Diary of Private John J. Wyeth, October 30, 1862

OUR FIRST MARCH.

This morning, at four o'clock, we thought the Old Nick was to pay, but soon found it was only the long roll. It would have sounded better if a little later, but we got up just the same, formed in line, marched across the city, and embarked aboard the steamer "Geo. Collins." The old saying about large bodies and their slowness, applied here; we might have slept two hours longer, for it was nine o'clock before we started. The vessel had evidently just returned from a voyage with cattle on board, so all who could, remained on deck. We were well paid, for the scenery for fifteen miles was fine; after that the banks of the river were swampy and dismal. We saw a portion of the old fighting ground of the last year when Mass. troops fought to obtain possession of New Berne.

We passed into the sound about three o'clock, and at dark had not entered the Pamlico river, so supper and bunks were in order. The supper was fair, but "distance lent enchantment to the" smell of the bunks.

SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 16

Diary of Corporal David L. Day: March 11, 1862

ON A SHOAL.

This morning the clink of the windlass is again heard from all the boats hoisting their anchors. We steam out of Croatan into Pamlico sound; so here we go for new conquests.

The Burnside expedition, it did not end in smoke:

It captured Elizabeth City, and the isle of Roanoke.

About 11 a.m., the New York went on to a shoal and came to a dead halt. Here was a pretty fix, stuck right in the middle of Pamlico sound. We had the schooner Skirmisher in tow, with companies K and I aboard, but they thought they would leave us and go it alone. Accordingly they hauled in their hawser, hoisted sail and left us, sailing with a fair breeze gallantly down the sound. Three large steamers hitched on to us, to pull us off. After a good deal of hard work, lots of swearing and breaking hawsers, they finally succeeded, about 4 p.m., in hauling us off. We again started and dropped anchor at Hatteras inlet at 10 p.m.

SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the 25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 41

Diary of Corporal David L. Day: February 5, 1862

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