Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-21
TIE ROANOKE FIGHT.


Bef,fe going into .c,ion at hoanok' Island, Com.
Godsb1rough stinulnt his men by sigualizhg Nel.
sons famous Trafalgar cy "Ihe county a ,Icn,s
every man 10 do his duty II was received with thouH
Of enthusiasm.
On saturday evening the rebels blew up the Fert For
rest the main lani, opposite Roanoke Island, after
having evacuated IT, The spectacle fine pyrotch-
mic dsplsy snd served to gladden. the hearts Of our al
most Exhausted men, who took comfort from the seeming
n Nngs Head iu the evening supposed TO be the
burning Of the rebel effects there.
now TINS REBELS TOOK rHEtR DEFEAT.
The majority u the icbc rank and file manifested very
little regret at having been defeated They seemed sur
piised At the moderate tone VI officers aud men TO-
wards them aud 10 less than an hour aher th sren-
der knnts Of our troops could be seen miogng In the
most friendly conversation with their rebel prisoners,
who scented rcassutcd and quite az in their novel
position They wcre however, very anxious about the
disposition that would be- made Of them. and parti-
cuty dreaded the idea " being sent to our cold climate
az his season Of the year.
The interview between Gen burnside and Col shaw.
the commander " the rebel army was most cordial
and business like affair. "What are you gong to do
With us, generally ~ asked shaw The general milling
pleasantly replied ooh, will take good care u Jou
There some n my boys still down South, and will
now be able 20 get them back But ouudn you per.
init ms TO remain here, general" asked shaw. until
arrangement is made 80 "l haven't the provisions
20 feed many " you up here" said Gen Burnside
"aud then, you know. shall require all these quarters
Tor our men As night came on. and the wind was
blowing col from the north set the prisoners began TO
manifest anxiety 90 where they should quarter for he
night Gen Reno accordingly directed that about one
third oi all tIc houses shuud De ass gned Tor hru
and that they Iuld nave their ptth
ed 10 the roar Of the houses strong guard was posted
aud all hands, weary Of their days abo retired 70 their
quarters and cn we'd the hrst nights sleep on shore for
five weeks Several OF the rebel officers captured were
made prisoners At the Haueras bombardment and after
wards released on taking he oath u allegiance.
cuAsrHRNArioH Oh THE MAIN LAND
On the day after the Surrender the island four ne
from the m n land arrived at Fort Hatteras They
said that they belonged TO good Union man near Mid
dcon, and that they had been advised 10 make their
cape The rebels impressing every white man in
the state and also forcing the slaves 90 work aud fight
The latter were running OH as tst a. possible TO escape
tnpressmcut Their master sent by these slaves vfr-
bal message 20 the commander OF the Union vessels az
/ IIateps saying "Tell them for Gods sake 10 send
/ their steamers as s1ou as possible Do
The Norfolk Day book indulge, in bitter reproaches OF
the confederate government for leaving small force
/ 60 defend Roanoke Island when the strength Of the
Burnside expedition had been known for weeks and also
for having no more efficient navy in the North Carolina
/ waters. II says
" The hcr cannot longer be concealed that crimina
negligence Is chargcane somewhere for the dst.irau
overthrow Of our brave and gallant at Roanoke is
land The brave men who fought the enemy AZ Roanoke
Island and many u whom poured ont their blood LIKE
water 10 the futile attempt 20 maintain their stand a.
gainst uyerWhr lmiug force sacrificed a Grim
iua NEGLECT % reinforce them II the vulnerable pnnt
900 extended coast be defended at ALL et then
De defended effectively at least with some reasonable
regard TO ihc o,crpoWcring Il rccs which have hitherto
been concentrated against them To garrison them witt
force sn inadequate that which fought 90 The dealt
at me Roanoke, them into slaughter pens
ard cminav sacrifice the lives ~ brave and deyot
cd men, We ought 10 have had ia The Sound 20 gun
boats or mnfcueh could have carried each on
elective rded gun Ten months have elapsed since th
navy yard here came provdeualy into our possession
Boy dcscron--aui my such gunboats might have been
easily constructed there, armed, manned and placed a
the mouths of ihe numerous and small streams In III
Sound aud elsewhere. But there has not single
such been here constructed This Is startling fact AM
evnces what the public regard as culpable negligence
ITEMS rHoM nEHgL SOURCES
Commodore Lynch was NOT dro sncd but is on hi
way 90 Richmond IL not with his Sect Whcu %
charge Of he and battery which had been ab 'ndone
th-fc-iur people % the place either taking flight U