Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-02-20
The Rebel Fleet Destroyed.


honors with our young Navy of the West,
for the expedition after the great victory
Of Roanoke Island against the rebel gun
boats at Elizabeth City was one of the
most brilliant Naval achievements since
the DAYS of 1872. The expedition con-
sisting of fourteen steamers, left Roanoke
Island at p. m. Sunday in command Of
Capt. R. C. Rowan. The distance to
Elizabeth City is about forty miles and at
night the squadron anchored across The
river some fifteen miles from the point of
destination. At eight the next morning
the fleet arrived in sight of Elizabeth
City, and discovered the euemy's steam-
crs, seven in number, in line of battle in
front of the town. a fort mounting four
large guns was discovered on point which
projected out some distance-one-fourth
ola mile, perbaps-in front of the rebel
steamers, and directly opposite of this fort
wns schooner, anchored, on which was
two heavy rifed guns; the distance be-
tween fort and schooner being only halfa
mile. The rebels supposed mo feet ofcurs
could pass this narrow channel. An eye
witness writes:
SIGHT OF ENEMY-RACE IN.
At the sight OF the enemy, everything
was in readiness for battle. To describe
the wild delight of our brave blue jackets,
when they first discovered the enemy, is
more than the pen can do.
The charge was short and desperate,
and without any exception is one of the
most brilliant ever made by the American
Navy. All eyes were on the Command
er, Rowan, 10 see what the first orders
would be, as we were rapidly approaching
the foe.
In duetime he ran up the signal 10 en-
gage the enemy in close action, hand to
hand. We were then about two miles
from the enemy. This was signal for a
test of speed as we'll as the signal for a
deadly encounter with a desperate foe,
whose all was staked upon this final en-
Cageinemt. For distance of two miles
it was a race between our steamers in their
eagerness to oulstrip each other, and to be
the first TO meet the enemy of the Re
public face TO face.
OUR FLEET A SURE MARK.
The river began to narrow as we ap-
preached the city. The point where the
fort was situated necessarily brought our
steamers nearer together, making them
sure marks of the enemy's guns; indeed,
it would be miracle if shot from one
of the eneIny's guns old not strik one Of
our steamers. Under the circumstances,
most any ether commander would have
thought il advisable to first attack The fort
and silence the guns on both sides of that
narrow point, and then attack the Rebel
steamers; but not so with the brave and
intrepid Rowan, whose motto is TO charge
bayonets on the enemy whenever and
wherever he may be found. In action
the position of the commanders ship is in
the centre of the squadron.
THE HAND-To-HAND FIGHT.
The Delaware, Capt. Rcwan's flag ship,
was at the head ofthe advancing column,
and led the van. No attention was paid
to the fort or armed schooner, as they
dashed by them through perfect torrent
Of shell and grape, boarded the rebel
steamers, and engaged them at the point
OF the bayonet, and the panic stricken reb-
els leaped into the water in every direct
ion. Manv were killed by the bayonet
and revolver ..in this hand-to hand fight,
and sank below the water. Their real
loss will doubtless never be known to US:
the slaughter, however, was fearful, and
the struggle short and desperate-no'
more than fifteen minutes in duration.
The fort and armed schooner were de-
serted quite as soon as were the rebel
steamers, for it was made quite as ho
work for those behind the guns as 1t wa
for their confederates on the gun-boats.-
Our loss is two killed and about dozel
wounded--all seamen. The death-strug
ole was brief. In less time than it woul'
take to write a telegraphic dispatch tn
victory was ours.
RGSRING THE ENEMY DOWN.
The Commodore Perry was in the ad
vance, and made for the rebel steamer Se
Bird, the flag g-ship ofthe Rebel Navy, o
which was Commodore Lynch, and run he
down, cutting her through. The Cere I
run straight INTO the febel-steamer Elf
and run her down in like manner, boar
ing her, at the same time. The Unde
writer took the Forest in the same styh
while the Delaware took the Fanny in bin
shape, she having received ten shots fror
our squadron, which made daylight tbr'