COLONEL MULLIGAN'S RETURN HOME.

in rank for one of a higher grade; the exchange to embrace prisoners on parole, as also those held in custody. The number of prisoners enumerated in the agreement for exchange was five hundred and thirty, mostly, if not all, paroled. Of these, there were about seventy officers on each side. In making this exchange, General Price reiterated the protest of the officers and men made at Camp Jackson, against the legality of their capture and the exaction of parole when released.

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as I said to them, 'Men of the brigade, you must take that hospital,' there stood Captain Gleason, pale as marble— pale, not with fear, but from sicknessready to meet death at any moment; to the gallant Fitzgerald, worthy the name of the illustrious Edward; and to all who have lain with me upon the steel and flinty couch of war, and personally offer it to those brave hearts. I was besieged at Lexington, but never so besieged as now, and coming, as I do, from the land of Price and of 'Dixie,' such a welcome is indeed pleasant, as it is again to stand in the land of Hail Columbia' and Yankee Doodle.' Coming to, as I do, with the experience gained in those trying hours, I pledge myself, and the whole Irish Brigade, that while there is

endangered, their lives will cheerfully be given in defence of that fireside and home. I am for the Union now, and for the Union until death, and, in conclusion, let me say, that when I again meet you, I hope it will be at the head of my old brigade, with my face set toward Missouri and against rebellion."

On his return soon after to Chicago, Colonel Mulligan was welcomed by a public reception, when he acknowledged the salutations of his fellow-citizens in the following appropriate speech: "How deeply and profoundly I am impressed with this honor, let my future conduct a fireside here threatened, or a house determine. It stirs me with a deep emotion. I take it as intended, not for myself, but that I may tender it to those brave men who, with arms that never failed, and hearts that never faltered, hedged me round for those nine wild, trying days at Lexington. I take it that I may tender it to the brave Major Moore; to my gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Quirk; to the chivalric Captain Moriarty, that brave old soldier who laid down the sword in the trenches for the scalpel in the hospital and the scalpel again for the sword, to wield it bravely in the trenches till the last moment; to that noble Captain Montgomery who, when I ordered him on the bloodiest charge of the battle, drew up his company in readiness four deep, and

At the meeting of Congress in December, a resolution, introduced by Mr. Arnold of Illinois, was adopted, thanking Colonel Mulligan and his command for their heroic defence of Lexington, and authorizing the 23d regiment of Illinois to wear on their colors the name of "Lexington." For this and other services, Colonel Mulligan was promoted to a Brigadier-Generalship.

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TOWARD the end of August a military | manded by Captain Nixon, and sixty of and naval expedition was in preparation the 2d United States Artillery, under

at Fortress Monroe obviously intended to act on some point of the Southern coast. The secret of its destination was well kept, and it was not till the speedy return of its commander, bearing news of its success, that its plan and objects were known to the public. It was of importance, not so much by its magnitude or any immediate grand results, as by the demonstration which it afforded of the power of our ships in operations against forts on the land, and of the comparative ease with which the coast territory of the rebels might be occupied and controlled. Hitherto the Navy had been confined to the tedious manoeuvering and police work of the blockade; it was now to have an opportunity to test the skill of its gunners, the seamanship of its sailors, and the spirit and efficiency of its officers. The result proved that, whatever lagging or need of further preparation there might be in the army, this portion of the service was in every respect ready for its work.

Lieutenant Larned. The naval force, under the command of Commodore Silas H. Stringham, a native of New York. who had been in the service for more than half a century, honorably employed in its active duties, was composed of the flag-ship Minnesota, Captain G. A. Van Brunt, having in company the United States steamers Wabash, Captain Samuel Mercer; Monticello, Commander John P. Gillis; Pawnee, Commander S. C. Rowan; Harriet Lane, Captain John Faunce; the chartered transport steamers Adelaide, Commander Henry S. Stellwagen; George Peabody, Lieutenant R. B. Lowry; and the chartered tug Fanny, an armed propeller of light draft, commanded by Lieutenant Crosby-all of the United States navy. The fleet was well provided with surf-boats for landing.

The destination of the expedition was Hatteras Inlet, one of the most important entrances to the extensive series of navigable waters on the river coast of North Carolina, through the long range of sand The command of the land force of islands which here serve as a barrier this expedition was held by Major-Gen- against the wild waves of the Atlantic. eral Butler, who had been recently suc- There were several of these passagesceeded at Fortress Monroe by General a shallow one above at New Inlet, a near Wool. He had with him about nine approach to Albemarle Sound, another hundred troops, consisting of five hun- of more consequence below at Ocracoke, dred of Colonel Max Weber's 20th regi- but this at Hatteras, hard by the lightment New York Volunteers, two hun-house at the Cape, was evidently of most dred and twenty of Colonel Hawkins' value. It was guarded by two protect9th New York Zouave regiment, one ing forts-Hatteras and Clark-recently hundred of the Union Coast Guard, com- erected by the rebels, and its deep har

THE HATTERAS EXPEDITION.

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ground off the coast, led in toward Fort Clark, the outermost of the two forts at the entrance, and at 10 o'clock opened fire, which was returned from the fort. The Minnesota presently passed inside of the attacking vessels just named and delivered her fire. At 11 Captain John Chauncey arrived with the Susquehanna from the Delaware, and added his heavy guns with admirable precision to the bombardment. In the words of Commodore Stringham, in his report describing the method of the action, "the vessels continued passing and repassing the fort until it was abandoned by the enemy. While the fire from the squadron was most effective, that from the fort fell short or passed the ships. At half-past 12 the flags were down on both forts, and the signal was given by the Commodore to cease firing.

bor was notorious as a refuge for priva-ust, reached Cape Hatteras the next day, teers and an entrance for various trading and were anchored off the Inlet in the vessels running the blockade. Its value afternoon. The surf-boats were hoisted to the secessionists in this respect may out, and preparations made for landing be estimated from the following passage troops in the morning. The Wabash, from a letter written by Major W. Bever- with the Cumberland, Captain John how Thompson, the constructing engineer Marston, in tow, this frigate having joinof the rebels at Fort Hatteras, to Colonel ed the expedition from her cruisingWarren Winslow, Military Secretary. This epistle is dated at the end of July, about a month preceding the arrival of the Burnside Expedition, and was found at the capture of the forts. After calling for additional troops for the defence of the place, and urging its importance as "the key to Albemarle Sound," he notes these incidents of the day: "We now have two privateers in this harbor, besides the war steamers Winslow, the Gordon of Charleston, Captain Lockwood, armed with three guns, a fine large steamer. She returned this morning with a prize brig laden with three hundred and sixty hogsheads of molasses. We have also a saucy-looking little pilot-schooner, the Florida, mounting one 6-pound rifle cannon. She captured a prize two days since, took her crew out, and sent her in with her own men. A United States Government steamer gave chase to the prize, and they were obliged to beach her near Nag's Head. She, of course, is a total loss." Were it only to relieve the commerce of the country of so convenient a piratical resort, the capture of the position would have been worth attempting. Its possession would control a large part of the trade of North Carolina, and cut off from Virginia a very ready means of supply in numerous essential articles of foreign production.

Meanwhile General Butler, on board the Harriet Lane, was busily engaged in directing the disembarkation of his troops on the open beach, a proceeding, as it proved, of no little difficulty, in consequence of a heavy surf which had been excited by the recent gales from the south-west. The landing commenced at 10 o'clock, and was only partially successful, being broken up by the increasing violence of the wind and surf, and the injuries to the means of transBoth the iron boats, upon

The expedition to accomplish this de-portation. sirable result set sail from Hampton which dependence were placed, were Roads after midday of the 26th of Aug- swamped in the surf, and both the flat

The attention of the fleet meanwhile, in the afternoon, had been more particularly turned to this by far the more important of the two works. At 2 o'clock the Monticello, while making her way into the inlet to take possession, was opened on from Fort Hatteras, "toward which a tug steamer, towing a schooner filled with troops, was seen coming from the southward for its relief. General signal 'Engage batteries,' was immediately made. The Minnesota, Susquehanna and Pawnee opened fire at once, the Wabash having towed the Cumberland into the offing. The Monticello, from her advanced position, was much exposed, and was struck several times, but finally hauled off without serious damage." The firing ceased at evening, and the squadron hauled off for the night, leaving the Monticello, Pawnee and Harriet Lane near the shore for the protection of the troops.

boats were stove. A brave attempt," onel Weber, "held the fort occupied, records General Butler, "made by Lieu-sent an American flag along the beach, tenant Crosby of the United States army, and the firing ceased." He then placed who had volunteered to come down with Captain Nixon, with a sufficient guard, the steam-tug Fanny, belonging to the to hold possession of the fort during the army, to land in a boat from the war-night, and set a vigilant watch of the ensteamer Pawnee, resulted in the beach- emy in the direction of Fort Hatteras, ing of the boat so that she could not be and returning with his main force, bigot off." The further landing was relin- vouacked at the landing place. quished for the time, because it was found utterly impracticable. Three hundred and eighteen of the men, however, were safely on shore, though in an ill condition, their garments saturated with water, their ammunition wet, and they were without provisions or the means of receiving them from the fleet. The little force thus thrown upon the island consisted of portions of the two New York regiments, a party of marines from the Minnesota, forty-five regulars under Lieutenant Larned, twenty-eight of Captain Nixon's coast-guard, and twenty sailors to serve the artillery. Fortunately a 12-pound rifled boat-gun and a 12pound howitzer had been landed. The whole were under the command of Colonel Weber. His first proceeding was to forward a small reconnoitering party, when word was presently brought back reporting that the troops were beginning to evacuate Fort Clark. He then ordered its occupation, which was gallantly accomplished. Lieutenant-Colonel Weiss entered the work, took with his own hands the first secession flag, and hoisted the Stars and Stripes. Colonel Weber then followed with his troops, but his movement was somewhat seriously interrupted by the fire from the fleet, which had not yet ceased. Shells burst over them and in their midst, two exploding in the fort wounding one of the men slightly in the hand. "I still," says Col

Early the next morning, the 29th, the attack was vigorously resumed. The weather was pleasant, with the wind to the south-west, and a more moderate sea. At half-past five the fleet weighed anchor and stood for the shore. The troops, about whom some anxiety was felt, were discovered on the shore, and the Monticelio and Pawnee were ordered to their relief. An adventurous act was performed at this time by an Aid of General Butler, Lieutenant Fiske. Fle

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boldly plunged through the breakers, destructive effect. The Harriet Lane, with the expectation of being thrown about 10, came up and opened her rifled ashore, that he might carry orders for guns. A few minutes past 11 a white the troops on the land, and apprise them flag was displayed from the fort, and the of the movements of the troops. He not action ceased. The force of Colonel only accomplished this, but he returned Weber, which had been employed durin a similar manner to the fleet, bearing ing the morning in holding a position with him, in a package strapped on his on the inner shore, and driving off with shoulders, the official documents, letters the artillery the rebel steamers in the and books of the commanding officers, Sound, now advanced to take possession which he had found in Fort Clark. of the fort. "When the meeting was held on the Minnesota," as the story is told by the correspondent of the New York Herald, to arrange terms of capitulation, the rebel officers were utterly astonished at the accurate information of the General, and inquired anxiously how he knew had been already some conversation on what they were doing the day before, the subject between the Commander of and who was the person among them to the Fort, Captain Samuel Barron, forwhom signals had been made from the merly of the United States navy, now fleet. The General simply replied that in the Confederate service, "Commandhe possessed means of accurate informa-ing Naval Defence, Virginia and North tion."

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At half-past seven the general signal was given, "Attack batteries, but be careful not to fire near the battery in our possession." At 8 the Susquehanna led the way, and opened fire on Fort Hatteras. The Wabash immediately followed, the Minnesota passing inside and anchoring between the two. At 9 they were joined by the Cumberland, coming in under full sail, "handled handsomely," says Commodore Stringham, with a genuine sailor's admiration, of the relief of the old frigate, from her dependence upon the steam power of her associates. She anchored in excellent position, on the starboard bow of the Minnesota, and joined in the attack. At first the shots fell somewhat short, when longer fuses were employed, and the shell fell in and around the fort with

General Butler was at the time of the surrender on board the tug Fanny, about to land the remainder of the troops. He then proceeded into the inlet, and sent Lieutenant Crosby on shore, "to demand the meaning of the white flag." There

Carolina," and Captain Nixon and Lieutenant Wiegel, of the forces on shore, and the rebel officer had prepared a memorandum expressive of his wishes, to be conveyed to General Butler. It was now received and carried by Lieutenants Crosky and Wiegel. It thus read: "Flag Officer, Samuel Barron, C. S. Navy, offers to surrender Fort Hatteras, with all the arms and munitions of war. The officers allowed to go out with side-arms, and the men without arms to retire." This was accompanied by a verbal communication, stating that he had in the fort six hundred and fifteen men, and a thousand more within an hour's call, but that he was anxious to spare the effusion of blood. To both these messages General Butler, answered in the following terms: "Memorandum. Benjamin F. Butler, Major