The North Carolina coast.
--The Newbern Progress, of Monday, learns from gentlemen just from Fort Macon, that a British man-of-war lying off Beaufort harbor has been boarded by our men, who there ascertained that the Federalists intend an early attack on Fort Macon.The British war steamer, it seems, was off Hatteras and witnessed the entire bombardment, and reports, as a fact coming under her own knowledge, that the Federals, in their attempt to land troops, not only lost the guns and fuel of the Harriet Lane, but also lost two surf of the boats and sixty men drowned. It turns out, therefore, that their actual loss in killed outnumbers ours at least three to one.
The Progress publishes the following extract of a letter from an officer at Fort Macon:
‘ "I, myself, do not anticipate an attack here immediately, but have no doubt our turn will come next. The garrison has been placed under the strictest discipline, and extensive preparations have been made to resistant attack.
I assure you they will not find a Hatteras at Fort Macon.
The naval officers and marines who were sent here from Norfolk to instruct us in firing came over this afternoon, and the Commandant called out our company to give them a specimen of our proficiency in the drill. They witnessed our experiments and said it was as well done as any one could do, and carried the marines back without putting them to the guns.".
’
