Wednesday, October 31, 2012

What Deserters Say

FORTRESS MONROE, March 26. – Three deserters arrived to-day in a boat from the south side of James River.  They belonged to a North Carolina regiment, and report that the Merrimac has been daily expected to come out and attack the Monitor for the past three days.

The Jamestown made a reconnoissance to-day coming down some distance below Craney Island.

The Deserters represent that there was s terrible panic amongst the rank and file of the rebel army, on account of the number of Federal victories.

The newspapers are carefully kept from the rebel soldiers.  They have been so often imposed upon by false rumors of rebel victories that they are much dissatisfied.

The deserters say that during the excitement that prevailed in Norfolk, immediately after the fall of Roanoke, that if a demand had been made upon Gen. Huger, he would have immediately capitulated.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 3

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