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PERSONAL NARRATIVES

OF EVENTS IN THE

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

SECOND SERIES.

 

THE BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

PiitgAB REM Ci T ¥,

LORENZO TRAVER, M. D.

 
PERSONAL NARRATIVES

OF EVENTS IN THE

WAR OF THE REBELLION,

BEING PAPERS READ BEFORE THE

RHODE ISLAND SOLDIERS AND SAILORS

HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

PROVIDENCE:
N. BANGS WILLIAMS & CO.

1880.

 
 

BURNSIDE EXPEDITION IN NORTH CAROLINA.

BATTLES

ROANOKE ISLAND

Copyrighted by
N. BANGS WILLIAMS

1880,

ELIZABETH: CIT? X.

BY LORENZO TRAVER, M. D.,

[LATE ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON UNITED STATES NAVY.]

PRINT 7
NTED BY E. L. FEEEMAN & CO

PROVIDENCE:
N. BANGS WILLIAMS & CO.
1880.

 
N.

Copyrighted by

BANGS WILLIA MS

1880,

BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

AND

ELIZABEILHM Cid.

{READ BEFORE THE SOCIETY, DEcEMBER 10, 1879.]

November 22d, 1861, I received my commission as
Acting Assistant Surgeon in the United States Navy,
with orders to report to Commodore Pendergrast, at
the Philadelphia Navy Yard, for duty on board the
United States steamer Delaware. I lost no time in
arranging my business, in order that I might serve
my country at the time when the services of every
loyal man was required to assist. in crushing the
hydra of rebellion. I found the Delaware not ready
for sea, but in the course of a few days time, after
all of the officers had reported for duty and the

vessel had received her armament and gone into

 

 

 
AND ELIZABETH CITY.
OKE ISLAND

and
é : ‘ ton Roads,
down Elizabeth river into Hamp
run dow -
received our
shot, srape, canister and shr:
amount of powder)

: + break-
sion, it being Sunday morning soon se in
occasion, bel steamers were seen Se aes
e ne reb ; agship Min-
; here, = : Orders were signaled from the flagship
' thirteenth we ar- ~
, Where we anchored for

é rts that
ttack on our gunboats and transpo1
made an att

4 ber on one
lyi in the “ Roads.” I remem
re lying )
were lyi

The officers of the Delaware at the time of sailing
Were :—

Licutenant—stephen P.

Acting Master—Luke B.
Acting Assist

Quackenbush,
Chase.
ant Surgeon—J

40renzo Tr;
Acting Assistant P.

iver,
aymaster—Frederick R.
ate—James HH. Kernes,

ate—James HH.

Curtis,
Acting Master's M
Acting Master’s M

Sprigeman.

Acting Master’s Mate—Josiah H. H

ammond.
Hi. Raymond.

ant Engineer—John D. y
ant Enginee

Acting Master’s Mate—James

Acting Second Assist
Acting Third Assist '—Asaph Dunbar.
Acting Third

Assistant Engineer—T he

odore J, Brown,
Acting Third Assistant Engineer—John Davis,
At this period of the re city of Norfolk
“and the Gosport Navy Yard Were held by
and on sever.

al occasions, the rebel

bellion, the

the rebels,

gunboats had

i c 5 : 3 W
nes a WwW PA Le the enemy .
t to eigh anchor and engage . | a
is an¢ 1 il W we blazing at ea |
’ 1 In a short t ne e 2re d 5
as s i P arer and nearer,
? t long range, coming nea + | a:
i ¢ inaetr t 1e
e enemy deemed it adv isable to retr eat U
) : re Se d s attery ; 81 -
P t 3) t n of th , guns of a lar ge san : :
rotec ) ne g o b 8 t
ed Se raney island at the mouth of Eli eh >t h
V : ee 1 ] we ve w a of le 0
18) C i si
If an vere injurec ] ve never
river.
kes was t ts) e tl t I yas under an enemy's
‘ na was =) ene
t he first tim es
=] | c c ¢ ll d that 1t was an
as a C O,
fi ¥ ol t > ybably AS
re, and thoug } ) pro ast it .
eng \g =] nt of considerable magnit 1 le. me Fae
rigeme - . : |
t 5S d shel passed over us, and lrop} e 1 a ]
c fe ) ve é e were 0 u rate in not re-
she Ss hot an ; :
d tl e es el, still Ww ere fort c
1rO ss
celving any injury. é
4 f eral day 8, the gun oats,
1 apse oO se c
After the lap =] >V 85 5
. po ts load d dow D with sol lier Sy and
army trans 5 e

i. c ] 5 s | s anc
schooners W it 1am Dl ovisions, horses UT 1
I mu tion, dT 1 ;

oc I

 

 

 
BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

forage for the same began to arriv
o ? So
until the whole ros

number, oadstead w:
with vessels.

waves, looking

’ afloat, than it did like
of vessels laden with de

Up to this time Ww
tion w

ath-destroying Weapons,
€ knew not where our destina-
ould be, but of course surmised that it was

he southern Coast, w

one was ordere
could be seen j

gunboat and transport; the

vessels hove their anchors short,
sails preparatory toa move;
moving about here and there,
thing unusual w
this time eve
sealed orde

sailors on the different

and unfurled their
every one could be seen

all showing that ‘Some-
as about to occur,

"Y commanding officer had
rs,to remain uno
a certain latitude ;

received his

e almost without

AND ELIZABETH CITY.

: 3 ounboats, trans-
eae ste otal att cee with ah
— — oad seen wending their ie ° ‘a
expedition, — pera direction; and in wi se
— ie could be seen, where only . oe
time onan — fleet, counted by PGCE: ae
eee ce During the night — ae
eae < os the sea was quite ee,
oar PRES but towards morning i "
with very tittle srease, and by noon it was ts >
a — a atte’ several gunboats, ae
a fearful gale. ntering towar
— he Pepe pe OD we arrived January
oint, viz.,
Siaeis in the ESTE a large bark, loaded
we eae i
” cee as down; in other ae
basen es 6 We ran alongside, and founc es
beni erat taken in tow. We told ee a
= serene any assistance, as seeps
per ee to get along safely. Soon a
ences: — - a the outer bar and
At the time

A bh and no
: yer roug ;
| I th inlet the sea was e é
t 1roug 1 e ) s V V Vy

 

 

 
10 BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLA

ND

channel to be Seen—nothing but one mass of white
capped waves and foam—althoug
the bar to the harbor in safety, leaving on our port
side the transport steamer City of New York, loaded
i and fast on a sand bar,
sea washing over her deck with every

running with such fearful
velocity that no boat could go to her assistance. It

was a cold, wintry day, and the

h we crossed over

wave, and the waves

The seamen lashed thems
ging, where they remained
sleep, drenched to the skin,
storm abated.

elves to the rig-
» Without food, without

for forty hours, until the
No help could reach them. Every
endeavor was made to send them aid, and two heroic
men, Colonel Allen and Surgeon Wellar

» perished
in the attempt, but all in vain.

At length, after the

f,a steam-
ceeded in reaching the wreck, and the sufferers, half
dead, were rescued.

storm had nearly exhausted itsel

11
AND ELIZABETH CITY.

SSG ee : i
out down the flag, and winding it a1 wand his = ‘
: : it in triumph away. “I was determined,’ os
re i me
: “ either to die beneath the folds of the wae ue
; ‘ 2 need-
inteiaa or to bear them safely to land.” It = =
: to ng that the vessel and cargo was a tota : :
. * r
i day vessels came filing in one after ano ste
3 i y packe
1 by sunset the little harbor was literally 4%
2 7 iptions,—-small and
, i riptions,—-sm
i t of kinds and descrip ;
vith craft of all —
schooners, brigs, barks, side-wheel —— :
arge § can
fhe -unboats, with a few of the New York an apt
u i
| Ses boats, altered over to gunboats : Be =
n "
' thing was pressed into the service tha =
ever ch
but eee water, as before proceding to a
inst the enemy, it was first necessary a
ains ‘ :
a t is called “ Buckhead Shoal,” an —
gia r of navi-
i been the terro
icksand which had long
EAE is about a mile wide, with a tortuous
rators. é . cee
ean leading through it, varying sii 6 titi
Cc
hifting quicksands of the bottom, and with n
shi g
: igh tide.
six feet of water at hig :
som riving at the inlet, we found the ae
cal i i to be the
States steamer Philadelphia, which was

4 is M.
fla ship with flag-officer Commodore Louis V
ag- ’

 

 

 
y were soon running up P
umn, and part of the way
four or five abreast—all, ho
to be signaled.

amlico sound in a col-

were strung out in file of

wever, kept near enough

The weather was delightful, but

ast three weeks, which had been

passed in inac.-
tivity in the sound.

In all there were some
gunboats. General Burnside had

er Picket as his fl

twenty

selected the steam-
ag-ship, or headquarters

during the
naval engagement,

13
AND ELIZABETH CITY.

At five o’clock in the afternoon we BSS
and within ten miles of the inland; ae down the
the night. It was a beautiful sight ae aula
sound and witness the pO LE as far as the
ee se night had gath-
=r gat one of the steamers went up the

ed aro ’ fi
sound ee ees = Eee clouds were

; ’ February sixt

“ oe ak ech sanialie some a
ae : hock below. About ten o’clock the | oe
oe <A wits for the whole fleet to get —
nies ae for Action,” was run up to 2 there
— Sane: all through the mapreaethy a8
oats ral beating to quarters, and in a few “i
<n cassia fleet was moving up eT

i ee eee
cae the whole of General sae a coming
meonguroee ere
puereanes t ca then left for rebeldom. Eve F
pre Pte: aring for the conflict shih: eg
oe sa tee ss Soon rain began to fall in tor-
about to c .

; ion
ry a consultat
ts, and it became very foggy, when
rents,
2

 

 

 
14 BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

of war was held on board of the Delaware, and it
was decided to come to anchor for the day, only five
miles from the rebel batteries. How discouraging,
when only a few hours before our hopes were buoyed
up with the prospect of giving the rebels a good
whipping, to have them blasted a few minutes later
by the sudden change in the weather.

Some three miles above, at the outlet of Pamlico
and the entrance of Albemarle sounds, were seen
eight rebel gunboats drawn up in line of battle,
ready to receive us. In addition to some twenty
gunboats, we had six launches connected with the
fleet, which were designed to land men, each holding
some thirty or forty, and each armed with a twelve-
pound howitzer in the bow.

Roanoke island, as you all doubtless are aware,
is two and one-half miles wide and sixteen miles
long, bearing a little to the northwest and south-
east, between Pamlico and Albemarle sounds, and
just inside of a strip of sand beach ranging from
one-quarter of a mile to two miles wide, extend-
ing along the whole coast of North Carolina. The
passage to be contested, situated between the is-

AND ELIZABETH CITY. 15

land on the right and the main land on the left,
was about one and a half to two miles wide, with
sunken vessels and a row of piles driven down, ex-
tending across the channel from shore to shore, some
ten feet apart, only leaving a passage-way just wide
enough for their vessels to pass through. This nar-
row passage was thoroughly guarded by five forts
on the island, and one large fort opposite, on the
main land, and with eight rebel gunboats drawn up
in line of battle, extending across the passage from
the island to the opposite shore, making the rebel
defences on both sides and ahead of the attacking
party, with- Pamlico sound in the rear. About two
thousand five hundred men manned the batteries on
the island, and at Nag’s Head, on the outer beach,
five thousand. Such were the formidable prepara-
tions which the rebels had made for defense.

The object of this “cheval de frise” was to prevent
the union forces from passing up Albemarle sound
and through the Currituck Canal and Dismal Swamp
to obtain a foothold in the rear of Norfolk and Gos-
port Navy Yard which were held at that time by
the enemy, making a very strong point for the rebels

 

 

 
16 BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

to hold, as it gave them an opportunity to build ves-
sels and iron-clads, one of the latter class, the Mer-
rimack, came near destroying the small naval fleet
left at Hampton Roads, in March, 1862, to protect the
fortifications at the entrance of Hampton Roads and
the mouth of James river—which would prevent the
rebel iron-clads escaping from Norfolk, and running
up the James, to join their forces at Richmond, or
running by Fortress Monroe out to sea and along the
northern and southern coasts, destroying the shipping
or whatever might come in their way. The destruc-
tion of our fleet by the Merrimack would have been
accomplished had it not been for the timely arrival
of the Monitor, our first iron-clad, or “ cheese box on
a raft,” as it was called at that time.

February seventh, at nine o'clock in the morning,
the weather was clear and warm, with a fair pros-
pect for a pleasant day. Ten o’clock, the time for an
attack had arrived, and the Delaware signaled to
the whole fleet to get under way. The enemy was
in sight, with their gunboats ahead, and the batteries
on the right and left of us, when Nelson’s famous
order, modified for the occasion, was run to the mast-

AND ELIZABETH CITY. Li

head of the flag-ship: “‘ America expects every man
to do his duty.” This was responded to with a thun-
der-peal of cheers from all the ships. The fleet now
entered Croatan strait, which is about one mile wide.
The vessels as they advanced through the contracted
channel stretched out about eight miles in length.
All of the fortifications were soon in sight, and the
whole upper half of the island seemed to be lined
with batteries. The first one approached was on a
spot called Park’s Point. Opposite this battery were
the sunken vessels and the first line of piles filling
the channel. Behind this barricade, the rebel gun-
boats were stationed, so that in case they were dis-
abled during the fight they could not be pursued.
At half-past eleven o’clock the first gun was fired
from the flag-ship, and a portion of the fleet immedi-
ately engaged Park’s Point battery, while others
opened their broadsides upon the fleet, firing across
the obstructions. At twelve o’clock we were close
to the enemy. They had fired some half dozen
shots, but all fell short of us. The Delaware fired
her first shot at fifteen minutes past twelve. The
firing rapidly increased, and the men were in excel-

 

 
18 BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

lent spirits, having had an extra ration of grog
Their jokes and laughter could be distinctly baeel
between the discharge of the artillery.

After the gunboats were driven away, the whole
fleet concentrated their fire on the batteries. The
rebel troops, for some reason, did not vigorously
respond. The appearance was, that they preferred
the shelter of the casemates, to the exposure of
standing by their guns. With glasses, the shot and
shell could be seen falling with great destructive
ness in and around the enemy’s works. Many sf
the gunboats approached very close to the wha
— poured in with wonderful precision, and ra id.
ity, their destructive fire. Huge sNatiachiess ne
our vessels, but caused no injury. At two o’clock
two new batteries opened fire on us, making five ‘

all. The shells from our vessels set the forts on fire
?

and their destruction seemed inevitable. The flames
sone were soon extinguished, only to break so
again with renewed vigor a few minutes later. The
rebels had several large columbiads, and they cided
them with great precision, but still very little en

a0 3 i
age was done to our fleet, owing to the continuous

AND ELIZABETH CITY. 19

movement of our vessels backward and forward,
which caused them to get out of range of their guns.
All the rebel gunboats kept close under the protec-
tion of their batteries.

While the bombardment by the gunboats was going
on, the landing of the soldiers from the transports,
who were to co-operate with the fleet, began. A
boat from the Delaware, with a reconnoitering party,
had first been sent towards the shore. They were
fired upon by the rebels concentrated in the forest.
The Delaware instantly pitched a few dozens of nine-
inch shrapnell into the woods. No one could stand
this, and the rebels fled, and the disembarkation con-
tinued unmolested. Two thousand rebels, with rifles
and three heavy guns, had stationed themselves at
this point, to prevent the landing. The shrapnell
from the Delaware was so destructive, that, in their

flight, the rebels abandoned their cannon, and even

threw away many of their muskets, that they might

run more swiftly.
In landing the troops by General Burnside, the

that the launches could not ap-
and the men had to wade,

water was so shoal
proach close to the shore,

 

 

 
20 BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

many times with the water to their waist, sinking
deep in the soft mud. This was very exhausting, as
every man had to carry his musket and heavy rei
sack, and the water was icy cold.

During the action, one of the quarter gunners
who had charge of the magazine, obtained a key
which fitted the spirit room, unlocked the door and
helped himself. I chanced to go below, and found
ees and another gunner intoxicated, using threaten-
ing language about blowing up the ship. I hauled
him out, shut the door, and reported them to the
cdumuadiding officer, who had them put in double
irons. Fortunately no accident occurred, but the
thought of having an intoxicated man in the maga-
zine was anything but pleasant.

It was three o’clock in the afternoon when the
United States flag was raised at Ashley’s Harbor
The cannonading was still raging at the battery It
continued unabated all day, and as the igi tans
clear and the range was perfect, it did not cease with
the going down of the sun. Nothing can be ima
ined more sublime than a bombardment by ni +4
The glare of the guns, so spiteful in expression ; e

AND ELIZABETH CITY. 21

roar of the explosions; the shrieking of the shells, as

if demons were howling through tbe air; the burst-

ing of the shells with meteoric brilliancy, and the
volumes of smoke rising in the darkness; all these,
blended with the gloom of night, presented a scene
which, once witnessed, can never be forgotten.
About one hour after dark the fleet drew off, and
was silent and motionless for the remainder of the

night. ‘The land forces had indeed a cheerless pros-

pect before them. Thoroughly drenched and chilled
by the cold wintry waves, they were compelled to

bivouac on the shelterless shore, without tents, ex-

posed to a cold north wind and a heavy rain. Their

discomfort through the night was extreme. The

landing of all the forces from the transports had
been effected with the loss of but four men killed

and eight wounded.
During the naval conflict, the fleet had been se-

verely handled by the heavy shot from thé batteries

and the rebel gunboats. Only a few of the crew

were killed and wounded on board the national
ships, although several shots passed through the ves-
sels. ‘The ships were not damaged enough to inter-

 

 

 
22 BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

fere with the efficient action of the fleet, and all on

the island and in the vessels waited impatiently,
cheered with hope, for the opening of another day.
The morning of Saturday, the eighth, came. It

was cold and dismal. The landing of troops had

continued all night, and towards morning the whole

sixteen thousand were encamped near the shore.
The Delaware anchored close to the shore to protect
them. At early daylight, the fleet opened fire upon
the battery which the rebels still held. About nine
o’clock, large reinforcements were conveyed to the
upper end of the island by the rebel gunboats.
While the bombardment was going on fiercely,
Lieutenant Jeffers was sent with eight gunboats to
remove the obstructions, in order that our fleet might
pass through into Albemarle sound. Firing from the
battery continued, still the fleet worked heroically un-
til the obstructions were removed and one by one the
vessels passed through the gap, and anchored above
in the sound. About the same time, the land forces
were aroused from their comfortless bivouac, and
started at early daylight, under command of General
Reno, for a three miles march up the island to make

ss ae

AND ELIZABETH CITY. 23
an attack on the rebels in their central prea!
They were obliged to pick their way pitts eid
undergrowth, and wade through deep mora ae
two hours, when they came upon the pice rats
ly intrenched behind their ramparts. te sae
seemed to command the narrow causeway, : Pete
the only path to the redoubt. ee cree
brigade, composed of the Twenty-third an sane
fifth Massachusetts and the Tenth sane 0
ments, commanded by the young and heroic ces
Russell, immediately commenced the assau

i )
“ musketry and a few field pieces. General Ren

groped through swamps knee-deep in mud, a oe
to obtain a more favorable position, and ” ~ 2
and officers co-operated heartily and — 8
this work. While thus engaged, General Burn =
was on the beach pushing forward, as rapidly as p

ding
sible. the disembarkation of the troops, and sending

i i ir attack.
up reinforcements to aid the men in their a

i ission
At this time I requested and obtained permis

e and assist
from my commanding officer to go on shor

ri er ¥ as un-
i Ww General Foster w
in caring for the ounded.

g i i n with cour-
i j j i 10 his me
tiring in his exertions, lead g

 

 
24 BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

ageous example, and selecting the points in the
redoubt most favorable for an attack. According to
testimony, Colonel Russell was very much beloved
by his men, and as he was cheering them on, a bullet

pierced his heart, and without a word or
dropped dead.

slow, but firm.

a groan, he
The advance of the assailants was
At length the ammunition was ex-

hausted, and it became necessary to retire, or strive

to take the battery by a desperate charge. Major
Kimball, of the Hawkins Zouaves, just then came
up and offered to lead the charge. “You are the
very man,” said General Foster, “and this ig the
very moment. Zouaves—Storm vr

HE BATTERY!” Jn
an instant they started

» and sweeping like a gale
across the narrow causeway, shouting their war-cry,
“Zou, Zou, Zou,” with a roar which rose above the
clamor of the battle. The attack was so sudden and
unexpected that the rebels hesitated for a moment in

bewilderment, and then fled in a panic, leay

ing their
wounded uncared for.

As they rushed away from
the fort, the Zouaves, with shouts, went climbing

over the ramparts and through the embrasure
the vacated fort. The retre

s into
at of the rebels was cut

AND ELIZABETH CITY.

off by the movement of General Reno in one cae
tion, while General Foster pushed on at eae
following in their footsteps. The hot a :
kept up for nearly six miles by the nationa sett
crowding them so closely that it - ni seen “ee
to rally. Colonel Hawkins, ie Sere es
route, overtook a body of two sneer rebels, -
surrendered without a struggle. General — z 5
in with a force of eight hundred rebels, under :
command of Colonel Jorden, and compelled aaa =
an unconditional surrender. Bverything — :
be working in favor of the national troops, - -
General Foster saw Colonel 7 from the : =
Carolina Volunteers, with a flag of truce, ae
ing him, asking on what terms he would — Pe
capitulation. “ Unconditional en a
reply. ‘How much time can we pate for _ a
ation?” was then asked. “Only time w ae -
your superior officer.” This surrender ee 7
the batteries, all the troops upon the ee a
the defences. Over two thousand rebels ae
their arms, and before five o’clock the stars an

3

 

 
26 BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

stripes were floating over P.
all fortifications on the is]
By this time the fleet h
ricade, and the nation
the whole island,
nected with

ark’s Point battery, and
and,

o
c

id pushed through the bar-

al troops were in Possession of

and the vast internal w

Pamlico and Albemarle sou
coast was clear.

aters con-

nds. The
Roanoke island was ours, and six
forts, forty-two heavy guns,

with a large quantity of
smaller arms and munitions of war, with two thou-

ners, fell into the hands
The union loss consisted of

sand and five hundred priso
of the union forces,
forty killed

and two hundred wounded,
The following gener
modore IL,

oke island:

al order w

as issued by Com-
M. Goldsborough after

the battle of Roan-

“ ROANOKE IsLANp, N, C., Feb’y 9th, 1862.
To the officers and men under my command, engaged in the reduc-
tion of Roanoke Island :

Your efforts of yesterda
enemy, were alike worthy

our glorious flag upholds,

y and the day before, against the

of yourselves and the sacred cause

I thank you for the
achieved.

gallantly
a more gratifying disp]

late you upon the results
could have been more

m, and congratu-
No Commander-in-Chief
sustained, or could h

ave desired
ay of courage, skill

and discipline,

AND ELIZABETH cITY.

We have ye 0 ) inc acc ish, and will
t more work of the kind » acc om pli 1 » 4
Ss : | yara ¢ rebellion.
leliver another blow to crush the hydra of ;
soon de > : :
what I have already wit nessed, Iam sure y
From whi o Ss 3 yu will do
ett Commodore L. M. GoLDsBOROT GH,

N i *kading Squad-
Flag Officer Commanding North Atlantic Blockading Sq
‘lag 2€ g g

’

ron.’

The next day was the Sabbath, February Se
It seemed to be necessary that pasate aes
ralized foe should be pursued before é
eens his shattered forces for aa ene
Fourteen vessels were dispatched under ea
Stephen C. Rowan to pursue the Sas rd 3
unboats up Albemarle sound. They se Sette
aac City, at the head of maar bret:
i y h about thirty-five miles. Elizabeth * ;
paniogeree inhabitants, Men: sire tee se
Portsmouth and Norfolk, in virgs w eat
rebels were in great strength, by the Disma a
canal. About sunset, the union seas es fe
at the mouth of the river, fifteen waa ie eet
city. There was no escape for the a . nfo
were completely entrapped, and their doom se

A vigilant watch was kept through the night.

 

 
28 :
BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

The i i i
Sse inhabitants of the city awaited the event witl
reat anxi gi i aes
atop ao They did not dream that the union
S could pass the barricade and fortifications of

oano d nd a nd were 1 e ared Fr the disaste1
e

R n k isla Pm: npr Pi fo

bursting upon them.

rol as d muies
4 on, d hen ithi fi e ]
on W again in moti 1, an Ww Ww nD V 1

of t i (
; the city we found seven gunboats drawn i
ciel : Ss dre u
3 é ot battle to receive us. There was a ike -
se ee é é n
: Tig out about a fourth of a mile in front i
he rebel fleet, and u i ( ;
é pon this a fort was
: = constructed
ae: four guns. On the opposite side of tl
river or :
a ey the fort was a floating battery mounting
70 rifle &
_ ii cee passage between the battery
f yas only half a mile in wi
d width, tl :
which the fleet must pass to reach tl] ated
boats. a
engag
gage the enemy at close quarters, the men j
| 8, n im-
epee 3 prepared for action. Orders wer et
ate | e give
- all vessels to advance under full head of Rs *
1¢ flag-ship Delaware took the lead, not payin si,
, aying any

AND ELIZABETH CITY. 29

regard to the batteries, but plunged through the
shot and shell falling about her in a perfect shower,
with the whole fleet following, and before the rebels
could recover from the shock of such an heroic attack,
the national vessels plunged into the enemy’s ships,
running them down, and with sabre blows, and bay-
onet thrusts, our men were upon their decks. Near-
ly every man was killed, wounded or taken prisoner.
A few of them, after setting their vessels on fire,
jumped overboard and escaped to the shore. Thus
ended one of the shortest and most spirited battles
during the war. It lasted only fifteen minutes from

the time the first blow was struck, until the stars

and stripes were proudly floating over the vessels

and fortifications. The union loss, in this truly
heroic action was but two killed and twelve wound-
ed. The crews who had escaped from the vessels,
in their flight set fire to Elizabeth City, and nearly

consumed the little village, consigning many families

to want and helplessness.
Soon after the capitulation, the mayor of Elizabeth

City, and the surgeon connected with the fort, came
aboard the Delaware, and asked Captain Rowan if he

 
30 BATTLES OF ROANOKE ISLAND

would allow me to 0 ashore to assist in amputating

the arm of a rebel soldier, who was wounded at the
battle of Roanoke island. After assuring Captain
Rowan that they would return me in safety, I went
with them, and on arriving at the house we found
the poor fellow had more legs left than courage, and

the former had conveyed him tw a place where he
could not be found. So J returned.

The following general order was issued by Com-

mander Stephen ©. Rowan after the battle of Eliza-
beth City:

“ ELIZABETH Ciry, N. C., February 11th, 1862.

The Commander of the flotilla in Albemarle

Sound, avails
himself of the earliest Opportunity to m

ake a public acknowl-
displayed by the offi-
and, in the capture and destruction

of the enemy’s batteries and squadron at Cobb’s Point. The
strict observance of the plan of attack,

ment of the coolness, gallantry, and skill
cers and men under his comm

and the Steady, but on-
ward course of the ships without returning a shot until within

three-quarters of a mile of the fort, excited the

admiration of
our enemies. The undersigned jg Pparticul

arly gratified at the

evidence of the high discipline of the crews in refraining from

tresspassing in the least degree upon the private property of

defenceless people, in a defencelesgs town.

31
AND ELIZABETH CITY.

1€ § g 2 S lame

The enerous offer to go on shore and extingul h 1e flames

ap € € t 2 } the houses of
lied by the torch of a vandal soldiery , upon

apple 0

Ss ‘ » WE Ing ev dence
t »w lefenceless women ind children, is strik

SC ae ‘ 1 1 kir a : I

) I ustice of our c 1use, and must have its effec 3¢ £
of the J a] fect in teachin

ed countrymen a iesson In umanity and civilization.
lel led co ry lesso h ¢ 4
our deluc
} 2 WAN
Commander STEPHEN C. Ro ’

N F A . ‘aro-
i al Flotilla in Albemarle Sound, orth Caro
Commanding Nava 5 N

lina.”