On the 19th the Fourth Rhode Island Regiment, Col. I. P. Rodman commanding, and the Eighth Connecticut Regiment, Col. Edward Harland commanding, were embarked, and on the 20th we steamed down the Neuse to Slocum's Creek, and, preceded by the gunboat Picket, followed up this latter stream to the landing place previously determined on by the commanding general.

The Fifth Rhode Island Battalion, Maj. John Wright commanding, marched from New Berne down the railroad, and joined us at Havelock Station, a mile and one-half distant from Slocum's Creek Landing. <ar9_282>

Capt. Lewis O. Morris, First United States Artillery, being assigned to duty with the brigade, was placed in charge of the three 30-pounder Parrott guns, and Lieut. D. W. Flagler, of the Ordnance, had charge of the two mortar batteries.

From Slocum's Creek it was intended to haul the siege train over to the railroad, and thence transport it on cars with horse-power to Carolina City. Immediately on landing at Slocum's Creek I was informed that the enemy had burned the railroad bridge over Newport River, and fearing that a similar attempt would be made on the county-road bridge, I dispatched a company to guard it, and followed with the available force that had landed. We thus secured this bridge? and had an unobstructed route by the common road to Carolina City, which point we reached on the 22d.

The Fifth Rhode Island Battalion was ordered to the crossing of Newport River, and to the major commanding was intrusted the rebuilding of the railroad bridge. This was accomplished in a few days.

On the 23d a demand was made for the surrender of the fort and garrison. This being refused, steps were at once taken to completely invest the work and preparations made for besieging the place.

Two companies were sent to Morehead City, the terminus of the railway, and three companies to Beaufort, with instructions to the commanding officers at both points to seize all the boats and cut off all supplies for the garrison and stop all communication with the fort. A gunboat served to blockade Core Sound, and by the aid of one or two small boats at Carolina City we were enabled to cut off all communication through Bogue Sound. From Beaufort a communication was opened with the blockading fleet, a party crossing to Shackelford Banks, and thence in a fisherman's boat to the fleet.

Having received a ship's launch and howitzer from New Berne by the way of Clubfoot Canal, a small party on the 29th of March, under cover of this gun, effected a landing on the Banks directly opposite Carolina City, thus completely investing the work.

The enemy now seemed to be very active in and about the fort. The bark Glen, lying under the guns of the fort, was burned; also the Eliason House. The light-house tower and beacon were overturned, and all the outbuildings were destroyed. All parties of our men crossing from Morehead to Beaufort, or anywhere within range of the guns of the fort, were continually fired upon.

Fort Macon is situated upon the eastern extremity of Bogue Banks, a narrow sand island stretching off to the westward a distance of about 25 miles, and separated from the main-land by Bogue Sound, in which the depth of the water is so slight as to permit no navigation other than that of the lightest-draught fiats and small boats. From a point on the island opposite Carolina City to the fort, a distance of about 5 miles, the surface of the island is broken, commencing a short distance from the beach, into irregular knolls of sand, varying in height and extent. Toward the sound these knolls decrease in size until they approach an extensive salt-marsh, through which run numerous creeks. Near the head of one of these creeks, Hoop Pole, our permanent camp and depot was located, and to this point it was necessary to transport all the troops, supplies, siege guns, ammunition, &c., in scows and small boats. On account of the intricacy of the channel and the slight depth of the water, even with the boats which we obtained, no supplies could be transported excepting upon full tide.

Finding that a large force was necessary to guard the Newport Railroad Bridge, <ar9_283> the Ninth New Jersey Regiment, having reported for duty with the brigade, was assigned to that post, with instructions to picket the line of railroad and protect it from encroachments of the enemy from the direction of Swansborough. The Fifth Rhode Island Battalion, being thus relieved, joined me on the 4th of April at Carolina City.

On the 29th of March the first troops were crossed to the Banks, and from that time to April 10 every available hour of night and day was spent in transporting men, siege train, and supplies.

During this period of thirteen days I crossed eight companies of the Fourth Rhode Island Regiment; seven companies of the Eighth Connecticut Regiment; the Fifth Rhode Island Battalion; Company C, First United States Artillery; Company I, Third New York Artillery, Captain Ammon commanding, who reported for duty at Carolina City, and the siege train.

Communication was immediately established with the fleet, a signal officer being placed aboard the vessel of the commanding officer.

On the 11th, aided by Captain Williamson, of the Topographical Engineers, Captain Morris, of the Artillery, and Lieutenant Flagler, of the Ordnance, I made a reconnaissance in force in the direction of the fort. Meeting the enemy's pickets, they were driven in after a slight skirmish, and we advanced to within a mile of the work, when the guns of the fort opened upon us with shot and shell. The men were placed under cover of the sand hills, while Captains Williamson and Morris and Lieutenant Flagler made a careful examination of the ground in our front, and selected sites for our batteries ranging from 1,300 to 1,700 yards from the fort. The force was then withdrawn, no casualties having occurred from the fire of the enemy. In the reconnaissance we received great assistance from the blockading fleet, Capt. S.S. Prentiss commanding. The gunboats engaged the fort and shelled the beach in our front. For this and other timely aid rendered us I desire to express my acknowledgments and thanks.

On the 12th a permanent advance guard of five companies was organized and work on the approaches was commenced. During this day a skirmish occurred with the enemy, in which Captain Sheffield and a private of the Eighth Connecticut Regiment were wounded. The enemy were driven back, and although more than seventy shot and shell were fired on our advance guard and fatigue parties, not a man was injured by them. From this date the regular work on the approaches, trenches, batteries, and rifle pits was vigorously pushed forward by all our available force both night and day, in spite of the desultory fire kept up by the enemy.

The road along the beach being in full view of the lookout on the flag-staff of the fort, it became necessary to transport our guns, mortars, and ammunition to the batteries and magazines under cover of the night. The enemy made two ineffectual attempts at night to dislodge us from our advanced position, in one of which Lieutenant Landers and a private of the Fifth Rhode Island Battalion were slightly wounded, and in the other Major Appleman and a private of the Eighth Connecticut Regiment received severe contusions from a discharge of grape while digging rifle pits within 750 yards of the fort.

On the morning of the 24th the two mortar batteries were prepared to open fire, and the Parrott-gun battery was ready, with the exception of the opening of the embrasures, which was delayed until the moment of opening fire was arranged, so that the enemy might not discover our position. <ar9_284>

In selecting sites for our batteries advantage was taken of the sand hills previously spoken of. By cutting down the natural slopes of these hills to a sufficient depth to lay the platforms for our guns and mortars and revetting the interior faces with sand bags excellent epaulements were formed. Embrasures for the Parrott guns were cut directly through the sand hills, and revetted with sods taken from the salt-marsh close at hand. During the night of the 24th the embrasures of the Parrott gun battery were opened, and at 5.40 o'clock on the morning of the 25th the first shot was fired upon the fort. Immediately all three of our batteries opened, and our fire was vigorously answered.

Owing to the high wind and rough sea it was impracticable to communicate with the blockading fleet our intention of opening fire on the morning of the 25th. As soon, however, as the commanding officer, Capt. Samuel Lockwood, discovered our movements he brought all his vessels into action, and for a time attracted the enemy's attention to such an extent as to greatly facilitate the officers in charge of the mortar batteries in correcting their range and length of fuse, but owing to the extreme roughness of the sea the fleet was compelled to withdraw. At 4.30 in the afternoon a white flag was displayed upon the ramparts of the fort and the firing ceased upon both sides. After communicating with the general commanding during the night of the 25th, on the morning of the 26th, at 9.30 o'clock, I received the surrender of the fort and garrison.

A copy of the terms of capitulation is herewith transmitted.(*)

For the detailed operation of the three batteries I have to refer you to the very interesting reports of Captain Morris and Lieutenant Flagler.

The fort and armament bear evidence not only of the great skill with which these batteries were served, but also of the wonderful effects produced by the introduction of rifled guns into our siege trains. The number of guns disabled and the effect produced upon the scarp-wall, although not exposed to view from our position, are sufficient proof of the great value of the 30-pounder Parrott as a siege gun.

In truth, the result of the ten and a half hours' firing from our three batteries exceeded my most sanguine expectations, and they reflect the highest credit upon the officers and men engaged in their location and construction, as well as the working of the mortars and guns.

To Capt. R. S. Williamson, of the Topographical Engineers, I am under lasting obligations. His bold and daring reconnaissances to within 800 yards of the fort gave us full and complete knowledge of the ground up to the very foot of the glacis. He so located the batteries that the sand hills themselves served as epaulements, rendering but little work necessary to prepare them for the guns and mortars and the construction of the magazines.

Captain Morris and Lieutenant Flagler were untiring in their zeal and energy in superintending the construction of the batteries. The work was carried on both by day and night under their supervision by the men of Company C, First United States Artillery, and Company I, Third New York Artillery, and such details as could be spared from the infantry force.

The Parrott-gun battery was commanded by Captain Morris, First United States Artillery, assisted by Lieutenant Gowan, Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, and Lieutenant Pollock, First United States Artillery. <ar9_285>

The 10-inch mortar battery was commanded by Lieutenant Flagler, of the Ordnance, assisted by Captain Ammen, Third New York Artillery, and Captain Pell, aide-de-camp to the general commanding, who volunteered his services. The 8-inch mortar battery was commanded by Lieutenant Prouty, of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment, assisted by Lieutenants Thomas and Kelsey, of the Third New York Artillery. The result shows the efficiency with which the batteries were worked, and I take great pleasure in acknowledging my thanks to these officers.

From the time of our first occupying the ground immediately in front of the fort very severe and onerous duty was performed by the officers and men of the Fourth Rhode Island, Eighth Connecticut, and Fifth Rhode Island Battalion. Owing to companies being detached from the first two regiments and their otherwise weak condition the tour of duty in the trenches and on advance picket guard returned every third day. This, in connection with a march of 3½ miles through heavy sand to and from camp and occasional fatigue duty, was beginning to tell fearfully on both officers and men; still they bore it all without complaint, and it gives me pleasure to commend them as soldiers of true grit.

The Ninth New Jersey Regiment guarded our route of supplies, and rendered most efficient service in completely protecting our line of communication from raids of the rebel cavalry, who were constantly prowling about the country.

During the investment of the work and active operations of the siege I kept up constant communication with my force by means of the officers of the Signal Corps. From favorable positions previously determined upon these officers were enabled to report to the commanding officers of the batteries the effect of their shot and shell.

During the action I have to report the following loss: 1 killed and 2 wounded. Killed, Private William R. Dart, Company I, Third New York Artillery. He fell, struck by a round shot, while in the performance of his duty resetting a pointing stake on the parapet of the 10-inch mortar battery. Wounded, Sergeant Hynes and Private Bonnet, of Company C, First United States Artillery.

The reported killed and wounded in the fort is as follows: Killed, 8; wounded, 20.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. G. PARKE,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Third Division.

Capt. Lewis RICHMOND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.