Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-14
GREAT FEDERAL VICTORY
ROANOKE ISLAND.

FORTRESS MONROE, Feb. IL.
By flag of truce to-day we learn Of the
complete success Of the Burnside expedition
at Roanoke Island. The Island was taken
possession Of, aud Commodore Lynch's feet
completely destroyed. Elizabeth City was
attacked on Sunday and evacuated by the
Inhabitants The City was previously burnt.
but whether by our shells or the inhabitants
is not certain. The rebel force on the island
is supposed to have been only little over
5000 efficient fighting men. Gen. Wise was
i'll at Mays Head, and was not present during
the engagement. When the situation became
dangerous he was removed to Norfolk All
the rebel gunbodts but one were taken, and
that escaped up creek and was probably also
destroyed. One report says that only 20,
and another that only 25 coniederates escaped
from the Island. Gen. Huger telegraphed to
Richmond that only so on the Island escaped
There appears to be no bright side OF the
story for the rebels
The first news of the defeat arrived at Nor
folk Sunday afternoon, and caused a great cx-
citemcnt. The previous news had been very
satisfactory, stating that the Yankees had
been allowed to advance for the purpose Of
drawing them into trap.
The Richmond Examiner of this morning.
entire army on Roanoke Island is certainly
the most painful event of the war The intel
liscnce Of yesterday. by telegraph. is fully
confirmed. Twenty-Five hundred brave men
on an island in the sea were exposed to all
the fire Of the Burnside feet"
The Richmond Erqminer says the confed-
crates resisted with the most determined
courage but when 1000 federal troops we're
,lu1.
off by the surrounding element, they were
forced to surrender. This is a repetition of
the Hatteras affair on large scale.
The following dispatches on the subject
are taken from the Richmond papers of this
morning:
"NonroLK. Feb 10
"rha latest news states that Capt o. Jeunne WISE
son of Wise was shot through the hip and disabled
though bis wound was not mortal About 800 Coufcdcr
ates were killed. Our wounded number over 1000 The
number Of Yankees wounded is about the same.
A late arrival af ihis morning saws that Elizabeth
City had been shened and burned by the Yankcos and
/ that the enemy was pushing To Elcnion "
The following, very latest, we copy from
to-day's Norfolk Dag Book
courier arrived here yesterday r. /. a out 3 o.
clock, from whom we gather the following information
The enemy advanced IN full urcc upon Elizabeth City
yesterday about o'clock and began attack upon tha
place. The citizens finding resistance vain, evacuated
the place but before doing So set hfe 10 ihe town. and
when our informant cft the town was still 100 flames -
There is rumor that Gen. Wise had been shot while
on DIS way ln an ambulance We can only account l'r
10 by supposng tha tho name OF The GIN coufouud
Cd with bis '"n VINO was reported among Oh Killed 49,
We h1Nc also 60 record the capture hy the cneuv NJ Al,
our little flee, except the F1Hico Forrest our inform
ant ietnt certain which She was pursued. however.
aud fe,r. a,c entertained hlt .bo o,s ,tl,r,d Ai
'hc ietils as published with reference Co thc capture
of lt'aunkc Island arr confirmed by me Courier who
represents 0ur loss At 800 killed and wounded and that
of tuc enemy at NOT less than Ol1 killed,
Great havoc was madc among the enemy while coming
up ihe to1i leading tn The Fort Our forces brought 60