Fort Hatteras Hatteras Inlet Oct 13^th 1861

 

Dear father I take this present chance of writing you a few lines to inform you that I am well at present and hope that you are all the same the regiment left camp befoer two weeks ago we took the cars to Baltimore marched through the city to the wharf and took the steamer Louisana for fortress monroe where we landed and went into camp but only remained two days when we left for fort hatteras by the steamer S R Maulding and arrived there about ten oclock the following morning but did not land the next day about one oclock we were ordered forward forty miles up the island taking three steam tugs we went up the albamarl sound and arrived at the place two miles off from the shoar saturday evening the was too shallow to go any nearer to on sunday morning we came ashoar in the boat the island being no more than a sand bar the inhabitents can raise nothing worth mentioning except sweet potatoes there was but few inhabitents being principaily fishermen who make their living by fishing and trading on tuesday morning the steamer fanny came up with our tents cooking utensils overcoats and some provisions but before we had taken very much ashoar thre rebel / steamers appeared in sight and the captain of the boat and pilot immediately lowered the small boat and put out for fort hatteras leaving the gunners and about thirty of our boys on the boat the gunners commence firing at the boats with their cannon having only two on board they fired about a dozen rounds when the boat stuck on a sand bar and unwillingly surrendered the rebel steamers came up and towed her off capturing all that was on the boat on thursday about noon two of our steamers came up from fort mon hatteras with ten days provissions after we had taken everything off the boats a rebel steamer appeared in sight and the two of ours started after her but comming in contact with several more steamers they were overpowered and had to escape to fort hatteras on friday morning eight more cecesh steamers came up and began to throw shells into our camp and we having no cannon was forced to retreat towards hatteras leaving everything behind except our guns and catridge boxes after we left the camp the rebels landed and pursued us taking the men prisoners that were not able to keep up we reached the cape channel lighthouse about ten oclock making about tweenty five miles since nine oclock in the morning where we was met by seven hundred of the hawkin zouaves from new york we took breakfast with them and started for hatteras arriving at night where we are waiting for further orders / it will soon be time for the mail to leave so I must close give my love to all family and tell rufus and matt to write soon

 

Thomas J Criswell

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