Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, February 19, 1862

News came that Roanoke Island has been taken by our men. It is reported that our company will leave for California, Missouri, in three or four days and all are rejoicing that our stay here is about over.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 33

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

More Victories

It gives us great pleasure to hear of the successes of Gen. Burnsides.  After being victimized by Contractors, nearly whip-wrecked in the old hulks furnished him, he has achieved two important victories, first in taking Roanoke Island, and now a still more important one in the capture of Newbern, North Carolina, after a severe battle.

We have another considerable victory in Arkansas, gained by a scouting party under Col. Woods, over a large rebel force, capturing three rebel Colonels.

Gen. Curtis has forwarded his prisoners, and they are now on the way to St. Louis.  He has gained a glorious victory, after a bloody and desperate fight, dispersing and entirely demoralizing the foe.  His army is in no danger.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 1

From Gen. Burnside’s Expedition

PROVIDENCE, March 13. – A letter received here from a man in Gen. Burnside’s division, dated Roanoke Island, the 3d inst., announced that the report that the rebels were evacuating Manassas had reached Gen. Burnside.  He will therefore be on his guard.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3

Matters Settled, So Far

After the great disasters with which the war opened there was a very general and natural disposition at the North to attribute superior skill to the rebel commanders, if not better fighting qualities to the rank and file of their armies.  And they were not at all modest in arrogating to themselves the largest military superiority in every respect.  The boast that one southern man was equal to any half-dozen Yankees was not mere brag; the southerners believed it, and it was this noting that gave them such confidence of easy success in the rebellion.  The war has corrected these errors of opinion.  The rebels no longer talk of the superiority of their generals, or the more soldierly qualities of their men.  Indeed, they are very free to depreciate some of their ablest commanders and to disparage the courage of their soldiers, since the recent unexpected defeats.

It needs no great amount of military science to see that in the matter of strategy the southern leaders have been completely out-generaled.  Napoleon’s three conditions of success – to keep our forces united, to leave no weak point unguarded, and to seize with rapidity on important points – have been admirably adhered to on our side, while the enemy has been most thoroughly misled as to the general plan of the campaign, and has been compelled by superior strategy to abandon his most important and best fortified positions.  We may search the records of the most brilliant campaigns for a more admirable military movement than that up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, by which the evacuation of Bowling Green, Nashville and Columbus by the rebel armies was compelled, simply by the reduction of the forts on these two rivers.  And it was a genuine surprise to the rebel leaders, notwithstanding their general success in ferreting out the plans of the government.  They believed their western line impregnable, and the whole country looked to see it broken only by direct assault upon their strongholds.  With such an astounding record of defeats and retreats in a single month, it is not strange that the southern people begin to distrust the alleged superiority of their military commanders.

Their conceit as to the better fighting qualities of their men has collapsed with equal suddenness.  Indeed the fighting at Bull Run and Ball’s Bluff had opened their eyes with astonishment as to the courage of northern soldiers. – Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Roanoke Island have settled that matter, and the secession papers now concede that we are at least their equals in courage and endurance.  It is true that at Fort Donelson some desperate fighting was done by the rebels, but it was in the attempt to break through our lines and escape, under the inspiration of Pillow’s lie that if they were captured they would all be hung or shot.  At Roanoke Island the rebels did not fight well; they trusted wholly to the protection of their entrenchments, and when these were assaulted they fled as far as they could and then surrendered.  The southern papers justly reproach Wise’s army with cowardice.  But it has been true every where that the rebels have relied on their strong positions and defences rather than on the courage of their men, and when driven from their strongholds they have nowhere yet made a stand and encountered the Yankees in a fair and open fight.

Another boast of the Southerners has been that their armies were composed of gentlemen, and they really seemed to think themselves degraded by fighting with the “northern mudsills.”  We have seen something lately of the material of the rebel armies, and we find the officers vastly inferior to our own in intelligence and gentlemanly qualities, and the common soldiers for the most part ignorant and degraded to an extent scarcely conceivable at the north. – Thanks to our common schools, such ignorance and brutality as is general among the rebel rank and file is impossible in the free states.  In this ignorance lies the strength of the rebellion.  The conspirators have found these untaught men easy dupes; they have believed the false stories told them of the evil designs of the General Government and the Northern people, and their astonishment at the kind and generous treatment they have received as prisoners is manifestly sincere.  The correction of the false prejudices of the Southern people by the presence of our invading armies is one of the most important gains of the campaign, because it destroys they animus of the rebellion, so far as the Southern people are concerned, and prepares the way for a radical restoration of the Union.  It is impossible that they shall not forever discard the leaders who have deceived them to their hurt, just as soon as they come to understand the true state of the case.  But the fact that the rebellion is a fraud on the part of the leaders and delusion on the part of the Southern people does by no means preclude the necessity of fighting the thing out.  On the contrary, that is the only way to reach the evil and correct it.  It is impossible to undeceive the people of the South by any other process than the defeat and destruction of the rebel armies and the re-establishment of the authority of the government in every State.  Successful fighting will dissipate all error and prejudices and settle all vexed questions.  Talk about amnesty, conciliation, compromise, or any indirect method of adjustment, is only a waste of time and strength. – The thing is to be fought through; the disease is too radical to be cured in any other way, and when the last rebel army is dispersed, and the last rebel conspirator hung or banished, it will be time enough to take up the political problems growing out of the rebellion – and then we shall probably find that the war itself has solved the most difficult and important of them. – {Springfield Republican.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 2

Mutterings From The South

The Signs of discontent and display at the South are on the increase.  The Jeff Davis government is getting unpopular, and the people are getting disheartened at their successive defeats.  The discussions in the rebel Congress indicate a crisis near at hand, and if the tide of battle does not soon turn in favor of the South, the country may witness the unusual spectacle of a rebellion within a rebellion.  Mr. Foote, of Tennessee, said in a debate, last week, Tuesday, that if the Cabinet, after a fair discussion on a vital question, should be voted down, they should resign after the manner of the British Ministry, and give place to others.  And if President Davis persisted in retaining his cabinet after such an expression of popular sentiment, he would deserve to be brought to impeachment, and if needs be “to the block.”  This alternative of “block” at the hands of the South, or a halter if captured by Federal forces, must furnish food for contemplation to the rebel President, not of the very pleasantest character.  The Richmond Examiner pitches into the rebels after this style, for having suffered so many defeats:

“It is high time that these surrenders should cease – for considering the character of the war, in its consequences to us, they have been truly amazing, commencing with that of the cavalry at Alexandria down through that of Col. Pegram at Rich Mountain, and that of Com. Barron at Hatteras, &c., to the present lamentable instances.

At Fort Henry a Brigadier General, unwounded, having a garrison almost intact, lowers his flag over a dozen guns of the largest caliber, and with a hackneyed compliment yields up his bloodless sword.  How withering and humiliating to our Southern manhood was the sorrowful reply of the Yankee Commodore.  That the General should have neglected to make preparation for preventing the enemy from ascending the river and burning the railroad bridge may be passed over, because no commission can make a man a commander unless it be given to him by nature.  But if the statement as to his surrendering be true, is he to be retained upon the rolls of the Southern army as an officer?

The Roanoke affair is perfectly incomprehensible.  The newspapers are filled with extravagant laudations of our valor; the annals of Greece and Rome offer no parallel; whole regiments were defeated by companies, and we yielded only to death.  Our men finally surrendered “with no blood on their bayonets,” and what is the loss?  Richmond Blues, two killed and five wounded; McCullough Rangers, one killed and two wounded; and the other two companies lost in all two killed and eleven wounded.  Comment is needless.  The whole army had better surrender at once; for it will eventually have to do it.”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 1

Roanoke Island Prisoners

NEW YORK, Feb. 28. – The Actual number of prisoners taken at Roanoke Island is 2488.

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

From Fortress Monroe

FORTRESS MONROE, Feb 25. – The steamer S. R. Spaulding arrived here this P. M., having left Roanoke Island the day before.  No news was received by her.

We learn of the failure of the attempt to lay the telegraphic cable across the Bay.  On the day the Hoboken sailed, sixteen miles of the cable were laid in the most successful manner, when operations ceased for the night.

On yesterday, the Hoboken was occupied in taking soundings, when a severe gale of wind which sprang up that day, struck her about noon.  Her steam pipe broke soon afterwards, and she became unmanageable, drifting  upon Cape Henry where she went ashore and broke in two last night.  She is a total loss.  All on board were saved.

The remainder of the cable, about 15 miles, was destroyed before it was abandoned.  About an equal quantity is laid in the Bay, and the end is buoyed up.

The Gunboat R. B. Forbes, was seen by the Spaulding ashore near Nag’s Head this morning.

White flags were displayed in all the houses in the vicinity.

Maj. J. T. Sawyer arrived at Norfolk yesterday, having left Elizabeth City on Sunday at 12 M.  He represents everything quiet in that locality.  He says that the entire Federal fleet left the waters of the Pasquatuk on Saturday morning, but that two of them returned in the evening.  He also states that but few of the inhabitants remained in the place.

The Wilmington Journal of yesterday, says that five or six of the federal gunboats have entered the Roanoke river.

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

Interesting Southern Items

NEWS FROM RICHMOND – STATEMENT OF A RELEASED PRISONER.

From the Baltimore American of Saturday.

We had a most interesting conversation this morning with Mr. Geo. W. Walker, of Waynesboro’, Pa., one of the release prisoners.  He was taken seven months since, while on a visit to Virginia, and has acted as clerk in the Quartermaster’s Department at Richmond, performing all duties in connection with the prisoners, thus securing a parole that enabled him to mix freely with the citizens and soldiers.

He brings with him many unmistakable evidences of the fact that there exists in Richmond and the vicinity a strong and gallant band of Union men, who are willing and anxious at the proper moment to welcome the old flag, and fight, if necessary, to sustain its supremacy. – They requested him to make the following fact known to the government that they claim to be three thousand strong, and that a full regiment of drilled volunteers can be raised at an hour’s notice.  The Union ladies are also very numerous, and have freely expended their means in succoring and comforting the sick and wounded Federal Prisoners.  Mr. Walker brings with him a beautiful gold and enamel chain, which was presented to him by a party of young ladies on the eve of his departure, with the following note written in a neat elegant hand:

Richmond, Feb. 17, 1862

MR. WALKER – Dear Sir:  Please accept this chain as a token of our regard.  May the parts in the great chain of our Union be more securely linked than they have been since their formation as a Union.

Respectfully yours,

_____,

The names are omitted at the request of Mr. Walker, fearing that the publication of them would be impolitic.

THE UNION LEAGUE.

The Union men of Richmond are daily becoming more bold and earnest, and have, for mutual protection against rebel espionage, formed a league, with grips, signals and passwords.  They style themselves prisoners on parole, and have long and anxiously looked for an advance on Richmond, by way of the Rappahannock, which they are confident could be taken and held at any time with a force of three thousand men.

There are eleven earthworks in the vicinity of the railroad, only one of which is garrisoned, and has guns mounted.  So also in the Rappahannock, the defences are said to be very slight.

THE REBELS DEPRESSED.

The news of the Federal victories at Somerset, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and the invasion of Tennessee and Alabama, coming on their great disaster at Roanoke, has had a most depressing influence on rebel enthusiasm.  They no longer vaunt of the superior prowess and bravery of the south and the cowardice of the North – a change has come over the spirit of their dreams, and they now admit the probability of being overcome, but declare that they will kill their women and children and die to the man before they will yield.

A depression of the rebels had of course cause the Union men much joy, and they were looking forward to their early deliverance with hope and confidence.

LEVY FOR TROOPS.

The levy for troops was progressing, and all able to bear arms, between the ages of 18 and 60 were being forced to enroll their names and attend drill.  The Union men were thus being forced into the service, and were learning the manual with the determination to use the knowledge for an entirely different purpose from that intended by their instructors.  The rebels admit that unless every man capable of bearing arms is immediately brought into the service, Virginia will have to surrender within the next thirty days.

SCARCITY OF MONEY.

The Government has very little even of its own paper money, the difficulty to supply the Treasury being so great that many of the public offices are closed, with a label on the door, “out of funds.”  The Federal Treasury notes received by the prisoners of war were readily sold at 25 per cent premium two months ago, and since the recent rebel defeats have advanced to 35 per cent.

WITHDRAWALS FROM MANASSAS.

Mr. Walker informs us that he learned from the very best authority that an order had been issued for the withdrawal of all but thirty thousand troops from Manassas.  The Railroads leading to Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee, were thronged with troops, and the number leaving Manassas had been about five regiments per day for some time past.  Troops were also being sent to North Carolina to resist the advance of Burnside, mostly the North Carolina Regiments from Manassas.

UNIONISM AT MANCHESTER.

Mr. Walker assures us that the statement frequently made is true that the people of Manchester, a little town opposite Richmond, had for a long time persisted in keeping the Union flag flying, and that it was only taken down when the town was threatened by Jeff. Davis with being shelled.  The Union sentiment of Manchester is still preserved, and its population will prove most dangerous men into the rebel service under compulsion as is being done.

THE RELEASED PRISONERS.

The number of prisoners released along with Mr. Walker was one hundred and ninety three, all of whom arrived here this morning, and were escorted to the rooms of the Union Relief Association by a company of the Zouaves from Federal Hill.

The release of Colonels Corcoran and Lee, and the other officers held as hostages for the privateers, has not yet been determined upon.  The rebels say they will not give them up until the privateers are returned, and they are still at Columbia, S. C.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

The Story Of An Escaped Prisoner – He Pilots General Burnside To Roanoke

The New York World has the following in its Washington correspondence.

F. B. Remington, a private of Company A, Thirteenth New York regiment, now stationed at Upton’s Hill, reached here to-day with a pass from General Burnside, whom he had previously joined by deserting from the rebel fleet stationed in Albemarle Sound.  It seems that Remington was captured by the rebels during the reconoisance near Fairfax some two months since and taken to Richmond, and thence sent to prison in North Carolina.  Here he saw extracts published from the Troy papers where the Thirteenth regiment was mostly recruited, stating that he was disloyal, having deserted his comrades, and had gone over to the rebels.  Determined to resent this imputation on his name, he managed to escape from Portsmouth, N. C., and made his way to Norfolk; but, failing to get farther North, he returned to North Carolina, and was offered employment of the rebel gunboat Fanny, which he was forced to accept, and was employed in surveying inland waters for the rebels.  In connection with another loyal man, he obtained a small boat and managed to join Gen. Burnside at Hatteras.  It was he who piloted the expedition to the Island, and in no small degree thus contributed to the great victory won by our forces.

He joined his regiment to-day, and then obtained a furlough to return to Gen. Burnside, first visiting his home in Lansingburg, New York.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

Official accounts state the results of . . .

. . . the victory of Roanoke Island, to be the possession of the Island and the control of all the inland waters of North Carolina, and of the Southern approach to Norfolk, the capture of six forts and batteries and the destruction of the seventh.  The capture of 34 heavy cannon, 2,527 prisoners, 3,500 stand of arms, 75 tons of ammunition, superior Winter quarters for over five thousand men, and the entire destruction of the rebel fleet.  This was one at the expense of 50 men killed and 222 wounded on our side.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

A Candid Rebel Confession

No journal was more disdainfully fierce against the North a year ago, and until within a few weeks past than the Charleston Courier.  It has now changed its tune.  The victories at Fort Henry and Roanoke inspired the following comment in its issue of the 15^th inst.  Our readers can imagine that the subsequent surrender of Fort Donelson did not make it any happier.  It says:

We have sustained heavy loss in munitions of war our country has been deprived of the service of several thousands of her best disciplined and bravest soldiers, and parents and wives weep in the bitterness of grief over those who will never again bless them with their smiles. – The enemy pushes on, flushed with victory, to win more triumphs, and to cause other hearts to bleed.  We feel these reverses.  We acknowledge them openly.

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

The Burnside Expedition

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. – A dispatch boat from Gen. Burnside’s Expedition has just arrived at Baltimore.

The official report of Gen. Burnside is now on its way to the War Department.

The Federal Losses at the battle of Roanoke Island were 50 killed and 222 wounded.  The rebel loss was 13 killed and 89 wounded.  The enemy were protected by their entrenchments and poured a destructive fire upon our advance columns, so that our loss is the heaviest.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 3

From Fortress Monroe

FORTRESS MONROE, Feb. 18. – A flag of truce carried several passengers to Norfolk this morning, but brought no news back.

Burnside’s forces still occupied Edenton, and had thrown out pickets some six or eight miles.  No mention is made of any further advance.

FORTRESS MONROE, Feb. 19. -  No further advance had been made by Gen. Burnsides [sic], nor was any immediately expected.

The gunboats had returned from Elizabeth City.  All the fleet were at anchor off Roanoke Island.

An immense amount of trophies had been captured, including the splendid state flag of North Carolina, worked by the ladies of that State.  Also quantities of antiquated arms.

Col. Corcoran and 700 other Federal prisoners are expected hourly to arrive at Old Point.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 3

The Capture of Roanoke Island

Particulars of the Battle

(Special Correspondence of the Baltimore American:)

FORTRESS MONROE, Feb. 13.

The steamer Stars and Stripes came in at noon to-day with a flag at her mainmast and stern, bearing all the evidence of bringing glorious tidings direct from the Burnside expedition, and as the boat reached the wharf those who landed were soon surrounded with eager inquiries of the result of the expedition, and the following questions were propounded and quickly answered.

Q. – What’s the result of the expedition?

A. – We have cleaned the rebels out of the island and captured and burnt most of their fleet – taking three thousand prisoners.

Q. – How many were killed on the Federal side?

A. – About forty.

Q. – How many wound?

A. – The number of wounded was not definitely ascertained when we left but one hundred and fifty was considered a large estimate.

Q. –  How about Gen. Wise?

A. – He is reported to have been carried off from Nag’s Head towards Norfolk, but Commodore Goldsborough had started up Currituck Sound towards Norfolk with a gunboat and several armed cutters in the endeavor to overtake him.  The anxiety to capture him was very great.

Q. – What became of his son Capt. O. Jennings Wise, of the Richmond Blues?

A. – He was slightly wounded on the field at the head of his battalion, and was endeavoring to escape in a boat with some others, when he was hailed to surrender, but refusing to do so was fired upon and mortally wounded.  They then surrendered, and he was taken prisoner and died next morning from the effect of three bullet wounds.

Q. – How many of the rebels were killed and wounded in the engagement?

A. – Their killed and wounded are not very heavy, for the reason that they broke and ran as soon as our men captured their main battery at the point of the bayonet.  This was done by Hawkins’ Zouaves and the Twenty-first Massachusetts, who made a brilliant charge directly in the face of their guns, driving the whole garrison out of the intrenchments [sic] in the centre of the island.  The number of rebels killed was estimated at about sixty, and the wounded at two hundred.

Q. – How many prisoners were taken?

A. – We have taken nearly three thousand prisoners, who will probably arrive at New York on Friday or Saturday, on the steamers Spaulding and George Peabody.

Q. – When did the fight commence?

A. – We commenced with a reconnaissance by the gunboats on Friday afternoon, shelling the lower end of the island, partly silencing the guns at that point.  Night closing in, we ceased firing until Saturday morning, when the bombardment was recommenced, and about ten thousand troops landed on the southern end of the island.

Q. – After the landing was effected, what became of the gunboats?

A. – They steamed up the channel alongside of the island, and drove the rebels from them into their intrenched camp at the upper end of the island.  The army having landed, about seven thousand of them marched in three divisions towards the centre of the island to attack the main body.  As they approached the earthworks of the enemy, they were found to have several guns in position to cover the approaches.  When within a mile of their batteries the rebels opened fire and the Federal troops fell on their faces, allowing the balls to pass over them.  They continued thus to approach the batteries for a mile with but slight loss, and finally, when close enough, charged the earthworks at a double-quick, first firing a volley and then rushing with charged bayonets over the intrenchments.  As the Federal troops entered they abandoned their guns and ran out at the other side, towards the upper end of the island.  They had put a poor fight, and ran at Bull Run speed as soon as they were brought to close quarters.

Q. – Did any portion of these troops exhibit bravery?

A. – A battalion in charge of their principal guns, the Richmond Blues, showed some bravery; but the balance fled without scarcely firing a gun, so soon as the intrenchments were stormed.

Q. – What became of the gunboats?

A. – As soon as the landing was safely effected Com. Goldsborough steamed up the channel firing at all the rebel troops that were in sight, and driving them out of the earthworks commanding the channel.

Q. – Did the rebel gunboats make any fight?

A. – Very little.  When Com. Goldsborough’s fleet appeared at the upper end of the island they turned and fled, and were hotly pursued towards Elizabeth City.  So soon as overtaken armed cutters were sent to board them, and some severe fighting is said to have taken place on the rebel decks.  They were nearly all of them captured, and most of them burned, the victors continuing on their pursuit to prevent any of them escaping.  Three or four were captured and retained, and the balance burned.  The crews of most of them made their escape to the shore by swimming, without even an attempt at resistance.

Q. – Was Elizabeth City burned?

A. – There was an earthwork defending the approach to Elizabeth City, which was feebly worked from some time, doing little or no damage.  So soon as the gunboats got the range of it and commenced dropping their shells in and around it, the military abandoned it, and soon after the flames burs out in the lower part of the city.  A flag of truce from the citizens was then sent out to Commodore Goldsborough, asking him to send a force on shore to extinguish the fire, which they stated had been kindled by the retreating soldiers.  Their request was respectfully declined; as they had come neither to burn or destroy, nor to commit any outrage on private rights, and must hold those responsible who committed the outrage.  Not more than one-third of the city was burned.

Q. – How many troops were on the island?

A. – When we first commenced the attack on Friday night the whole number did not exceed three thousand, but during Friday night and Saturday morning two thousand from Norfolk were landed, making the whole force about 4,500.

Q. – How many of them escaped?

A. – It is supposed that nearly twelve hundred escaped to the mainland in schooners. – They effected their escape by means of an obstruction in the channel, which prevented our gunboats from approaching the upper end of the island within range of them.  All their energies seemed to be devoted to the effecting of an escape.  If the gunboats could have passed the obstruction and have got within range of the point from which they were embarking, not a man would have escaped.

Q. – Of the three thousand prisoners captured, are there many Carolinians and Virginians?

A. – Yes, nearly all from these two States. – There were several battalions from Richmond, and parts of regiments from North Carolina, but the majority of the troops were picked men from the Virginia regiments.  The McCullough Rangers are From Louisiana, under the command of Lieutenant Hazelett, supposed to be Robert Hazlett, of Baltimore.  A regiment of six hundred men from North Carolina reached the island on Saturday morning, and had scarcely got landed before they were run down by the stampede, and the boats seized by the fleeing rebels from the entrenched camp, who left them as prisoners in our hands.  They arrived just in time to be captured.

Q. – What kind of arms had the rebels?

A. – The whole island was strewn with arms of every description; flint-lock muskets, double barrel shot-guns, and all descriptions of rifles, and good, bad and indifferent bowie-knives, rusty swords, flint-lock horse pistols, and Sharp’s and Colt rifles.  At least a cart load of powder horns had been gathered up with shout pouches to match.

Q. – Did any of the Federal gunboats receive any injury or where any of them lost?

A. – The only shot that took effect on any of the gunboats was a round shot that entered the bow of the gunboat Seymour, doing no damage that cannot be repaired in an hour.  Another boat had a portion of her rigging cut away. – The Hetzel had six men killed by the explosion of a riffle gun, and two or three wounded.

Q. – Was there any hand-to-hand fighting among the gunboats?

A. – Only in the case of the Federal gunboat Ceres, Capt. McDermaid, who ran up along side the rebel flag-ship Sea Bird, of Commodore Lynch, and drove the enemy before them on his own deck.  Com. Lynch succeeded in making his escape by jumping overboard and wading to the shore with most of his officers.

Q. – Did any of the rebel gunboats escape?

A. – Yes, two of them ran into the canal, on learning which Com. Goldsborough landed a force and destroyed the gate of the canal, letting the water out.  They were reported to be aground in consequence.

Q. – How many gunboats went up to Elizabeth City?

A. – There were fifteen of our gunboats in the fleet that started for Elizabeth City on Sunday.  Most of the enemy’s gunboats were now ashore and abandoned, and we fired several of them.  Three were captured, and one is now in the Federal service.

Q. – Were any of our officers killed?

A. – Yes, Colonel Russell, of the Tenth Connecticut Regiment, was killed, and Lieut. Col. Viguer de Monteil of the D’Epineuil Zouaves, who was a volunteer, were killed, no other officer was killed above the rank of Lieutenant.

Q. – How many officers are among the prisoners?

A. – We have about fifteen Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and Majors, and fifty or sixty Captains and Lieutenants.

Q. – Were all the military in the fight?

A. – No.  The Eighty-ninth New York, the Eighth and Ninth Connecticut, the Sixth New Hampshire, and the forty-eighth Pennsylvania were left at Hatteras.

Q. – How many guns were captured?

A. – Forty-two large guns, and about a dozen field pieces.  There were also captured about 4,000 stands of arms of all descriptions.

Q. – How many field pieces were landed by Gen. Burnside?

A. – Five or six, principally field howitzers.  They were landed on the edge of a marsh, and the men were compelled to drag them for about one hundred yards through the water up to their breasts.  They were finally served, and did good execution in covering the approach of the storming parties.

Q. – How was the weather during the fight?

A. – It was dull and cloudy on Friday evening, when the works were first shelled by the gunboats, and on Saturday the rain fell steadily all day without any intermission.  The men landed at daylight on Saturday morning, and it was about 11 o’clock when the action commenced.  At first it assumed somewhat the character of a brush fight, until the rebels were driven to the centre of the island and the artillery was brought into requisition.  The island is about twelve miles long, and the landing was effected on the mainland said, about four miles from the lower end.  At their earthworks in the centre there were some fine barracks and storehouses, the latter of which with all their contents were burnt by shells from the gunboats.  The main camp was at the upper end of the island, where there were fine barracks and an abundance of the necessaries and comforts of camp life.  Owing to the destruction of the storehouses, food was very scarce on the island, and, had it not been for the abundance of pigs running about, there would have been much suffering on Sunday and Monday.

Q. – What was done with the prisoners?

A. – They were allowed to continue in possession of their camp and barracks, whilst the Federal soldiers, both officers and men, roughed it as best they could on the damp earth. – The prisoners were, however, when the Stars and Stripes left, being conducted to the lower end of the island to be embarked for New York.

Q. – Had the navy or army the most credit in the capture of the army?

A. – Both acted admirably throughout, though both evinced too much headlong impetuosity.  The island was undoubtedly taken by the land forces, and the rebel batteries in the centre of the island, behind which they made a stand, could not be reached by the shells from the gunboats.  In making the advance to these earthworks the Federal troops had to pass through the deep marshes, sometimes up to their armpits.  All seemed inspired with a determination to take the island, despite all contingencies.

Q. – There was no faltering among our men?

A. – Not in the least.  The whole work could have been done with less loss of life had it not been for the impetuosity of the men, who could not be controlled by their officers.  The navy did all that was required of it in covering the landing and silencing of the shore batteries, and ultimately disposing of the rebel fleet.  It may, therefore, be regarded as a joint victory of the army and navy.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 2

The Richmond Dispatch, of Thursday last . . .

. . . says the Yankee Loss in taking Roanoke Island was “at least one thousand killed.  Indeed, we have information that at Old Point the number is estimated at fifteen hundred killed.  The beach is represented as being strewn with their dead bodies.”  It turns out that our killed number less than fifty and our wounded about one hundred and fifty.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 2

Why Henry A. Wise Was Not Captured

By a singular and strange transaction on the part of an officer on board of a Government vessel, Henry A. Wise, and undoubtedly a large number of men who were with him at Nag’s Head, escaped.  This vessel left Fortress Monroe about the 8^th or 9^th instant, with orders to look after the enemy at Nag’s Head, at the same time that Gen. Burnside and Com. Goldsborough were engaging them on Roanoke.  When the Stars and Stripes reached Hatteras Inlet, ion her return with Government dispatches, informing the government of the Federal Victory, we learned that this craft and her able commander had just left the inlet on her voyage to Nag’s Head, having as is stated, rundown the coast from Cape Henry to Hatteras without having been able to find the place to which he was sent.  After reporting to Gen. Williams, he received such instructions as it was thought would enable him to find the place, when he retraced his course up the coast.  At this time the battle had been fought three days, and old Wise, with his followers vanquished, so it mattered little whether he found it or not.

Had the man in command of that vessel landed above Nag’s Head, when he was in is vicinity, we should have caught the miserable Wise and all his party.  I could not learn either the name of the vessel or her commander, but it is evident that we lost a rich prize through ignorance or disloyalty, either of which, in this instance, are inexcusable. –{Correspondence Philadelphia Enquirer.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 2

A long, narrow stretch of land . . .

lying east of Roanoke Island bears the euphonious title of “Kill Devil Hills.”  They looked down approvingly upon the great triumph of our arms while Gen. Burnside was bruising the head of the secession serpent.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 2

Our Chaplains have the right views of duty.

The regiment is a parish, and they believe it their duty to go wherever the parishioners do, and help them.  Thus at the battle of Roanoke Island, Rev. Mr. James of Worcester, Mass., when the officers were shot down around a gun, spring forward, encouraged the men, and worked  in their midst as a gunner.  A man who can work a sermon or a gun equally well, may be said to be thoroughly furnished to every good word or work.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 4, 1862, p. 2

Southern News

BALTIMORE, April 2.

The following intelligence is from the special correspondent at Fort Monroe of the Baltimore American: The number of rebels in Fort Pulaski, as reported by deserters, is 500.  Two German companies there had revolted and were in irons.  Sherman’s mortars and siege guns were so stationed that the guns of the fort could not reach them.  The rebels have withdrawn all their troops from the coast, and abandoned their earth works, previously removing all their cannon to Savannah.  The city of Savannah, however is understood to be very strongly fortified, and all the approaches to it.  The forces there is variously estimated by refugees at 20,000 to 50,000; probably 20,000 is more nearly correct.

Great despondency existed among the troops and people at Charleston, the fall of Newberne created the greatest consternation.  The fire-eaters ridiculed the North Carolina troops, charging them with cowardice.  The shopkeepers and bankers in Charleston had also refused to receive North Carolina money, and there being two N. C. regiments there at the time, a revolt was the consequence, and the shops were broken open and the troops helped themselves.

Three regiments refused to serve any longer, and were allowed to return home.

No direct information of the abandonment of Pensacola by the rebels has yet been received; but it was generally believed that our troops had crossed over from Santa Rosa Island and approached the place.

The latest advices received from Norfolk by the underground RR., leave no room to doubt that the Merrimac was thoroughly repaired, and in commission and ready for another expedition against the wooden walls of the Federal navy and river transports lying in the roads.

The delay of the Merrimac in coming out is belived to be that she is waiting for ammunition for the heavy guns that have been placed on board of her, and also for some infernal machies that are being constructed by Bobbust and Mallory.

The rebel steamers Jamestown and Yorktown were also getting strengthened and more thoroughly clad with iron, to accompany the Merrimac.

There is also a rumor that two other steamers are being clad with iron at Richmond, to join in the expedition.

As to the loss of life on the Merrimac, in her conflict with the Monitor, we have now what is claimed to be positive information.

One of the recently arrived contrabands states that he was a nurse in the general hospital at Norfolk and that until the time of his departure he had helped to shroud 32 of the crew of the Merrimac, and that both commander Buchanan and Lt. Mayer were dead.  There were still a number of wounded surviving.  The contraband also states that two shots of the Monitor were represented to be the only ones that seriously injured the Merrimac.  Shots were thrown under her shield at the moment she attempted to run the Monitor down.

The military from the Gulf States, stationed at Norfolk, have been very severe on the chivalry ever since their defeat at Roanoke Island.  Even the Richmond Blues, the very pinks of chivalry, have fallen in public estimation.  All award bravery to O. Jennings Wise, but his father has so fallen in the public estimation, that he is proclaimed, in Norfolk, a coward and poltroon.  In his escape from Nags Head, he rode thirty miles on horse back, notwithstanding he had previously reported himself too ill to remain at Roanoke Island, at the head of his command.  Wise and Floyd now rank as fleet-footed.  My informant says that Wise would be hooted, if he were to appear in the streets of Norfolk or Richmond.  He has retired to his farm in Princess Ann county.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 4, 1862, p. 1