Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-23

| canaf ana the ouHOlk two raalrOadS-the Peters
burg and Norfolk and the Seasoard and Roanoke
It guarded four afths of uM Norfolks supplies of
corn, pork and forage, ana it cut the command Of
Gen. Huger off from all Of its most efficient trans
portatlon. tenaangefa "Reminiscences OF his whole
army, threatens the Navy Yard at Gosport, and to
cut of Norfolk froas Richmond, and both from HALL
road communication with the South 1t lodges the
enemy in safe ,.arbor from the storms o. Hatteras
gives them rendezvous, and large, rich range OF
supplies. and the command of the seaboard from
Oregon Inlet to Cape Henry. 1t should have been
defended at the expense of 20, 900 men and of many
millions of dollars"
The commit ee are of the opinion that the Island
of Roanoke n as military post of great Importance,
that might have been placed in state OF defence
against any reasonable force with the expenditure
OF money and labor, supposed to be within the means
| of the government; that the same was not done,
and the defences constructed were wholly inadequate
for its protection from attack, either by land or
water; and the committee have no difficulty in as
signing as the cause of our disaster and defeat on
the Sth of February the want of the necessary de-
fences upon the Island, the adjacent waters, and
| upon the mainland upon the Tyrell side; the want
of necessary field artillery, armament and ammun
ton, and the great and objectionable deficiency of
| men, together with the entire want of transporta-
| ton, by which the whole command might have been
conveyed from the Island after the delst at the
| battery. But the committee have had much diff
Guilty in locating the responsibility for the neglect
of this exceedingly important point owing to the fact
that the command of thae Island has been transfer
red SO frequently from one military commander 10
another, between the time that the Confederate
| government became responsible for the coast de-
fences of North-Carona and the attack upon that
| Island upon the 7th of February, 1862. That Is
land upon the fall of Hat:eras was taken posses
sion Of by Col. Wright under instruction from Gen.
Huger and the principal defe2ces constructed under
the authority and direction of General IIuger, who
assumed jurisdiction over the Island, although it
was within the military command OF Gen. Gatlin-
Afterwards Brig Gen. D. Ii. Hill was assigned for
short time to the immediate command of that
post, who Immediately entered upon his duty made
made an examination of the defences in person, and
was making active preparation for putting the Is
land in state of Defence when he was suddenly
superseded and Brig. Gen. Branch given the COM
mand IL does not appear in evidence that General
Branch ever visited the Island, or made any move
towards its defence. lie, however, Was superseded
by Brig Gen. WISE about the l>t of January, 1862,
who Immediately proceeded to the Island IN person,
about the 9th Of January, spent several days in
reconnaissance Of the Island and its dcenccs, and in
examining the adjacent waters, with view of con-
structing distractions in Croat III Sound to prevent
the passage Of hostile fleet and from that moment
up to the It'll Of February the committee are salts
fled, that General Wise has devoted his whole time
in jealous, energetic and ndefat gable effort to
place that Island in state of defence and has done
all and every thing in his power with the means he
had at his command to effect this important OBJECT
At Norfolk, upon the I'd of January, on his way to
Roanoke Island, he met an express from Col Shaw,
(who was then in the immediate and temporary
command of the Island) to Gen. Huser informing
him of the defenceless state of the Island and urg.
Ing the necessity of Strengthening Fort Barlow, by
mounting other guns Obstructing Croatan Sound
and making acquisitions for ammuniton, pile driver,
and other things necessary. Gen. Wise endorsed
and approved of the requisition, and seconded the
demands of Col Shaw.
Gen. Wise arrived at Roanoke Island upon the
9Th, and assumed command at that pout upon the
Tth OF Feb, 1862. After making reconnaissance
of the Island and its dtienceS, Gen. Wise on the
18th January informed Gen. Hugcr "that Roam
oke Island was in deenceless condition and in
presence of very formidable enemy's force The
Burnside expedition Is reported to have sailed. In
dependent of that the force at HatteraS inlet
can pass or take Roanoke Island, and pardon me
for saying that respectfully differ from the opinion
you expressed in your orders Of to-day that pre-
vent the enemys gunboats from passing the mars
at the south end will also prevent any landing
Batteries at the marshes are vitality essential pre-
vent the gunbOats from passing into Croatan Sound
they will not prevent the landing on the south and
east end Of the Island At least 5000 infantry are
needed on the Island and considerable force say ,
1900 men, are needed on the beach, and if the enc
my pass Roanoke, 5000 at least are necessary to
tight them on the tongues Of land on tho north side
Of Albemarle Sound. We need on the beach and
the Island at least field pieces and the carriages
and calssons necessary. We require 30 horses for.
the artillery We need at least heavy pieces at |
the south end marshes and at least ut Fleetwood
point On the same day Gen. Wise addressed the !
Secretary of War, in which he says that 1t is very
important that my Legion should be forwarded as
speedy as possible. The defences of Roanoke Island,
which is the key of all the defences of Norfolk
and its canals and railroads, is committed to nv
charge and have just returned from reconnols- |
ance of that point 1t is now utterly defenceess. |
No preparations have been made there at all AIDE. !
qaate. Gen. Huger has given me large authority !
to DO whatsoever is necessary and has advised what
ne deems proper in my command; but we have very
limited means and not half time enough to prepare
TO meet an enemy, who is now almost IN immediate
presence, in very formidable force Twice the num-
Der OF my Legion is necessary, and beg that the
pace OF my I'D regiment NAV speedily be filled or
that 1T may be restored" On the 18th January,
1867 Gen. Wise writes to the Secretary Of War:
~ am sure you will not adjudge Inc importunate,
when inform you that returned from Roanoke
Island to Norfolk last Saturday. fastened back
alter short reconnaissance to Headquarters and
apprsed tho Department that there are no detences
here. no adequate preparation whatever to meet the
enemy, and to forward all the means in nv reach as
speedily as possible to make the key of all the rear
Oh Noriolk, with its canals and railroads safe. In.
slae OF Hatteras inlet l found q vessels of light
draf eight Of which at least are steamers, said to
carry Tour guns each. They are, at f,rthest but
~ miles from Roanoke Island, and can reach there
any iour hours or less to attack five small gunboats
under Capt Lynch and four small land batteries,
wholly inefficient Any boat drawing seven feet of
water or less, can pass the Croatan Sound as far
OH as It u'lles from any battery, and the enemy's
guns can silence batteries there in very short
time Neither battery is casemated, and our men
now there are unframed to heavy pieces mounted
on navy carriages. The moment the enemy passes
Croaton Channel, the North landing river, North
river, Pasquotank, Chowan Roanoke, Alligator, and
Scu2pernong rivers, and the Dismal Swamp ard
A!oemare and Chesapeake canals will be blockaded
eiectually, and Norfolk and Portsmouth will be cut
on IRON supplies of corn, pork and forage The
force at Hatteras is independent of the Burnside
sxpeaition. No matter where the latter is, the
former IS amply sufficient to capture or pass Roanoke
Island in any 70 hours. Let me say, then, sir that
II we are to wait for powder from Richmond. until