From The Greensborough Patriot
Jan. 16, 1862 – Pg. 2
Colonel Bradford.
This
returned Hatteras prisoner met with a cordial reception from his many friends
on his arrival here yesterday. In reply
to congratulations on his looking well, he stated that the rations served out
to them were the common army rations, by adding to which $3.50 a week, each,
they lived very well. The numerous
prisoners formed a highly intellectual society, and they were allowed to get
the New York and Boston papers daily. By some of the officers of the enemy, (of the
regular service,) they were treated with great politeness, and even
kindness. He confirms the statements
heretofore made of the utterly defenseless condition of the Hatteras garrison,
whose balls fell short of the enemy about 500 yards, whilst their shells, at
the rate of 30 a minute, fell within the 60 feet square enclosed by the walls
of the fort. The enemy had obtained the
exact range of the fort, so as to place these shells with perfect
accuracy. After getting on board the
enemy’s ships, surprise was expressed to our officers that they had held out so
long, in a contest that could by no possibility have any other termination than
in a surrender.
It
will be recollected that the Hatteras garrison were surrendered distinctly as
“prisoners of war,” a point of great significance and which had not previously
been conceded during the war. Col. Bradford
states that Gen. Butler refused to grant this, but that Com. Stringham
consented. Without this concession, the
fight would have been renewed, at all hazards.
On
one other point the Colonel’s information is important and interesting. It will be recollected that the enemy landed
between 300 and 400 men on the first evening of the engagement, who took
possession of Fort
Clark, which a portion of
our troops had been forced to evacuate. Col. Bradford
states that a reconnoitering party was sent that night, who reported the force
of the enemy thus landed at 1400, about double the whole force on our
side.—Fay. Observer.
