Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-02-19
Roanoke Island--.The Progress Of the Enemy.


F.. We have CLEANED from persons who made their |
escape from Roanoke Island and FROM the Island the
following additional facts: :"
Lieut. Bryant, Commssary Of the 31st regiment,
(Col Jordan's) and Lieut.. Steagal, Quartermaster !
Of the same regiment, with one or two others, have
arrived These two officers were left with few |
in charge of the stores, camp equpage, &C., at
the camp in the north part of the island. They
were charged by Col. Jordan, in the event of dis
aster to secure the valuable papers and other effects
of the regiment and to make their escape, and de-
liver them to the authorities here. On Thursday
night before the battle Friday, Col Jordan was
ordered down the Island with his regiment, and
took position near the battle ground COL Shaw,
of the Sth State Troops, was in command, and his
regiment with reinforcement from the Wise lie
gion of about five hundred men, were in position
in the advance. On Friday the attempts of the en-
emy to land were Intellectual, being prevented by
our advance force. The bombardment from the
enemy's fleet, though kept up nearly all day, did
damage either TO our feet or men. The enemy
mainly replied to by our feet under command
of Com. Lynch. Early Saturday morning the enc
my succeeded in landing 5000 men on the south
end of the Island, but they two or three times
repulsed and driven into the sound up to their arm
pits. These charges, we understand, were mainly
executed by the Richmond Blues, under Capt Wise
and others of the Wise Legion. The enemy sue
ceeded in forcing our men to retreat up causeway
through marsh, at the north end of which we had
field battery Of three pieces drawn by old mules.
This battery was we'll served by Col Shaws men,
and as long their ammunition lasted it played
havoc with the Yankees But Just at that auspi-
cious moment the ammunition gave out, and they
had to send six miles up the island to get more,
and an o1 curt scas dispatched to bring it! The
driver was soon killed by chance shot, and another
took his place. but the battle ended before the am
munition was obtained
About this period, it was discovered that the
my had landed about 10, 900 additional men at other
Only two companies Capt. Knights and Capt
Liles) Of Col Jordans regiment supposed to have
been in the fight. They had the best arms in the
regiment, though not of the best. The rest were
held in reserve, except Capt Godwin's company
from Robson, which had charge of the batteries on
the Tyrrell shore, and it is believed they effected
their escape. COL Shaw's entire regiment is believ-
ed to have been in the action and the 500 of the
Wise Legon-makirg only about 800 men actu-
ally engaged against the enemy. The Richmond
Blues were badly cut up, were other companies
Of the Wise Legion and COL Shaw's regiment.
1t. Bryant says, that Col. Jordan arrived at the
Camp between II and l o'clock Saturday, and or
dered him and L.. Steagal to make their escape with
the papers of the regiment, informing him that the
battle was at an end, and that our beaten.
He further says that Col. Jordan told him that the
| carnage on both sides was dreadful
1t is impossible to ascertain the facts up to this
period. Accounts of the slaughter have varied eve
ry day. At first it was 800 on our side of killec
apd wounded-then 400-afterwards it was reduced
to co. and now hundred is the number The
Norfolk Day Boe&. says, it is reported by the enc
my at Fortress Monroe, that our loss was only l0(
in killed and wounded, and that the Yankee loss il
1000 to l,50U!
Fortunately the sick on the Island were removed
: before the battle to Nag's Head, and they hav
since arrived at Norfolk safely with Gen. Wise
Another report is that Col. Green's regiment arrv
ed on the Island about the close of the battle jus
in tiue to be taken prisoners but the report need
being wounded, and while being borne off the fiel
in blanket was killed by chance shot
On Sunday morning the Yankee fleet attacke
our little feet and small battery on the Pas9uotan
river, and our feet retired and the battery wa
abandoned They were pursued to Elizabety City
three of the Confederate vessels were taken' Con
Lynch was severely wounded, and be, with his of
GERS and crew, were taken prisoners The Bea'
fort, Empire and Raleigh effected their escape u
the river and are safe the south end of the cana
= Elizabeth City was sheled, and the inhabitants, b
fore leaving, set fire to many Of the buildings CO
Henngson, Of the Wise Legion escaped with his ba
l. terry, from Elizabeth City, but where he is at pr
+ sent we know not We hear t,,at the troo
. and people at Elizabeth City fought desperately
e fore giving up the place.
e The enemy next attacked Edenton. and took pc
/ secession, it is said after Intellectual reslstan
v by Col. Cla,kes regiment and the militia. At Ia
d accounts the enemy was supposed to be making h
}. way up Chowan river, with the view of taking t
5. Seaboard Road What troops we have to defer
>. the Road, we are not advised. Our fears are, tn
k our authorities have been dllatory he will ha
,r possession before they can stop his Roadway. I
f. Backwater boat failed to reach the bridge on TUT
E. day.
,e P. S. We find it difficult to get at the real fae
= of the Roanoke Island affair. 1t seems that
n Green's regiment did arrive at Roanoke Island il
st before the close of tho battle. The loss on bo
sides is still uncertain. We deeply regret to lea
that Capt Lilies of Anson anl 1t. Munroe of Gu
IN berand are among the slain. Capt. Goodwin a
IN his company escaped. We fear the number Of pr
Fh oners is over 1000.
nj rumor prevails that the Yankees have tax
re Plymouth, and another rumor speaks of their 6
ID vance upon Winton and Murfreesboro'.
RAILROAD CoNvENTIoN.-A Convention of
is Presidents of the several Southern Railroads
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