ARMY OPERATIONS. 



39 



ger of grounding. The entrance to the inlet 

 was commanded by two forts, which were 

 captured by an expedition under Gen. B. F. 

 Butler and Commodore Stringham during the 

 preceding year. (See ANNUAL CYCLOPAEDIA, 

 1861 EXPEDITIONS.) 



The wind changed to the southeast and contin- 

 ued blowing in that quarter for several days af- 

 ter the vessels began to arrive. This brought 

 in a considerable sea or swell, which made it 

 dangerous for all the vessels drawing much 

 water to cross the bar and attempt to enter ex- 

 cept at the top of the tide. Those drawing the 

 least water got in first, the others anchored out- 

 side watching an opportunity. In this perilous 

 situation, with a high sea, a strong wind blow- 

 ing on shore, and shoal water, with a crooked 

 channel, several days passed during which the 

 fleet was endeavoring one by one to get within 

 the inlet. The steamer City of New York 

 grounded on the bar, and the sea swept Clean 

 over her and quickly reduced her to a wreck. 

 The gunboat Zouave sunk in the inlet, and two or 

 three other small vessels were equally unfortu- 

 nate. Within the inlet the anchorage was narrow 

 and the change of the tide brought the vessels in. 

 contact, and the roughness of the water caused 

 a constant chafing of rigging and spars, and 

 crashing of bulwarks. 



For two days the wind and sea were so high 

 as to prevent all communication with the outer 

 vessels, or with each other. The Xew Jersey 

 regiment was then called to enter upon its work, 

 with mourning in its ranks. Its Colonel, J. "W. 

 Allen, and its surgeon, F. S. Weller, were 

 drowned by the overturning of a small boat in 

 the breakers at the inlet. 



The gale increased ; dark clouds swept down 

 from the east and seemed almost to touch the 

 vessels' masts as they swayed to and fro. A 

 single person here and there appeared on some 

 !'s deck, holding on by the rail or the rig- 

 ging, and a few scattered groups of the soldiers 

 who had been landed, were seen hurrying on 

 the beach as if in search of shelter from the 

 fury of the blast. The tents of the Massachu- 

 setts 24th. which had been pitched on the beach, 

 were swept away, and the poor soldiers spent 

 a fearful night, exposed to the peltings of a 

 pitiless storm, with yet a more fearful night to 

 follow. Even the brave commander of the 

 expedition was heard to exclaim in suppress- 

 ed tones, "This is terrible! When will the 

 storm abate ~'. " 



This violent storm was followed by a high 

 tide, and* on the 24th, nearly all the vessels 

 which had arrived were within the entrance, 

 and by the 26th repairs had been made and the 

 force was ready to move. Fortunately the few 

 Confederate gunboats on the sound kept aloof 

 and made no attack. 



Preparations were now made for a speedy 

 movement. The object was to proceed up 

 Pamlico Sound, and open the passage into Al- 

 bemarle Sound. This passage was called Croa- 

 tan Sound, and was bounded on the one side by 



the mainland and on the other by Roanoke Isl- 

 and, which is low and marshy. As this was 

 the principal communication between Pamlico 

 and Albemarle, the enemy had erected fortifi- 

 cations in the upper part of the passage, on Ro- 

 anoke Island, and had also obstructed it by piles 

 and sunken vessels. They had a fleet of seven 

 Email gunboats, prepared to contest the passage, 

 and stationed near the batteries. 



On the 3d of February, Gen. Burnside issued 

 the following general orders : 



HEADQUARTERS. DEPARTMENT or NORTH CABOLTXA, } 

 PAMLICO SOCXD, February 3, 1S6?. f 



GEJTERAI. ORDERS, No. 5. 



This expedition being about to land on the soil of 

 North Carolina, the General Commanding desires his 

 soldiers to remember that they are here to support the 

 Constitution and the laws, to put down rebellion, and 

 to protect the persons and property of the loyal and 

 peaceable citizens of the State. la the march of the 

 army, all unnecessary injuries to hoases, barns, fences, 

 and'other property will be carefully avoided, and in all 

 cases the laws of civilized warfare will be carefully ob- 

 served. 



Wounded soldiers will be treated with every care 

 and attention, and neither they nor prisoners must be 

 insulted or annoyed by word or act. 



With the fullest confidence in the valor and the char- 

 acter of his troops, the General Commanding looks for- 

 ward to a speedy and successful termination of the 

 campaign. 



By command of Brig.-Gen. A. E. BURXSIDE. 



LEWIS RICHMOND, Asst. Adj. -Gen. 



Further orders relative to signals, and to the 

 disembarkation of the troops, were issued on 

 the next day. 



Everything being ready, the forward move- 

 ment commenced at half past seven on the 

 morning of the 5th of February. The naval 

 squadron following the flag officer's vessel, head- 

 ed the fleet. Their course was at first southward, 

 following the zigzag channel, nntil it finally 

 became north by west. At regular and short 

 intervals the gunboats filled' their places in the 

 line, and with scarcely perceptible motion, 

 steadily stretched away to the horizon. Next 

 came the transports and gunboats carrying the 

 troops, consisting of sixty-five vessels, of all 

 classes and characters. Each brigade formed 

 three columns, headed by the flag ship of the 

 brigade. Each large steamer had one, two, 

 and in some instances, three schooners in tow. 

 The aisles between the three columns of vessels 

 were kept unbroken, through the whole length, 

 which extended almost two miles over the sur- 

 face of the sound, except by the two or three 

 small propellers whose duty consisted in con- 

 veying orders. 



At sundown the fleet came to anchor about 

 ten miles from the southern point of Roanoke 

 Island. The next morning, at eight o'clock, it 

 was in motion. The preceding beautiful day 

 was followed by a stormy one, and anchors 

 were again dropped at the entrance of the inlet 

 or strait. This was the day on which Fort Henry 

 was taken. The next morning was clear, and 

 the sun rose in a sky marked only with clouds 

 enough to give it peculiar beauty. By ten 

 o'clock all preparations had been made, and the 



