The New York Herald Newspaper, February 13, 1862, Page 1

WHOLE NO. 9286, NEW YORK, THURSDA Y, FEBRUARY 13, 1862. “IMPORTANT The Capture of Roanoke Island Pully Confirmed by the Rebels. TERRIBLE FIGHTING. fhree Hundred Rebels Killed and One Thousand Wounded. THE ENTIRE REBEL FLEET DESTROYED ELIZABETH CITY TAKEN. The Place Burned by the Rebels. Two Thousand Rebel Prison- ers Taken. Abvauce of the Union Troops on Edenton. OPINIONS OF THE REBEL PRESS, &e., &e., &e. ‘We learn by the flag of truce which arrived at For. tress Monroe on Sunday of the complete success of the Burnside expedition at Roanoke Island. Tho island was taken possession of and Commodore Iynch’s fleet completely destroyed. Three hundred rebels were killed and wounded, and two thousand taken prisoners. Scarcely any escaped. Elizabeth City was attacked on Sunday and evacnated by the inhabitants. The city was previously burned, The first news of the defeat arrived at Norfolx on Sun- ay afternoon, and caused great excitement. The pre- vious news was very satisfactory, stating that the Yan- kees had been allowed to advance for the Purpose of driving thom into a trap. ‘The rebel force on the island is supposed to bave been only a little over three thousand efficient fighting men. General Wise was ill at Nag’s Head, and was not pre- sent during the engagement.’ Whon the eituation be- came dungorous ho was removed to Norfolk. All the gunboats but one were taken, and that escaped ‘Up a creek, and was probably also destroyed. One report says that only seventy and another that only twenty-five of the rebels escaped from the faland. Genera! Huger telegraphed to Richmond that only fity 2m the island escaped. There appears to be no bright sideof the story for the febels. THE REBEL DETAILS. ‘The following despatches on the subject are taken from the Richmond papers of Tuesday morning:— Norvoux, Feb. 10, 1862. The latest news states that Captain 0. Jennings Wise, fon of Governor Wise, was shot through the hip and dis- abled, though his wound was not mortal. Major Lawson and Lieutenant Miller wore mortally wounded. About three hundred confederates were killed. Our wounded mumber cter one thousand. The number of Yankee’ wounded is about the same. Midshipman Camm has had an arm shot off. Tho other casualties areas yet un Feported. A late arrival this morning says that Elizabeth City had Deen shelled and burned by the Yankees, and thas the enemy was pushing on to Edenton, SECOND DESPATCH. Norroux, Fob. 10, 1862, A rumor has prevailed that Commodore Lynch's fleet of gunboats had been captured. It is not regarded as true, but i is believed that all were burned by the con- Federaten to prevent their capture, with the exception of one, which was endeavoring to make its escape. The ficet went to Elizabeth City from Roanoke Island, and ‘was probably burned at the fotmer point, sages ——-TIRD esrarcu, Nonvoux, Feb. 10, 1862. A courier arrived here this afternoon at four o’clogk, and brought tho intelligence that Elizabeth City was burned this morning by its inhabitants. During the con- Magration the federals landed a large force. All our gun, ‘Doats excepting one were captured by the enemy. Genera) Wise had not yet arrived at Nerfolk. ~ THE VERY LATEST, LN ‘The following “very latest” we copy from the Norfolk Day Book :— [From the Norfolk Day Book, Feb. 10.) It is said that the enemy came up in their boats on the ®outh side of the island, and by means of their boat how. stzers effected a landing im the rear of our dalleries, and ‘that after landing about Sfteen thousand on all parts of ‘the island, they marched fup and flanked the batteries. It is also reported that, notwithstanding our small force of twenty-one hundred men against about fifteen thou- gand,on some parts of the island the resistance was of |. the most desperate nature, and a band-to-hand contest lasted for a considerable time, showing the most despe- rate courage. This is said to have been the case partic marly with the Richmond Blues, under command of Cap. tain 0. Jennings Wise, Captain Wise, we learn, fell Dravely urging his men on. [From tho Norfolk Dey Book, Feb. 11.} A courier arrived here yesterday afternoon about three lock, from whom we gether the following informa tion — ‘The enemy advanced in full force upon Elizabeth City yesterday about seven o'clock, and began an attack upon | that place. Whe citicens, finding resistance vain, evacuated the place, but defore doing 20 set fire to the town, and when | eur informant left it was still in flames. Wo have also to record the capture by the enemy of all our little fleet, except the Fanny or Forrest—our in. formant is not certain which. This eluded the enemy fana made up Pasquotank river. She wae pursued, how- | ever, and fears are entertained that she was captured. Jt in eaid that before our boats surrendered they were abandoned, and that their crews succeeded in making their ercape. If 00, weare at a lose to conjecture why the boats were not fired before they were abandoned. ‘The disaster to our little fieet is attributed to the fact that, having exbausted their supply of coal and their ammunition, they proceeded to Elizabeth City for the purpose of obtaining a supply. Every effort was made to obtain coal, but without suecess, and the boats could not, therefore, return to the island and Jend any arsint- _ ance whatever to our forces. All the details, as published, with reference to the cap- ‘ture of Roanoke Island, are confirmed by the courier, who represents our loss at three hundred killed and wounded, and that of the enomy not less than one thousand killed, Great havoc was mado among the enomy while coming ap the road leading to the fort, Our forces brought to bear upon them two thirty-two pounders, and at every ive their ranks wore terribly thinned. The places of the allen, however, were quickly filled. The Pork Point battery was manned by the Richmond Mues, and most nobly did they defend it, During the onfiict they were attacked by & whole regiment of “pnaver, aux though completely overpowered, they etood - BRILLIANT OPERATIONS AT R OANOKE ISLAND. Scene of General Burnside and Commodore Goldsborough’s Victories-— Roanoke Island and Elizabeth City. CUMBERLAND CH. z ~ G u menue ee FALLIVG CAPS y bi re RYSBORO, LT FA/SONS, wy Ss CJ — WEsT BROOR Ty wa, > ground, They did not yield ® foot until all but seven of them had fallen bleeding to the ground. There is good reason te believe that had Colonel Henningsen, with his artillery, deen on the tslaad, it would not hare been forced to surrender. The lack of field pieces was sadly felt, and bad they been at hand perhaps the enemy never would have been able to have landed their forces. Colouel Henningsen had orders, we understand, to re. port at Roanoke Island; but by some misunderstanding he mistook Elizabeth City for his place of destination. Captain Taylor, of this city, is reprerented as having distinguishing himself for his coolness and bravery. He fought the enemy like # tiger, and not an inch of ground was yielded by him without ite being well disputed. In addition to the above there are many rumors we might give; but as they are nothing more then rumors we prefer withholding them, Among them, however, is ‘one worthy of notice—that General Wise had been shot while on his way ia an ambulance. The etatement, so far as we have been able to learn, is untrue, We cam only account for it by supposing that the name of the General was confounded with that of his son, who was reported among the killed. ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS, [Specinl correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.) Nonrouk, Feb. 10, 1862. With inexpressible sorrow I announce the fall of Roanoke Island’, after a spirited and heroic resistance by our brave troops. ‘Ibis occurred between twelve and two o'clock on Saturday, and the sews was received here with every indication of regret and indignation. We gather the following particulars from @ young man from the Richmond Blues, who participated in the fight, escaped in ® small , boat and rowed to Nag’s Head, where he. was taken wp by one of our gunboats and brought to this city, He is an intelligent led, and 1 believe fon of your Powtmaster, The enemy's ships, he. ways, opened fire ob our batteries, at Roanoke Island, about seven o'clock in the morning, and kept up an incessant fire until geyen o'clock in the eve. ning, doing, however, but little injury to the island: About nine o'clock the next day (Saturday), the Hessians were allowed to land on a point to the east of Roanoke Iwland, where they marched upon that point. Tho booming of heavy cannon in the distance heralded the enemy's apvroach, Our brave troops prepared to meet them, supposing their numbers to be about 5,000, Vi 1 Ys. Ze outers {My 8\ MOUNT VED sTRABANE, LEESBURG WASHINGTO; ' Zz cawee BuRCAW TSS PETERSBU ———™ <2 AcoLySBORO 7: CS abccr nce. \ INGS| i Gradually the sounds came nearer and nearer,and the shell eame thick and fast over our intrenchments. Oon- fident of their own strength, our troops moved rapidly forward, when, in a few minutes, the ball opened and the terrific contest ensued. Brayely did our boys stand upto the overwhelming forees of the enemy, and not till nearly every man was dead or wounded did they leave their stand. Nothing remained but retreat, which our men did, constantly turning and giving them @ shot. Finding it useless to hold the island under such overwhelming numbers, the order to retreat from the island was given, and our remaining troops retired, leaving their stronghold in the hands of the enemy. It will be a pleasure hereafter to rocord on the page of ory the heroic fortitude of our gallant troops. Nobly and well did Captain O. Jennings Wise, of your city, stand up with his men to the fierce encounter, when, suddenly, he was shot through the side and in- stantly fell. One of his men asking bim if he was much hort—Not much,” said he,“but fight them yet.” He ‘was borne from the scene of action in a blanket, About 200 of our brave boys fell, and nearly all the rest were tither wounded or taken prisoners. Tho enemy's loss is laid down at 1,000. Four of their chips were sunk, they doing but little damage to any of our boats. Commodore Lynch and other parts of our fleet did noble service, his ship being among the firet to open fire on the enemy’s shipping. At last accounte they were in pursait of Com- modore Lynch, In the midst of this terrible struggle it will be regretted that General Wise was seriously indisposed at Nag’s Head, Both he and his son are expected here to-day. 1 am sorry to say that but very few escaped from Captain Wiso’s company. Large quantities of atnmunition were paved by our troops, The women, children and a number of negroes are reported now on their way to our city. ‘The enemy will be successfully checked from getting pos soseion of our railroad in that vicinity, Active prepara. tions have been made here regarding this disaster, which it may be imprudent for me to mention, The news tex upon the ears of our citizens with fearful significance. Many would dare ebut their eves against the fact had not dread conviction come so direct ry man was ay @ post, and our departments here were engaged im feuding despatches to the various encampmente, ‘The alacrity with which every officer exe al his orders is a Cheme of public praise; and especial praise is due to the Young Guard, of our city, for their eervicer on the cecasion, Ata very late bour military movements were going on, and everything is in great excitement. Nonvoux, Feb. 10, 1862. The intelligence ef the desperate and unequalled con- teat at Roanoke Island, and its rosult, have doubtless reached you by telegraph. Of course this is the prinei- pal subject of conversation here, Considering all the circuinstances attending the fight, a moro favorable ter- mination of the affair could scarcely have been expected by those competent to judge, Our force on the island at the time of the attack was but small in comparison with the heavy and numerous foree of theenemy. Of the bravery and gallant conduct of our troops too much can scarcely be said in commenda- tion, That they were overpowered by greatly superior numbers, after fighting with » recklessness and despera” tion never surpassed, isa fact already established, and which will be placed upon the truthful pages of history. Isend you herewith such particulars of the battic as I have been able to gather. true account cannot be given now. We know enough to cause adeep sigh of grief for the brave men slain, snd the gallant sons of the South, who are now captives im this cruel war—of homen rendered desolate, of hearts wrung with anguish | and ties of love and friendship severed. But who be- eves, except the deluded and revengeful Yankees, that the South will yield to them?—that the great cause of Southern liberty, and honor, and humanity is not still onward? True, the news comes that the hospitable town of Elizabeth City has been shelled and burned, and that the vandal hordes are desolating the pleasant places of the Sound coart. But they cannot go far into the interior, and the day is coming when these Norther> mimions shall be driven back im dis- grace to their inhospitable and barren soil. General Wise, though still sick, i#, I learn, on bis way to this city. Captain O. Jennings Wise was dangerously wounded, Major Lawson, Lieutenant Miller and Captain Coles, are reported among the killed, ‘Bhe enemy lost in killed and wounded one thousand; our lors three hundred, besides more than two thousand prisoners, We must be nerved for a vigoroes resistance, and Providence will as. sist ve ae herotofore in tits cause of honor, and truth, aud human rights. OPINIONS OF THE REBEL PRESS. [From the Richmond Examiner, Fob. 11.) The joey of an- entire army on Roanoke Island is cer. tainly the most painful event of the war. The intelli- gence of yesterday by telegraph is fully confirmed. Twenty-five hundred brave troops on an island in the sea were exposed toall the force of the Burnside fleet, ‘They resisted with the most determined courage; b when fifteen thousand federal troops were landed against them, retreat being cut off by the surrounding element, they were forced to surrender. This is a repe- tition of the Hatteras affair on a large scale. Iv is reported that one regiment from Massachusetts was badly cut up; but it is impossible to ascertain which of the five that were attached to the expedition it was. All the Soutnern papers received to-day are unanimous in admitting @ complete victory to our troops, and in saying that the loss of the isiand is a very serious one. ‘The prisoners eaptured, numbering at least two thou- sand, will arrive at Fortress Monroo in afew days. [From the Richmond Dispatch, Feb. 11.) THE DISASTER AT ROANOKE ISLAND. ‘The exciting occurrence at Roanoke Island, resulting in a reverse to our arms, was the theme of eonversation yesterday in the city, to the exclusion ef almost every other topic. The fact that some of our Richmond compa. nies were engaged in the fight oecasioned an intense and partiewlarly among those who bad relatives among them, which eould not be well concealed, It is but ® short pe. riod since the Wise Legion, after am arduou® and toflsome campaign in Western Virginia, left hore for the coast of North Carolina, and theugh now defeated mone of the most desperate conflicts of the war, it ig at least consoling to Know that the mea fought with determined bravery, against everwholming odds, and won for themeelves the proud appellation of heroes, of which their present situation cannot deprive them. The Light Infantry Blues (Company A, of the Legion), dato their organization as far back as the year 1793, and number among their honorary members many of our oldest aud most venerated citizeos. The history of the company is 60 well known that wo need not repeat it here, Captain ©, Jennings Wise was elect- ed commander short time before the war broke out, and the corps was ene of the first to respond to the call of the country. Captain Wise is reported badly wounded, and Lieutenants Fred, Cartor aud Charles P. Bigger are taken prisoners, with, it ia presumed, a majority of the mon, ‘The Jackson Guard and the Light Guard, both attached to the Legion, wore enlisted here after the commencement of the wa: PRICE TWO CENTS. Captain Hiram B. Dickinaon, of the former, and Captain Gus. Wallace, of the latter, reported captured by the enemy, are well known citizens of Richmond. Lieuten- Ant Miller, of the Jackson Guard, is said to be mortally wounded. Major Hugh W. Fry, who is among the prison- ors, has many friends here, who regret his misfortune, but who are proud to believe that he sustained himself gallantly in the fight, and the same remark applies to Frank Johnston, of the Blues, as brave a young mapas ever shouldered a musket. The tclagraph informs us that our killed and wounded amounts Co 300, while that of the enemy reaches 1,000. The reader will find some further particulars of the affair im our Norfolk papers, from which it appears that the in- famous scroundrels have shelled and burned the pleasant little town of Elizabeth City, and are threatening Eden- ton, Their operations in that quarter, however, will be limited; and instead of depressing the spirits of our peo- ple,such acts of vandalism will serve to make them more determined, and rouse them to thrice vigorous re- sistance. ally we regret the logs of our accomplished cor- emian,”” whose letters from the Potomac and other points haye for some time past adorned the columns of this paper. Dr. Shephordson is well known throughout vhe South, and in his captivity (which we trust will be brief) he has the sympathy of a vast num ber of friends, THE CAMPAIGN IN CAROLINA. [From the Richmond Dispatch, Feb. 11.) Until within a day or two past, the capture of Roanoke Island by Burnside was considered a foregone conclusion. A fleet of neariy @ hundred sail and an army of fifteon or twenty thousand men, with guns and equipments in pfo- fusion, were esteemed equal to the capture ef any ex- posed piece of water bound land liko the island in ques- tion. But the brave resistance offered for nearly two days by our troops, and the hopeful terms in which they spoke of their prospects, led our people to believe that the island might be held. It has, however, been lost, and we are compelled to resign ourselves to the conclu- sion which a day or two of hope—we confess rot strong in our own case—had unsettled. Burnside has landed, after a hard fight, on a seaboard island, not ag advantageously situated, nor encompassed by as rich surroundings of country as Beaufort. His ob- Ject is supposed by some to be Norfolk; but if we are to believe the recent outgivings of Northern journais, his leading purpose is to make a demonstration against the Weldon and Wilmington Railroad, with a view to cutting our great line of Southern communication. That thing seems, for the present, to be the especial aim of the enemy in every quarter, His movements in Western Kentucky aud ‘Tennessee seem to have that single object for the present in view; and it has been repeatedly declared by Northern journals that Burnside’s primary purpose is a demonstra tion upon our railroad. It remains to be seen whether such be his real design, and with what success he will prosecute it. The experience of Sherman in a similar undertaking may possibly be his own. An assault upen Norfolk is the only object next after this railroad enterprise, commensurate in importance with the magnitude of the expedition. In such an undor™ taking the enemy's vessels could be of little direct use- ‘The water approaches to that city from North Carolina ‘are too narrow, tortuous and easily obstructed to admit the use of vessels; and if the enemy attempts a land ‘attack the chances in our favor of repelling himare two or three to one, The reduction of Norfolk would be the work of months, and could only be effected by a larga. increase of Burnside’s forces, an increase which tho Yankee exchequer is not able to afford for an operation stretching through a protracted pe- ried. Nothing at all can save their treasury, and nothing gin keep the war on foot but rapid operations and decisive successes. Yet we do not see wherein the Burnside expedition promises these re- sults moré unmistakably than Sherman’s did, which janded if November, nearly three months ago. Measured by its cost to the enemy, not even the cap- ture of Norfolk, if it could be effected, would compen sate him for his outlays, and this at last is the true standard by which his successes should be estimated. ‘The South need not expect, and cannot rationally ex- pect, that these huge expeditions, fitted ont at immens® expense, should fail to effect any achievement. Fifteen or twenty thousand men landed anywhere upon our sea” board must succeed in getting possession. It would be idle to expect otherwise, and imbecile to be discouraged by the fact. The true consideration is, whether such successes repay their cost, Measured by this standard, the achievements of the Burnside expedition are not likely to be very important. Its cost cannot have been less, in the first instance, than ten millions of dollars, and its charges every day are at least @ quarter of a million. \t has been thirty-one days proso- cuting its career to the point of capturing Roanoke Isiand, afeat which bas cost the federal government several millions, independently of the first outlay in tho enter- prise, and the losses incurred by the'storm. If the ex- pedition should succeed in capturing the whole Carolina seaboard, andevena considerable slice of the country Desides, together with Norfolk, still the fifteen or twenty millions of federal money laid out in the whole operation would not be reimbursed by half. We are not of those who suffer discouragement from ocea- sional successes of the enemy. They have far overtaxe? the resources of the North in bringing their prodigious forces into the field, The effect may be to damage us considerably, but they are damaging themselves much more. The injury they inflict upon us is local and reme- diable; that which they bring upon themselves in debt and taxation, is general, universal and enduring. They have chosen a gigantic and expensive psogramme, which must break down, and which mo successes, however great, can compensate the cost of. THE REBEL ISLAND AND, TOWNS. ROANOKE ISLAND poco nl A fow days ago we gave a brief description of Roanoke Island, and pointed out tho advi be derived from its capture and oecupation. The news, however, which wo lay before our readers this,morning, of the brilliant victory of the Union arms under General Burnside and Commodore Goldsborough, is of 0 much importance that ‘we think it not out of place to give a more Wetaijed.ac- count of the island and of the advantages which have fallen into our hands by its capture. Roanoke Island is twelve miles long and three miles wide, and is about fifty miles up Pamlico Sound. It was said to be fortified by the rebels on the southern, western and eastern shores, and defended with heavy ordnance, and on the 12th January, when the rebels learned of the arrival of Gon. Burnside at Hatteras Inlet, they instantly commenced the construction of a battery about midway of the island. In addition to this they had thrown up five forts, with an intrenched camp in the eontre, and had their works garrisoned by some five thousand troops, in order to prevent the passage of our gunboats through the Croatan Sound—the only comma- nication with Albemarle Sound. But the cheering news has now reached us of their being shelled out of their strongholds by the powerfal Union expedition which was brought against them, consisting of seventeen gunboats most powerfully armed with rifled artillery, among which were @ dozen nine-inch guns, two one dred pounder rifled guns, four eighty-pounders, and a large number of eight-inch shell and thirty-two-pounderr, The capture of Roanoke Island is of much import. ance, inasmuch as it commands all tho water communication along the whole North Carolina coast, aa wellas @ portion of Southeastern Virginia, Being im possession of it, we aro enabled to cut off all supplies by water from Norfolk, 60 that hereafter the rebels will be compelled to get their supplies wherever they can, and *ntirely by land; for Norfotk can also be cut off here, as also from the course acress Albemarle Sound northward to the point where the Pasquotank and North rivera empty. There are two routes from this last point to Norfolk—one by Pasquotank river, Dismal Swamp Canal and south branch of Elizabeth riyer, and the other by the North river of Albemarle and Pamlico Canal, Carri. tuck Sound, the North river of Currituck, th, upper cut of the Albemarle and Pamlico Canal, and the ‘Elizabeth river. During the winter months the first is passable for vessels drawing about six feet of water, The Pasquotank river is three miles wide at its month, and gradually narrows wntid at Elizabeth City it is only abowt three hundred yarde wide Curritvek is about fifty miles long, ten miles wide, and is navigable for vessels drawing ten est of water, Albe. {CONTINUED ON EIGHTH PAGRI ; {