40 



ARMY OPERATIONS. 



gunboats moved forward, entering the inlet. 

 The flag ship of Gen. Burnside next followed, 

 but the remainder of the transports were de- 

 tained nearly two hours. A guu fired from one 

 of the Confederate gunboats announced the ap- 

 proach of the Federal squadron. At half past 

 eleven the conflict commenced between the 

 gunboats at long range, but it was noon before 

 they were engaged in close action. The Con- 

 federate boats gradually retired, drawing their 

 opponents within range of the forts, when fire 

 was opened by the latter. 



The contest between the boats and the battery 

 continued with varied energy during the next 

 three hours, in which time the barracks within 

 the forts were consumed. At three o'clock the 

 troops began to land, under the protection of 

 the tire of three of the gunboats. At this time 

 the Confederate gunboats drew near and re- 

 commenced the. action, which was continued 

 until their ammunition was exhausted. They 

 then retired up the inlet or sound. The bat- 

 tery continued to fire until the Union gunboats 

 retired for the night. The bravery of the Con- 

 federate defence was admitted on every side. 

 On the Federal side, five had been killed and 

 ten wounded. In the fort, the Confederates 

 reported one killed and three wounded, and in 

 the gunboats five wounded, and the largest 

 gunboat sunk, and another disabled. 



By four o'clock the transports had all arrived, 

 and the first body of troops were landed unob- 

 structed at five o'clock. In a short time six 

 thousand were on shore, and the remainder of 

 the force landed soon after. 



The next morning the troops started in three 

 columns, the centre under Gen. Foster, com- 

 posed of the 23d, 25th, and 27th Massachusetts, 

 and 10th Connecticut; the next, or left flanking 

 column, under Gen. Reno, consisted of the 21st 

 Massachusetts, 51st New York, 9th New Jer- 

 sey, and 51st Pennsylvania; the third, or right 

 flanking column, under Gen. Parke, consisted 

 of the 4th Rhode Island, first battalion of the 

 5th Rhode Island, and the 9th New York. The 

 approach to the enemy was by a road through 

 a swamp, on each side of which was a thick 

 underbrush. An earthwork about thirty-five 

 yards wide had been erected across the road 

 for defence. The attack was bravely made, 

 as it had been planned, upon the enemy's posi- 

 tion, and after a most spirited and splendid de- 

 fence, as reported by the assailants, they were 

 obliged to give way before this overwhelming 

 force, and retiring further up the island were 

 overtaken, and Col. Shaw, their commander, 

 surrendered. Thus six forts, forty guns, over 

 two thousand prisoners, and three thousand 

 stand of arms were captured. The Union loss 

 was thirty-five killed and two hundred wound- 

 ed. The Confederate loss in killed was reported 

 to be sixteen, and wounded thirty-nine. The 

 artillery of each side consisted of some heavy 

 pieces, such as 100-pound Parrotts, and a 100- 

 pound Sawyer gun captured by the Confeder- 

 ates some time previous. The contest between 



the battery and the gunboats, in the morning, 

 was unimportant, and the latter proceeded to 

 remove the obstructions in the channel. 



On the reception of the report of Gen. Burn- 

 side at "Washington the following order was 

 issued by President Lincoln : 



WASHINGTON, Feb. 15. 



The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Army and 

 Navy, returns thanks to Brigadier-General Buruside 

 and Flag Officer Goldsborough, and to General Grant 

 and Flag Officer Foote, and the land and naval forces 

 under their respective commands, for their gallant 

 achievements in the capture of Fort Henry and at Roan- 

 oke Island. While it will be no ordinary pleasure for 

 him to acknowledge and reward in a becoming manner 

 the valor of the living, he also recognizes his duty to 

 pay fitting honor to the memory of the gallant dead. 

 The charge at Koanoke Island, like the bayonet charge 

 at Mill Springs, proves that the close grapple and sharp 

 steel of loval and patriotic citizens must always put the 

 rebels and traitors to flight. The late achievements of 

 the navy show that the flag of the Union, once borne in 

 proud glory around the world by naval heroes, will 

 soon Sigain 'float over every rebel city and stronghold, 

 and that it shall forever be honored and respected as 

 the emblem of Liberty and Union in every land and 

 upon every sea. 



By order of the President. 



(Signed) EDWIN M. STANTON, 



Secretary of War. 

 GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy. 



On the afternoon of the next day after the 

 surrender, Commodore Rowan, by order of 

 Com. Goldsborough, with fourteen steamers, 

 proceeded toward Elizabeth city. It is the 

 capital of Pasquotank countj, North Carolina, 

 situated on the Pasquotank river, about twenty 

 miles from its mouth and thirty miles from 

 Roanoke Island. That night the fleet anchor- 

 ed about eighteen miles from the city. 

 Next morning, the 10th, on approaching the 

 town, seven Confederate gunboats and one 

 schooner were discovered, and after a brief 

 contest they retired under the guns of a small 

 fort, were set on fire, and abandoned. This 

 fort on Cobb's Point, mounting four guns, was 

 also abandoned. At the same time the town 

 was deserted by the Confederate forces, after 

 having set on fire some of the houses, which 

 were burned. All the Confederate gunboats 

 were destroyed excepting one. Two were 

 killed and about twelve wounded on the Union 

 gunboats. The loss on the other side is not 

 known. Commander Rowan immediately sent 

 the gunboats Louisiana, Underwriter, Commo- 

 dore Perry, and Lockwood, under Lieut. A. 

 Maury, to Edenton, on the west end of Albe- 

 marle Sound. It is the capital of Chowan coun- 

 ty and is at the head of Edenton bay, which 

 opens into Albemarle Sound a little below the 

 mouth of Chowan river. On the 12th the 

 town was taken possession of by Lieut. Maury. 

 Part of a light artillery regiment, from one to 

 three hundred in number, withdrew without 

 firing a gun. No fortifications existed, nor was 

 any opposition made. Eight cannon and one 

 schooner on the stocks were destroyed. Two 

 schooners with four thousand bushels of corn 

 were captured on the sound, and six bales of 

 cotton taken from the custom house wharf. 



