The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-14
THE ROANOKE FLEET.

The Norfolk Day Book. Of yesterday, con.
tains the subjoined account Of the operations
Of our little fleet in the late disastrous ansir
at Roanoke Island:
An oficer of our feet, who was In such
a position as to enable him to see all that
was transpirps around him, furnishes N
with the following account of the engage
ment:
The advance forces of the enemy, consist
ing Of twenty-five large steamers and one tug.
boat, began the attack upon the island at
ALT. past ten O'Clock on Friday morning -
The battle continued throughout tho day,
and whenever our steamers drew near to lend
assistance, the whole of the enemy's io1illa.
excepting three in shore, concentrated their
nre ueon them.
About four O'Clock in the afternoon the
Curlew was disabled by shell from the en- :
envy, and was compelled to make for shoal
water, where she sunk.
During the cannonading the enemy were
busily employed in landing their troops be-
low Pork Point battery. Two OF their steam :
and succeeded in covering their landing. Tho
enemy continued the attack until about dark
when they withdrew.
A little after O'Clock, the ammunition Of
our squadron getting short. an application
for a supply was made to the upper battery,
but the comma nding officer could spare only
about 10 charges. As 1t was essential that
ammunition should be had, and a. There
batteries, steamer was sent to the
upper battery with a dispatch to the
oflicer in command, informing him that tn z
fleet was without ammunition, and that 1t
would repair TO Elizabeth City (thirty Il We
miles distant) for the purpose Of obtaining q
supply, and that 1t would return without
delay. Previous to leaving, Information
was eceived by the feet from Captain Tay-
ba terry during the day. that they had only
one killed aud three wounded and there WAS
every resson to believe that they would be
able to hold out, If the rear OF tho batteries
was rot turned
day morning, and finding very little ammu
milton there sent an express TO Norfolk for 1t.
On sunday afternoon, having put all the
ammunition aud fuel which could be OBJ.
tanned on board the Seabird and q ppomattox,
these two steamers were sent forward to
Roanoke Island. On arriving at the mou tn
of he river they met boat and learned from
| it that the island had been surrendered, and
| shortly afterward disco vered I'VE OF the
river They returned Immediately 10 the
| battery at fnbb's Point, about mile and a
| half below Ell xabeth City, and after sending
an express 10 Gen. HenniDgsen, distributed
all the ANN unitiOn among fonr steamers
| and a schooner and formed q line Just above
| The battery. A company had been detailed
| the day PIE vious for duty at this battery
and the object of the feet was ~ co.orera {
|
| shortly after day light the enemy appeared
| in sight and messenger was sent from The
| feet 70 ascertain the condition Of tbs battery
| Finding only seven men there and so pposin E
| that the enemy would 0Tst attack tho ha ter y
the officers and crew of the Beaufort wer,
| sent ashore TO man two OF the guns-these be
| ing as many as they had ANN uni ton to an q
| DIV. The Beaufort was sent to the N outh o.
the canal, where the Raleigh had been pre.
| viously sent.
Instructions were given by the Ocmmodor,
| TO the commanding officers Of all tho vessel,
that when all means Of resistance failed, ant
they fou nd themselves unable to escape. the,
should run into shoai water, set them OF
frs and save their crews.
The action commenced At forty-flv min
utes past seven In the morning. and result et
In the enemy p>ssirg the battery and over
whelming.the Seab'rd and Alice.
The last men toned vessels were the only
once known n have fallen into the hands o
the enemy. TIE Fanny was burned By he
comm apdsr, and the A ppomattox 10 believes
to have escaped mp the river. The FoTyes
wa on the ways 1t Elizabeth Oity, repair
Ing demagee, and, II the Information We -
ostved yesterday BE- correct, she, too, va
burned, to prevent her tAlltng into the hand
| of the enemy. A far ~ known, there Wer
only six killed and three wounded anon
the entire naval force which We had ip u
| action.
We omitted to msn Ion that the guns .
Oobb's kAsssyy vsls 81! spiked before hslp
| roSsSsef9 ~ lhe e&euy