Commodore Goldsboro’s Report

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27. – The Navy Department has received dispatches from Commodore Goldsboro, dated the 20^th inst.  He had received the official accounts of the visits of our vessels to Edenton and to the Carrituck canal.

The light house at Cape Hatteras may now be lighted with perfect safety.

The name of the men of war destroyed by our vessels since the fleet reached Hatteras Island are as follows.  The Sea Bird, flag steamer; the Curlew, and the Fanny, steamers; the Black Warrior, a schooner, the steamer Ellis, captured; a new gun-boat on the stocks at Elizabeth City was also destroyed, making seven vessels in all.  Each of the first six were remarkably well armed as gun-boats.  All of them, excepting the Curlew, were destroyed or captured in the attack on Elizabeth City.

As our forces took undisturbed possession of Edenton, part of a flying artillery regiment, variously estimated at from one hundred and fifty to three hundred, fled precipitately without firing a shot.  Many of the inhabitants also left in consequence.  There are no fortifications at or in the water approaches to Edenton.

Among the results of the expedition are the destruction of cannon and one schooner on the stocks at Edenton.  Two schooners were captured in the Sound – one having four thousand bushels of corn.  Six bales of cotton were taken from the custom house wharf.  There were no public stores in the town.  The custom house was empty.

Commodore Goldsboro says he remained two hours abreast the town and was visited by the authorities and others, many of whom professed sentiments of loyalty to the old Union.

A proclamation dated the 18^th inst. and signed jointly by Commodore Goldsboro and General Burnside, to the people of North Carolina says, the mission of the joint expedition is not to invade any rights, but to assert the authority of the United States and to close with them the desolating war brought upon the State by comparatively few men in their midst.

The Proclamation concludes as follows:  We invite you in the name of the Constitution, and in that of virtuous loyalty and civilization to separate yourselves at once from their malign influence and return at once to your allegiance and not to compel us to resort further to the force under our control.  The Government asks only that its authority may be recognized, and we repeat that in no manner or way does it desire to interfere with your laws, constitutionally established, your institutions of any kind whatever, your property of any sort, or your usages in any respect.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 3

Latest from Roanoke Island

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.

A special messenger arrived this morning bring the following dispatch:

U. S. FLAG STEAMER PHILADELPHIA,

off Roanoke Island, Feb. 9.

Roanoke Island is ours.  The military authorities struck to us yesterday.  Their means of defence were truly formidable, and they were used with a determination worthy of a better cause.  They consisted of two elaborately constructed works, together mouthing 22 heavy guns, 3 of them being 100-pounders rifled; four other batteries, mounting together 20 guns, and some of them rifled; 8 steamers, mounting 2 guns each and each having a rifled gun with a diameter of a 32-pounder; a prolonged obstruction of sunken vessels and piles to thwart our advance, and altogether a body of men numbering scarcely less than 5,000, of whom 3,000 are now our prisoners.

The fighting commenced on the morning of the 7^th about 11 a. m., and was continued till dark.  It was resumed at an early hour and lasted until late in the afternoon, when by a bold charge by our army the rebel flag was made to succumb and our own was hoisted everywhere on the island in its place.  No attack could have been more completely executed, and it was carried out precisely in accordance with the arrangements made before the expedition left Cape Hatteras Inlet.

(Signed,)

J. [sic] M. GOLDSBOROUGH,

Flag Officer.

SECOND DISPATCH.

Just as I closed my dispatch of yesterday I received reliable information that the rebel steamers which escaped had gone to Elizabeth City, and thereupon I immediately ordered Com. Rowan to take thirteen of our steamers under his command and go in pursuit of them, and also, if practicable, to execute another service, namely: the destruction of the North river – a link of the Albemarle and Chesapeake canal.  The way he has already accomplished the first part of it his own preliminary report – a copy of which I herewith inclose [sic] – will inform you.

I am, &c.,

J. M. GOLDSBOROUGH.

U. S. STEAMER DELAWARE,

Off Elizabeth City, Feb. 10.

Sir:  I have the honor to report that I met the enemy off this place this A. M. at 9 o’clock, and after a very sharp engagement, have succeeded in destroying or capturing his entire naval force, and silencing or destroying his battery on Cobb’s Point.  The only vessel saved from destruction is the Ellis, Capt. J. M. Cook, who was wounded, and is at present on board the ship.  I have other prisoners.  I am happy to say that our casualties are few, considering the warmth of the enemy’s fire – say two or three killed and some wounded.  The conduct of the gallant men I have the honor to command is worthy of all praise.  None of our vessels are severely injured.  I shall leave here a small force, and visit the canals, and have a look into other places before I return.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

J. [sic] C. ROWAN, U. S. N.

No official report, but merely a private letter, up to 1 o’clock to-day, has been received from Gen. Burnside.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, February 15, 1862, p. 1