gen. Butler Sets a Precedent

Also three Confederate Marines signed the book: Robert Tansill, John Tattnall and Thomas Wilson.

There were  also 34 Confederate officers from North Carolina military units (mostly 7th N.C.) captured by general Butler at Fort Hatteras in August 1861  These were some of the earliest Confederate prisoners captured during the war and to his credit, Benjamin Butler set the precedent that captured Confederate soldiers be treated as POWs and not traitors.

Confederate Navy and Marine Corps Officers held at Fort Warren who signed the book:

Samuel Barron Sr.
Hilary Cenas
Alexander M. DeBree
Dulaney A. Forrest
Richard W. Jeffery
William I. Glassell
James E. Lindsay
Julian Myers
William Meade Page
Edward s. Ruggles
John R.F. Tattnall
William H. Ward
Robert Tansill
Arthur Dickson Wharton
Thomas S. Wilson

The book was at auction on April 9, 2015, but failed to sell  Now it is priced at $4,375.

--Old B-Runner