ps must land, the
great rollers were breaking in torrents of foam. The first lifeboats
that attempted the landing were swamped, and the soldiers reached the
land wet and chilled through. The surf-boats were stove in. The
barges, which had been relied upon to land men in large numbers,
proved unmanageable, and were towed away by the "Harriet Lane." When
the attempt to land the troops was given up, it was found that but
three hundred and twenty men had been landed. This was too small a
party to storm the forts, and the issue of the battle depended upon
the great guns of the navy.

[Illustration: Attack on the Hatteras Forts.]

By this time the gunners on the ships had calculated the exact range,
and were firing with fearful effect. Broadside followed broadside,
with the regularity of machinery. It was war without its horrors for
the blue-jackets, since bad marksmanship or poor powder prevented the
Confederate gunners doing any damage. On the gun-deck of the superb
frigate "Minnesota," the jackies were working their guns as coolly as
though they were on drill. The operations of loading and firing were
gone through with like clock-work. The officers could watch the course
of the shells until they struck, and instruct the men, without
undergoing any danger.

But in the forts the scene was one of terror. As soon as the gunners
of the fleet had secured the range, the shells began crashing into the
fort, bewildering the untried soldiers, and driving them from their
guns. A shell falling in the fort, and bursting, would sweep clean a
space thirty feet square. It was madness to try to work the guns. All
sought refuge in the bomb proofs, and an occasional shot was all that
showed the presence of any defenders in the forts. Soon the
Confederates decided to abandon Fort Clark, the smaller of the two,
and mass their forces in Fort Hatteras. As a ruse, to check the
bombardment of the ships, the flags on both forts were hauled down.
This was, of course, taken as a token of surrender; and as the
cannonading stopped, and the clouds of gray gunpowder-smoke lifted,
the shrouds of the bombarding squadron were filled with men, and cheer
upon cheer rang out in honor of the victory. Soon the troops occupied
the deserted battery, and the "Monticello" was ordered into the inlet
to take possession of Fort Hatteras. She had proceeded only a little
way, however, when suddenly a heavy fire was opened upon her from the
fort, and at the same time