Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-02-12
The Capture OF Roanoke Island.

With the most painful emotions We record to day
the capture of Roanoke Island, with our brave men
who were placed there by the government with IN
efficient means to defend It. We are deeply greve:
at the result, but we are not disappointed. Our
readers know that for months we have importunate-
" warned the government of the certainty of this
calamity, if the most effective measures were not
taken for its complete defence. From the day Gen.
Hill was removed from the charge of our coast, and
political general appointed in his stead, wholly
unacqnanted with military affairs, we have had but
little hope of protection to the northern department
Of orr sea-soast Who seas Instrumental in his re-
moral: Let them be keoaon to the people Of North
C!roliua that their names may go doom to poster
itg, IS recreants to her cause and her people. We
believe we are on the traci: of the partzan leaders
who did this thing When the facts are fully as
certained the people Of North Carolina shall know
who they are. For this wicked interference North
Carolina now mourns the death and the mangled
bodies and the capture of many of her sons.
We enormously stated upon rumor in our last
that Gen Huger had taken command in person on
tie Island with 5000 troops. Not word of this
was true General Huger has not been upon the
Island, and from the fullest accounts get, we
had only $500 fighting men on the Island
Colonel Shaws regiment Of State Troops, pretty
vel equipped we believe, has been stationed on the
Island for some time At the time Of the battle it
had about or 700 effective men. After the reno.
val of Col. Wright's Georgia regiment from the
Island, Col. Jorllan's regiment was sent there from
Fort Hill. At the time of the BATTLE owing to sick
ness and other causes it could muster only about
or 500 effective men, and they were armed with
the Old iintlock mu ket. Besides these there were
some 2oO OF the 18th regiment (Col Martln'S1 the
remnant that were on furlough at the time of the
taking Of Hatteras. To these added reinforce
Inents from Gen. Wises Legion, about the time the
battle commenced, making about 1900 to 1900.
Who was in command, as yet we have no means
Of knowing. Gen. Wise was sick and not on the
Island Col Shaw was the senior Colonel of the
y. c. Troops. Whether any else was laced
in command by Gen. Wise, We have not learned.
On Thursday last, the enemy appeared in sight
some FIVE miles below the Island. A few guns were
fred by our feet or batteries as signals of their
approach, but it appears the enemy did not return
the fire. On Friday morning the enemy was en-
feet i'll command of Com. Lynch, but they were
obliged to retire when the enemy advanced with
So vessels to the attack Our batteries opened upon
than with spirit. The enemy landed 5000 men,
which our forces permitted him to do, and attacked
them vigorously. The fight continued all day, and
ended when night closed in.
On Saturday the battle was renewed by the enc
-, :. H., -loJ
m.u The fight is said to have been desperate.
/ The Virginia papers only mention what the Vir-
ginans did, but we are sure all fought with the
courage Of men resolved upon victory or death.
Our little feet behaved admirably. The Curlew
was sunk, but her crew escaped The other vessels
Of the fleet having expended their ammunition went
70 Elizabeth City to replenish their store and to
carry down the Wise Artillery, but they did not
return. Our forces having expended their am,nuni.
ton We're compelled to surrender to an overwhem.
ING force about o'clock on Saturday. 1t is said
That We lost 300 in killed and wounded and 9, 000
TAKEN prisoners. 1t is further said that the Yankee
loss vas ABOUT 900 killed and wounded About
80 Wake county men belonged to Col. Jordan's
Regiment. a late dispatch reports that the enemy
had attacked Elizabeth City, and that the town is
laid il ashes.
PS We cannot give the many rumors afoat.-
lne amount of damage to the enemy's steamers We
ennot determine. Some report as many as sever
Steamers sunk. Some accounts say that there was
plenty OF ammunition on the Island. Our impress
sion is, there was not. Capt 0. Jennings Wise
vas wounded instead of being killed In the accounts
from Norfolk We have not seen the name of NORTH
Caronian mentioned. About % persons of all sort
made their escape, it is said.