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The Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries
The Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries, sometimes known as the Battle of Forts Hatteras and Clark, was a small but significant
engagement that took place on August 28th and 29th of 1861. The ill-equipped and undermanned forts endured bombardment
by seven Union warships, to which they were unable to reply. Although casualties were light, the defenders chose not to continue
the one-sided contest, and on the second day they surrendered. As immediate results of the battle, Confederate interference with
Northern maritime commerce was considerably reduced, while the Union blockade of Southern ports was extended. More
importantly, the Federal government gained entry into the North Carolina Sounds. Several North Carolina cities (New Bern,
Washington, Elizabeth City, and Edenton among them) were directly threatened. In addition, the sounds were a back door to the
Confederate-held parts of Tidewater Virginia, particularly Norfolk.
The battle is significant for several reasons: It was the first notable Union victory of the war; following the embarrassment of First
Bull Run (or First Manassas), 21 July 1861, it encouraged supporters of the Union in the gloomy early days. It represented the
first application of the naval blockading strategy. It was the first amphibious operation, as well as the first combined operation,
involving units of both the United States Army and Navy. Finally, a new tactic was exploited by the bombarding fleet; by keeping in
motion, they did much to eliminate the traditional advantage of shore-based guns over those carried on ships.
The Battle was run on the Union Side by Silas Stringham of the Navy and Benjamin Butler of the Army. On the Confederate side
the leaders were Samuel Barron of the Confederate Navy and William Martin of the Confederate Army
The Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries, sometimes known as the Battle of Forts Hatteras and Clark, was a small but significant
engagement that took place on August 28th and 29th of 1861. The ill-equipped and undermanned forts endured bombardment
by seven Union warships, to which they were unable to reply. Although casualties were light, the defenders chose not to continue
the one-sided contest, and on the second day they surrendered. As immediate results of the battle, Confederate interference with
Northern maritime commerce was considerably reduced, while the Union blockade of Southern ports was extended. More
importantly, the Federal government gained entry into the North Carolina Sounds. Several North Carolina cities (New Bern,
Washington, Elizabeth City, and Edenton among them) were directly threatened. In addition, the sounds were a back door to the
Confederate-held parts of Tidewater Virginia, particularly Norfolk.
The battle is significant for several reasons: It was the first notable Union victory of the war; following the embarrassment of First
Bull Run (or First Manassas), 21 July 1861, it encouraged supporters of the Union in the gloomy early days. It represented the
first application of the naval blockading strategy. It was the first amphibious operation, as well as the first combined operation,
involving units of both the United States Army and Navy. Finally, a new tactic was exploited by the bombarding fleet; by keeping in
motion, they did much to eliminate the traditional advantage of shore-based guns over those carried on ships.
The Battle was run on the Union Side by Silas Stringham of the Navy and Benjamin Butler of the Army. On the Confederate side
the leaders were Samuel Barron of the Confederate Navy and William Martin of the Confederate Army