THE EXPEDITION MOVES.
The clink of the windlass is heard on all the boats,
hoisting up their anchors, so here we go for a trip up the sound, probably for
Roanoke island. This island holds the Albemarle sound and all that part of North
Carolina lying on it, and also Southeast Virginia. It is quite an important point,
and we learn is strongly fortified. Our fleet consists of about seventy sail of
all kinds and makes an imposing appearance. The gunboats, under command of Commodore
Goldsborough, take the advance, the transports and other craft following. After
a few hours sail, the low, pine-covered shore of the old North state presented
itself to view. We were in sight of the shore all day and not a house was to be
seen or any visible signs of life, excepting huge columns of smoke rising above
the tree-tops. These were probably signal fires, as they could be seen along the
shore as far as the eye could reach. We sailed today to within ten miles of the
light-house at the western end of the Pamlico sound, the entrance to Croatan
sound, in which is situated the coveted island. Here we dropped anchor for the night,
the gunboats forming a picket guard, and extending themselves nearly to the light-house.
The island can be seen through a glass, and tomorrow I expect we shall get a
nearer view.
SOURCE: David L.
Day, My Diary of Rambles with the 25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p.
31-2
