The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-02-21
OF ROANOKE ISLAND BY
THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION
8 600 PRISONERS

Three thousand prisoners woro captured
and all thuir gun5oats burned, except two,
which escaped in the canal,
Tho Federal loss, killed. AZ, wounded
nbout l4O. Rebel killed, about 80, and
their wounded less than 100. AZ Il -
Tho advance from Hntteras took place on
"Wednesday morning, the expedition Con-
sisting Of about 60 vessels Tho foot an
chorod off Stumpy Point that night, and
tho next day proceeded to tho entrance of
Croaton Sound. After Reconnaissance tho
attack was commenced on FRIDAY morning,
tho Uoderwriter leadirg 'ho columu.
Tho rebel lleot was attacked nddisperscd
in half an hour by the Navy. whie the rc-
mainder attacked tho land batteries. Tho
fight continued till dark. During the night
5000 mon wero landed, and on Sunday
morning 1000 moro.
A masked battery OF thrco guns was soon
discovered by the tkiiniithcrs, and was at
tackled 10 front and on both TANKS, Tho
2lst. 25th and 9th Massachusetts, the 0 b
and 5lst New York, and tho 10th Con-
nccticut wore particularly engaged. The
25th Massachusetts and tho 10Th Connect
cut suffered most severely. The fight
lastod only two % three hours, when the
battery was abandoned Our troops pur-
took nearly tho whole command prisoners.
o. Jennings Wiso was shot twico whilo en-
deayoring to escape in q boat. Col Russell,
of the 10th Come cticut. vas Killed at tho
head of his regiment. Lieut.. Col. D'Mon-
teile, OF the DEpencul Zouaves, whose
services were voluntary, was killed. No
other officers weto killed. above tho rank of
Lieutenant. Our total loss in killed and
wouHded is loss than 200, and tho number
of killed is less than so.
On Sunday afternoon foot Of gun boats
started for Elizabeth City. Tho place was
shcllud, and having been evacuated and
partially burnt by the rebel troops, was oc-
cupicd The Sea Bird, which was the flag
ship of Com. Lynch, was run down and
boarded, and the gallant Commodore es-
caped by swimming to the shore. Tic
news from Elizabeth City was received at
Roanoke Island, on Wednesday evening.
Con. Wise was at Nags Head and sue
cecdtd in escaping to NoiFolk. The rebels
made no fight, after buing driven from their
entrenchments which was done by Hawkins
Znuaves and the 2lst Massachusetts.--
Young Wiso resisted the storming parties
till he was wounded and carried off, when
his command retired with tho others to
the upper part of tho Island, where they
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL BURNSIDE.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NoRrH1
r CAROLINA, ROANOKE ISLAND,
Feb 10Th, 1862.
To WaJ.- Gen. Geo. B. McCitHdn. COM
mdndmg United States Arny, Wdshing-
.OR:
GENERAL: have the honor to report
that a combined attack upon this island
was commenced, on The morning of tho
7th, by tho naval and military forces of this
expedition. which has resulted in the cap
ture OF six forts, forty guns, over two thou
sand prisoners, and upward of twelve thou-
sand small arms. Among the prisoners are
Colonel Shaw, commander of the island,
and o. Jennings Wise, commander of the
Wise Legion. The latter was mcrtally
wounded, and has since died, The whole
work was finished on tho afternoon of tho
S.h st, after bard days hghtiug, by e
brilliant charge in tho center of tho island,
aud rapid pursuit of tho enemy to tho
north end of the island, resulting in the
capture of the prisoners mentioned above.
We have had no time to count them, but
the number is estimated at near threo
thousand.
Our men fought braveIy, and have ,en-
durcd most manfnly tho hardships incident
t1 fighting through swamps and dense
thickets.
Ii is impossible to give tho details of tho
engagement, or to mention meritor;ous
officers aud mon, in tho short time allowed
tor writing this report tho naval vessel car
rying it starting Immediately for Hampton
Roads, and tho reports of tho brigadcr gen-
erals having not yet been handed in.
Ii is enough TO say that tho officers and
mon OF both arms Of the service have fought
gallantly, and the plans agreed upOn before
leaving Haueras were carried. out. Hh
will be excused for saying in reference to
the action that owe everything 10 Generals
Foster, Rono and Parker, as moro full do
tails will show. am sorry 10 report the
loss of about thirty.iye killed, and about
two hundred wounded, ten of them probably
mortsily. Among the killed are Col. Rus
soil, of the Tenth Connecticut Regiment,
and Lieut.. Col Victor do Monto'l, of tho
DEpineul Z,uaves, both of thcm fought
most calamity. l regret exceedingly not
being able to sond full report of the killed
and wounded, but will send Dispatch in q
day or two with full returns.
beg leave to enclose copy of a genoraE
order issued by me on the Sth inst. l am
most happy to say that have Just received
a message from Commodore Goldsborough,
stating that tho expedition of tho gunboats
against Elizabeth City and the rebel flGot
has boon entirely successful.
Hc will of course send his returns to his
department. E
have the honor to bo, General, your
obediont servant, A. E, BURNSIDE,
Brigadier. General' ccmnanding Depart
ment of North CLr9lina.
The Richmond Examiner, in O leading
editorial, says: The loss of an entiro army
on Roanoke Island is certainly the most
painful evont of the war. The intelligence
of yesterday by telegraph is fully confirmed.
2.500 brave troops on an Island in the sea
were exposed to the force OF the Burnside
fleet. They resisted with tho most deter
mined courage but whom ID 900 Federal
troops wcre landed against them, tho're-
treat being cut off by the surrounding ele-
monts, they were forced to surrender
This is a repetition of the Hatteras affair on
large scale,
Tho latost dispatches state that Elenton
is 10 the possession of the Federal troops.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l5,-Tbe President
and COMMANDMENT. Chief Of tho army and
navy returns his thanks to Brigadier. Gem
eral Burnside and flag officer Goldsboro, to
General Grant and flag officer Foote, aud