The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-04-30

The next is Fort Blanchard, on the same
side of the Island, about two and one half
miles from Fort Bartow, a semi circular
sand fort, turfed, and mounting four SO.
Founders en- barbetfe.
Nexi on the same side, and about twelve
hundred yards from Fort Blanchard, is Fort
Huger. This is a turfed sand fort, running
along the line Of the beach and closed in the
rear by a low breastwork, with barquette
for Infantry. 1t contained eight So pound
guns in embrasure, two rifled 32-pounders
en- barbsffe, and two small 32.pounders en-
bar6efte on The right.
About three miles below Fort Barlow, on
the east side oil the Island. was battery of
two 32-pound guns, en- barbeffe, at point
known as Midgeifs Hammock.
In the centre Of the3sland. about two miles
from Fort Barlow, and mile from Midgelt's
thrown across the road, about seventy or
eighty feet long. with embrasures for three
guns, on the right Of which was swamp. on
the left a marsh, the redoubt reaching nearly
between them, and facing to the South.
On the TyrreIl side. on the main land,
nearly opposite to Fort Huger. was Fort For.
rest, mounting seven 32-pounders.
In addition TO these defences on the shore
and on the Island. there was a barrier of
piles, extending from he east side Of Fulker
Shoals towards the Island. Its object was
to compel vessels passing on the west side
of the Island to approach within the reach Of
the shore batteries. but up to the 9th u Feb
ruary there was span Of 700 yards open
opposite Fort Bartow. Some vessels had
been sunk aud piles driven on the west side
Of Fulker Shoals, TO obstruct the channel
between that shoal aud the main land, which
comprise all the defences, either upon the
land, or in the waters adjacent.
The entire military force stationed upon
the island prior to, and at the time OF the late
engagement, consisted Of the 9th regiment
North Carolins State troops, under the com.
mand Of Col. II. M. Shaw the 5ist regi-
ment North Carolina Volunteers, under the
command of Col. ]. v. Jordan; and three
Of the 18th regiment North Caro-
lima Troops, under the command Of Major
G. H. Hill. After manning the several Forts.
on the 9TH Of February. there we're but I.024
men left, and 200 Of them we're upon the sick
lis,. On the morning OF the 7ih OF February,
Brig. Gen. Wise sent from Nsgs Head, un-
der command Of Lieut.. Colonel Anderson, a
reinforcement Numbering some 45O men.
This does not include the commands Of
Lieut.. Col. Green aud Major Fry, boIh OF
" hom reached the scene Of acton after the
battle was closed. The committee do not
think there was any intentional delay in the
arding Of the commands Of Col. Green and |
Major Fry. The former, Col. Green. ex-
iibited great anxiety TO get into the fight,
when he did land, aud acted with great gal.
aniry 10 the skirmish he did have with the
enemy in the vicinity Of the camps. The
whole under the command of Brig. Gen.
Wise, who, upon The 9Th and 9th of February
was at Nags Head, four miles distant from |
he Island. confined TO a sick bed and en-
.irely disabled from participating 10 The ac-
lion in person. The immediate command,
therefore, desolved upon Col. III. NJ. Shaw,
he senior officer present.
On the 9th Of February, il was discovered
hat the enemy's fleet was in Pamlico Sound,
south OF Roanoke Island, and apparently In
lending 10 attack the forces upon the Island.
col. Shaw Immediately communicated the
act TO Brig. Gen. Wise, and issued orders |
for the disposition Of fhis troops, preparatory
10 an engagement. The points at which Il |
was supposed the enemy would attempt 20
aud troops, were Ashby's and Pugh's land
ugs. Asliby's is situated on the West side
Df the Island, about two miles South Of Fort
Barlow. and Pugh's on the same side, abou,
two miles south Of Ashby's. On the night
,i the 9th. or early on the morning Of The
nth, q detachment with one piece Of artillery
was sent 10 Pugh's landing. and one with
Two pieces Of artillery was sent to Ashbys.
md the remainder Of the forces were sta
lioned in the immediate vicinity Of Ashby's.
On the morning Of the 7lh the enemy's fleet
passed by both the landings, aud proceeded
towards Fort Barlow, and the detachment
,f infantry stationed at Pugh's Immediately
fell back to the vicinity Of Ashby's landing
md Joined the detachments there, all under
he command Of Col. ]. v. Jordan.
In the sound, between Roanoke Island and
Ihe main land. on the Tyrrell side, Commo-
lore Lynch, with his squadron OF seven yess
,els, had taken position. and at u o'clock
he enemv's feet. consisting Of about thirty 1