Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-02-21
THE BATTLE OF ROANOKE
ISLAND


which gave the Union forces pcssession of
Roanoke Island, as spread out in tbs 0fhcial
accounts and the more volu, rous <anes of
of the N. Y. AFCrs, are very
but far beyond the compass of
our columns. From very; Eucid narrative
in the N. Y. Commercial, We extract the
following account of tie successful attack
on the main fortified p st of the rebels
From information re- eired by General Burn.
side, tie position o. all the wortz on the
Island ives known, ar d his movements we're based
on this knowledge. The plan ef attack coDsis-
ted of central Stacking COLUMN, led by Brig.
Ten roster sit fankiRr column to attack
the right OF the. tneny's work, under Brig. Gen.
Keno, and right flank column to attack the
leit Of tne '.neuys position, under the command
OF brig' en-. Parke.
The -ryCosch to the enemy's position was
'hrou" a a swanPy wood, with dense under
grow IL rendering il almost impenetrsbIe. An
or .ianTy cart road leading through this wood
.vm the shore TO the field work, a distance Of
sibOut a mile, vAs the only IrvNe Of communion
ton.
Their battery consisted 81 IN ss-th work with
three faces covering the open space before and
the woods at each side Of the open space, but
with general direction of fire 10 the front.
The guns were mounted in emb-sscTc, and con-
sisted Of a fine a pounde- bTsss Dahlgren
howitEer, long ls-pognder trass field gun of the
dAte of 1884, and now l2-pOunder brass field
piece. In front Of tie work Is a ditch eight feet
vide and about three feet deep and filled with
water. This eartn werk is about thirty-fve
yards vide and IS erected across the road by
which our men must advance. The ground in
front OF the work Is deep marsh on which the
trees which were felled still lay. The difficult
nature Of this ground was increased By the pits
from which the turf and earth for the field work
had been taken. Branches were streEu over the
front of the work. making it difficult % discover
II from tke wood in front.
The defending force consisted Of about three
hundred men, within the breastwork. and about
three thousand as a reserve and deployed as Skin
nisaers on the left Of the battery. The rebels
relied chiefly for the defence Of their tanks on
the almost impenetrable nature Of the wood on
eech side. Their entire force with the exception
OF the force working the battery. scattered in
front and in the woods en- the left skirmishers
Our army advanced from the bivouac ground
Of the night previous, where they had spent the
night with nothing but thin overcoais 10 protect
them from cold driving rain. They had left
their knapsaeks and blankets on the transports
each man carrying nothing but his haversack, with
three days provisions, and his cart ridge box With
forty rounds Of ball cartridge.
As the 25th Massachusetts, at the head Of the
first column advanced up the road, the2Sd and 27th
were thrown out on the right and LETT fank 70
prevent flank movement from the enemy. Thev
soon encountered strong bodies Of the rebel Skin
mishers, when sharp Ere was opened. The nj ht
and left attacking columns Commenced the move
ment through the woods 10 gain their respective
positions, IN doing which the night under Gen.
Parke came under the enemys Ere. The 18th
Rhode Island returned the ERE with energy
A If
from the vessels Of the navy headed the advanc-
Ing column in the centre. The guns we're placed
10 position at curve Of the road, from which
they commanded the enemy's battery. The bat
terry suffered severely in the fight and at one
time was too short handed 10 be worked effectively
At THIS period the brave and patriotic chaplain Of
the 10Th Massachusetts, Rev. Mr.. James, disre-
gSrding the dangers by which those At the guns
were surrounded, helped 10 work the guns him
self until their ammunition was exhausted.
An advanced position was taken BY the 18th
Massachusetts, and maintained under = terrible
FIRE IRON the enemy's battery, until the forty
rounds Of ball cartridge distributed % the men
we're exhausted, when they we're relieved BY the
10th Connecticut. The Connecticut men main
tanned this position with the fortitude Of veteran
troops.
The wounded from the field that were borne to
the rear by their cOmrsdes, in their arms or on
litter, passed advancing regiments with a
I
would permit them TO give, and never without an
encouraging word II they were not too much eK-
hausted TO speak.
At each hAsh Of the snemys cannon, our
men were ordered to crouch down in order
TO avoid the flying missiles. The diff
Guilty in executing such a movement
was very great. Our men stood in many
instances in mud and water up 70 their hips, and
10 move IN any direction required a scramble over
fallen tree with jagged and torn branches to
annoy aud impede. The bodice Of the dead and
wounded, when they first fell, we're IL most in
stances covered with water, especially when they
| Tell into the pits with which the field is cut up
The column under ten. Parke, sent 90 attack
the lett Of the battery, had passed the central col
uiun. when a charge by the 9th New York, Haw-
kiGs L5usves, ordered. Major Kimbsll al
once headed the storming party, calling TO his
men 10 follow hin and they would win the battery
4 The boys dashed Of with the accustomed cheer
4 and al the double-quick, the Major invariably
keeping considerably IN advance. In the eoA
mencement Of the cksrge they were met by hot
IRE from the battery and the muskets in the rear.
As the Zouaves nearet the battery. Gen. Reno's
column, headed by the 3 LIST Mass. and the lst "
\. appeared IN the woods advancing on the enemy's
night. Three companies Of the 5lst New York
(Lieutenant Colonel Porter) were d first to en-
ter the battery, where they planted the stars and
stripes They were Soon followed BY the 2Ist
Massachusetts, when Northumberland Macgi
planted the white flag Of Massachusetts, on the
work. Hawkins LOuAves ne 1t came dashing over
the ditch and up the side, 10 ind the work in pos
session Of their friends Ii was bat question
OF distance WHO should arrive first, for undoubt-
edly tle ZouAves would have stormed the battery
at the point Of the bayonet, had the work not
been evacuated
General PArke with the right coIuua soon ap
Pearud, but the enemy had retired.
The 2lst Msssachusett., the 5lst New York
and the 9th New York proceeded along the line
Of retreat Of the rebels in pursuit.
The 2lst Massachusetts advanced in the direc-
ton Of a large camp Of the rebels, which they
were told by negro woman was situated to the
northWsrd Of the battery. They were soon met
by a rebel officer bearing white flag, asking to
10 bring him TO General Reno, who was advanc-
ing with the other regiments. The officer was
one Of the 3lst North Carolina, who came to make
terms. The only terms granted an uncou-
ditional surrender. The ID brigade with Gen.
Reno st the head, marched into the camp Of the
3lst North Carolina, when the officers delivered
up their swords and the men threw down their
loaded muskets.
Half an hour after the battery was taken, Gen.
Foster moved forward with the First Brigade, at
the head of which the 9th Massachusetts,
marched, SIS they were fresh, having been landed
Just as the Zouayes charged the battery As our
troops approached the second camp Of the rebels
asked what terms of surrender would be granted
Gen. Foster replied their surrender must be I'M
conditional.The officer then asked what time would
be granted them to consider the terms. Gen Poser
replied, d" While you are going back to your
camp 10 convey the terms and returning" The
Lieut.. Col. departed and Gen. Foster remained
fifteen minutes waiting for his return when be
ordered an advance. They had not proceeded
more than one hundred yards when Colonel Poore
again met them with the answer that the terms
were accepted.
Gen. Foster then marched his brigade into the |
camp OF the rebels, when Col shaw, the CO n
mander of the entire post, delivered up his sword
saying give up my sword and surrender to /
you five thousand men," lie thought be had that |
number, but some were on the mainland, having /
escaped, and others we're Teinforeements whi5h he
expected but had not arrived in time to be sur
rendered.
FLOYD AND PnLow.-It appears from the
later accounts that Floyd and Pillow man.
aged to escape by way of the river the night