New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-15
gunboats wosi CONSPICUOUS in affair, furnishes the

Aier I've S'''' .etory Of Roanoke leland AM Us
soon "a tui'ao cr.rar.tion. could be made "A pof'
'on q Sect proceeded to Elizabeth envy 'o' .a
P'' "a Of capturing he Rebel Navy, wne"' "
'id, h d Flsde a stand at that po'pt' WIN VIC
ton ~ resisting our force TO the last. oruefs "'''
n 50 @ , en- 10 burn what steamers the heoeis "e'o
bui dr. at that place but not TO destroy or moieS'
am esther property belonging 10 the cltHens.
The EXPEDITION, m command OF Capt s. e. Rowan,
~ Roat ose Isnnd on Sunday, at O'CLOCK P W.
Fl, WAS composed Of the following steamers Deia'
ware, Lieut. Com. Quachenbu,h, the flagship; Ia-
dervri..r, Lient Con-. w. n. Jefersi Louisiana,
Lieut. Com. Murray; Lockwood, Acting Master
Graves; Seymour, Lieut.-Com. Wells He'zei'
! Lieut. Com. Davenport; Shawsheen, Aclng- Master
Woodruff; Valley City, Lieui.-Com. CLaplni "ehe-
raj Pu'nam, Acting.Masrer ilotcbkissi Commodore
Perry. Lieut. Com. Flusseri Ceres Acting Master
Mac Diarmid; Morse, Actin g-Master Hayes While
head. Actipg.Master French Brncker, Acting Mas
ter Giddings. making fourteen in all.
The distance 10 Elizabeth City, from Roanoke
leland is some thir,y-fve or forty mes. About I'LL
hour after ,he Squadron left the Island, we discovered
two Rebel steamers some five miles oil, making TOT
Elizabeth City with all possible speed, and were
doubtless carry ing the news Of our spproaeh'
This Was about an hour beferc sundown anu
upder full head Of steam all bands gave cusSe, III
hopes We might capture the two steamers before
dark; but after bard Of over an hour, we were
satisfied that the Job could not be accomplished, anu
ON arriving at the mouth Of Pasquoiauk RIVER ON
which Elizabeth City ia situated 1t wac decided 10
anchor for tie night and proceed to give tue enemy
battle early in the morning. We were then some
Twelve or fifteen miles from Elizabeth CITY.
The squadron anchored across the river, 80 that
nothing could pass in the night, aud all hands were
ordered TO have their side-arms by them, 30 as to be
ready for the enemy, should be attack ne before
morning It wac beautiful moonlight night Out
no enemy came in eight until morning, when just al
the break Of day loaded schooner wac Uncovered
coming down the river, and of course was 40 easy
prize. She WAS taken by the steamer Seymour.
The steamer Shawsheen, which also gave chase,
fred a Gun across the schoouers bow which brought
her to; but the seymour having started flint,
reached the schooner ust in time to nab her and
carry off the honors, which Of course she was emit
tied TO- Al this writing have not learned what the
schooner il loaded with; doubtless with supplies for
the enemy. TIE Seymour took her prize in tow,
ard wsf soon 10 company with the sqadlon.
We came in sight of Elizabeth City about 3
o'clock. and, "a we approached, We Discovered The
euemys steamers in number-in line OF bat
ile in front Of the city, ready to receive us. 4 fort
was also discovered on point which projected ont
some considerable dstance-one-fourth oil MILE
rerlaps-in front Of the rebel Line Of steamers and
directly opposite Of this tort was schooner, an
clored. ON which were two heavy rifle guns; the
distance between the fort and this schooner being
about half-a-mile -Four large guns were mounted
on tie fort, and it was thought by the rebels that no
feet Of ours could pass this narrow channei eonse-
quen,ly they considered themselves saie, with the
assistance Of their navy, drawn MP between the city
end lot.
A, the sight Of tho enemy, everything was III
readincf. for battle To describe tie Wild delight OF
our brave blue. jackets, when they inst discovered
the enemy, BE- more tlan tie yen cen 10.
The charge was shore and desperate, and without
any exception is ono Of tie most brilliant ever made
b. the American Navy. All eyes were on the Com.
uander Rowan, to what tie frst order would
be, - we were rapidly approaching the foe.
In due tine he rt.n up the signal 20 engage the
enemy in cose action, hand to hand We we're then
about TWO niles from the enemy. The signal
encounter with adespera,e foe, whose all was siaked
upon this ipaI engagement. For distance of two
miles 1t WIS nce between our steamer, in their
esgemees to ouisrnp each other, and to be FIRST 10
meet the enemy Of to Republic face to face.
The river began 70 narrow as we approached the
city. The point where he fort was ,iuaied neces-
,arily brought our steamers nearer iogetle making
them sure marks for the enemy's guns; indeed, it
would be a miracle Il shot from one Of the enemy's
gus did Mt siko some one o! our steamers. Under
tie circumstance, moot any other commander wold
have thought il Advisable 10 fret attack the fort aud
silence the guns both ,ides of that narrow poiut
ana then a, ack the Rebel steamers; but not 20 with
tho brave and inlr, pd Rowan, whose motto is to
charge bayoneis on the enemy whenever and wher
ever he may BE- found. In action the position of the
commanders ship i in the center Of the squadron.
The Delaware, Capt. Rowans flag ship was at the
bead OF the advancing column, and LED the van. No
attention was paid 70 the fort or armed schooner
they dashed by them through perfect torrent of
shells and grape, boarded the Rebel steamers, and
engaged them At the point Of the bayonet, as the
pauicstricken Rebels eaped into the water in eyey
direction. Many were killed by the bayonet aud re-
yolver in this hand-io-land fight and ssnk below the
water. Their real swll doubtless never be known
10 u.s. the slaughter, however, WAS fearfn and the
struggle short and desperlte-not moro than fifteen
minutes in duration.
The fort and armed schooner were deserted quite
IA soon as the Rebel steamers, for it was made
quite az bot work for those behind the guns as was
for theE coniederates the gunbcsts. Our lo.s il
two killed. and about dozen wounded-al seamen.
The deaib-struRge Mas brief In le-s time than it