Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-04-23


inch tenincb and eeuerl inch SHE'LL spherical case,
few round shot and every variety OF rlneo pr,1ee-
tiles. The Fort replied with but four guns, twh,ch
were all that could be brought to oear) and alter
striking the foremost vessels several t:nes the meet
fell back so as to mask one Of the guns of the Fort
leaving hut three to reply to the fire of the whole
feet The COMMANDMENT was continued throughout
the dav and the enemy retired at dark. The squad
ron under the command Of Commodore Lynch, suS-
tanned their position most calamity, and only re-
tired after exhausting ell their ammunition, and
having lost the steamer Curlew and the Forest dis
abed Fort Barlow sustained considerable damage
from the fire of the day, but the injuries were par
TALLY repaired by the next morning, and the Fort
put in a state of defence
About 81 o'clock on the morning of tie 9TH, the
enemy sent off from their transports about 20 men
in a launch apparently to take soundings, VINO
were fired upon and retreated. Whereupon, TWO
large steamers having in tow each 80 boats nled
with troops, approached the Island under the pro-
lection of their gunboats, at point North OF Ash
by's landing. known as Haymons, and did effect
landing. The point selected, was out oil reach OF
the field pieces at Ashby's, and defended by
swamp from the advance of our infantry, and pro-
tected by the shot and shell thrown from their gun
boats Our whole force thereupon withdrew from
Ashbys and took position at the redoubt or breast
work and placed in battery the three field pieces,
with the necessary artillery men, under the reSPec
tive commands of Capt. Schemerhorn Lleuts Nm.
ney and Seldom. Two companies OF the 9th ana
two of the 3lst placed at the redouot to sup
port the artillery-three companies OF the Use
Legion deployed to the right and left as skirmlsh.
erS-the remainder of the infantry in position SUI
yards in the rear of the redoubt as a reserve.
The enemy landed some fifteen thousand men,
with artillery, and at o'clock, \. NJ, OF the 9Th,
opened fire upon the redoubt which was replied to
Immediately with great spirit, and the action soon
became general and was continued without inter
han Hunh "
succeeded IN dcployng a large force on either side
of our line thanking each wing The order was
then given by Col Shaw, to spike the guns In the
battery and to retreat to the northern end oil the
Island. The guns spiked and the whole lorce
fell back to the camps. During the engagement at
the redoubt the enemy'S fleet attempted to advance
up Croatan Sound, which brought on a desultory
engagement between Fort Barlow and the feet,
which continued up to half after II o'clock, when
the commanding officer informed that the land
defcnces had been forced and the position OF the
Fort turf ed he thereupon ordered the guns to be
disabled and the ammunition destroyed winch was
done and the Fort abandoned. The same thing was
done at Forts Blanchard and EIuger and the forces
from all the forts were marched in coed order to tie
camp. The enemy took possession OF the redoubts
and forts Immediately, and proceeded in pursuit,
with great caution towards the nor thern end OF the
Island, in force deplOying to surround our
forces at the camps Col Shaw having arrived with
his whole force at his camps, in time to have saved
his whole command, if transports had been furnish
ed; but none were there, and, finding himself sur
rounded by greatly superior force, upon the open
Island with field works to protect him, and hav-
ing lost his only three field pieces at the redoubt,
had either to make an id.sepiSplay OF courage, IN
fighting the foe at such immense disadvantage TO
the sacrifice Of his command or to capitulate and
surrender prisoners OF war. he wisely determln-
ed upon the latter alternative.
10 Ill in led wounded
missing is as follows: Killed %, wounded 5S mis-
sing g. The loss Of the 10th and 59th Virginia
volunteers is, killed 6, wounded % missing 10
That of the Sth and 3lSt and 2nd North Carolina
troops is IL killed, 80 wounded, A. missing. Of the
engineer department. Lieut. Seldom kiled-who
had periodically volunteered his services in the line
was assigned to he command of the sx-pounder
which he handled with so much skill as TO produce
immense havoc in the enemys ranks and to elicit
the unbounded admiration of all who witnessed il.
Unhappily, however, that gallant officer received
rife ball in the head, and he fell without groan.
The loss Of the enemy was in killed and wounded
at least 900 men, and the probability is a much
larger number.
The foregoing is brief and concise view Of the
defences of Roanoke Island and of the adjacent
waters; the number of troops engaged in its defence
on the 7th and Sth of February, and the circum-
stances of the capitalization thereof on the Sth Of
February. The Committee are satisfied that Col
could have done so without useless sacrifice of hui
man life. That on the 18th and Sth the officers and
men in Fort Barlow displayed great GOODNESS, cour
age and perseyering efforts To sustain their position
and drive back the enemy's fleet
In the battle of the Sth Of February, at the re-
doubt, the officers and men exhibited cool and
courage worthy of veterans in the SER
vice. and sustained their position, under an unn-
terrupted and deadly fire, for more than FIVE hours
repuSlng the enemy in three separate and distinct
charges, and only Withdrew from the deadly con-
dct after exhausting their ammunition for their ar
tiilery, and being surrounded and lanked by more
than ten times their number. 1nstIa d of the result
being deeply humiliating," it was one of the
most brilliant and gallant actions of the war;
and in the language of their absent Commanding
General, both officers and men fought firmly,
cody, efficiently, and as long humanity would
Allow" The committee are satisfied that the whole
did their duty, and they do not feel at
liberty to designate any particular acts of companies
,r of individuals But in simple Justice to Colonel
Shaw, upon whom devolved the command by rea- |,
of the extreme Illness of his superior General
Wise, and who has been censured for the result, !
he Committee take pleasure in stating that there is
no foundation for any Just reflection upon him. He
upon the 9TH of February after dispoSng Of his in
antry force and finding that the enemy did not in
tend landing, repaired Immediately i'll person to !
Fort Barlow where the bombardment was progress |
sing and made his way into the Fort amidst the !
most imminent danger from shot and shell, and !
there remained encouraging the men and assisting
as far as he was able until he discovered the enemy
intended to effect landing below, when he left the
rort under the same dangerous circumstances of |
the morning, to take command of the infantry in |
person; and upon the Sth at the redoubt, he com.
manded in person, sharing the dangers o: his men !
for more than five hours with irmness, GOODNESS,
and bravery worthy of the position he occupied
~ Immediately upon the secession of the State of |
North Carolina from the government Of the United |
states and the adoption Of the Constitution of the
Confederate States of America, the authorities of |
tnat State commenced the construction of ortifca-
lions at atteras ard Oregon inlets and other points
upon her coast which were not completed when the
State transferred her FORTS arsenas, army navy and
coast deiences to the Confederate government |
Shortly thereafter the attack was made upon Forts
tlatteras and Clark, and they were taken, and the
notifications at Oregon inlet were abandoned. and
the armament, stores and ammunition were removed |
to Roanoke Island The enemy Immediately an |