308 Nort Carotina Troops, 1861-’65.

opposite to Cobb’s Point Battery, the latter consisting of
four smooth-bore 32-pounders. The Curlew our largest
steamer, had been sunk during the engagement off Roanoke

Island; the Forrest was on the ways in Elizabeth City, un- ,

dergoing repairs, and the Raleigh I had the day before sent
up the canal to expedite forwarding ammunition from Nor-
folk. Shortly after daylight on the 10th the enemy ap-
peared in sight, and it was reported by the lookout that he
was landing troops below. I immediately went to the bat-
tery to arrange for its defence, and found it ungarrisoned,
in charge of a civilian and seven militiamen. As the bat-
tery was our principal reliance, and the enemy must pass it
before reaching the gunboats, I determined to defend it in
person, and sent for Lieutenant-Commanding Parker, of the
Beaufort, to bring on shore his ammunition, officers and
crew, leaving only sufficient of the latter to take that vessel
up to the canal. We at first manned three of the guns with
the aid of the militiamen, but they speedily deserted, and we
fought with only two 32-pounders. The enemy advanced
very boldly and, contrary to my expectation, instead of tak-
ing position as he did at Roanoke Island for the purpose of
shelling out the battery, he continued to press on; in one
hour and five minutes succeeded in passing it, and, with full
complements of men, closed upon our half-manned gun-boats.

“The commanders of the latter were instructed, when
their ammunition failed, to escape with their vessels if they
could; if not, to run into shoal water, destroy the signal
books, set fire to the vessels and save their crews.

“The Appomattox succeeded in making her escape; the
Seabird was sunk in the action; the Hllis was overpowered
and captured, and the Fanny ran aground and was set on fire
by her commander, who brought her crew safely ashore.

“By the capture or destruction of the gun-boats the enemy
gained positions to enfilade the battery (the guns of which
could no longer be brought to bear), bringing the magazine
in their line of fire, and as further resistance would have
availed nothing, the town being at their mercy, the guns of
the battery were carefully spiked and the officers and men
- deliberately withdrawn.

 

Nortu Carouina Navy. 309

“The Forrest, in obedience to my orders, was burned by
her officers before leaving Elizabeth City; the Ellis was cap-
tured; the Beaufort, Raleigh and Appomattos escaped; the
Fanny was set on fire and blew up; and the flagship was sunk,
so that of our little squadron of gun-boats, the Hillis (next to
the Forrest the most indifferent one) alone fell into the
hands of the enemy. Of casualties, I regret to say that
Acting Midshipman Jackson and one seaman of the LHllis,
and Seamen Ballance and Bragg, of the Sea Bird, were killed
and one seaman of the Ellis and Third Assistant Engineer
Henderson and four seamen of the Sea Bird were wounded.

“The officers exhibited great gallantry, but were not uni-
versally sustained by their men, for some of them, being raw
recruits, shrank from a hand-to-hand encounter with a
greatly superior force. Until better informed, I cannot par-
ticularize the conduet of the officers afloat, but will do them
full justice in a future communication.

“Tjieutenant-Commanding Parker, Acting Master John-
son, and Acting Midshipmen Gardner and Mallory were with
me in the battery, and by cool intrepidity sustained the con-
fidence I placed in them. To Lieutenant-Commanding Par-
ker I am specially indebted, as well for his brave deportment
in battle as for the judicious manner he conducted upward of
fifty officers and men from Elizabeth City to Norfolk. Mr.
Hinrick, the civilian whom we found in charge of the bat-
tery, stood by us to the last, and deserves to be gratefully re-

membered.
“Wa. F. Lynon,

“Flag Officer, Commanding Naval Defences of North Caro-
5 aN i =
lina and Virginia. : c 5
“Hon. 8. R. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy, Richmond.

cant Cooke, C Navy, ComMANDING
Report or LreuTeENANT Cooke, C. S. Navy, Com

oS. 8. Exxs.

(Official Records Union and Confed. Navies, Series 1, Vi.
6, Page 597.)
‘Warrenton, N. C., 16 April, 1862.
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