Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-02-15
The first news of the defeat was re :

factory, stating that the Yankees were
to advance, for the purpose of
drawing them into trap.
The rebel force on the Island is sup
posed TO have been little oyer 5000
fighting men. IS
Gen. Wise was i'll at Nages Head,
and was not present during the en-
and when the situation be-
came dangerous he was removed to
Norfolk.
All the gunboats but one were taken,
and that escaped up the creek and
was probably destroyed.
One report says that only 70, and
another that only 25 of the Confeder-
ates escaped from the Island.
Gen. Huger telegraphed to Rich
mond that only so on the Island escap-
ed. There appears to be no bright
side Of the story for the rebels.
The Richmond Examiner of this
morning: in leading editorial, SAYS
the loss of an entire army on Roanoke
Island is certainly the most painful
event of the war. The intelligence of
yesterday by telegraph, is fully con
firmed. Twenty five hundred brave
troops on an island in the sea were ex-
posed to ali the force of the Burnside
Expedition. They responded with a
most determined courage, but when
$4,000 Federal troops were landed
against them, retreat being cut off by
the surrounding elements, they were
forced to surrender! This is a repe-
tition of the Hatteras affair on large
scale
The following dispatches on the sub
ject are taken from the Richmond pa
pers Of this morning:
Norfolk, Feb. 10
The latest news states that Capt. O.
jennings Wise, son of Gen. Wise, was
shot through the hand and disabled,
though his wound is not mortal.
Major Lawson and Lieutenant Mill
er We're MORALLY wounded.
About 800 ConfederateS were kille 4
and the wounded numbers over one
thousand.
The number of Yankees wounded
is about the same.
A late arrival this morning says that
Elizabeth City has been shelIed and
burned by the Yankees. and that the
enemy was pushing on to Edenton.
SECOND DISPATCH.
A rumsr has prevailed that Commo-
dore Lrnch's fleet Of gunboats had
been captured. II is not regarded as
true, but it is believed that all were
burned by the Confederates to prevent
their capture, with the exception OF
one, which wus endpavoring to escape.
The fleet went to Elizabeth City from
Roanoke Island, and was probably
burnt at the former point.
THIRD DISPATCH.
A dispatch was received at Rich
mond at midnight, stating as follows
A "ourler arri> ed here this p. M, at
4 O'Clock, and brought the intelligence
that Elizabeth City was burned this
morning by its Inhabitants During
the confla gration the Fedcrals landed
a large force. All our gunboats ex-
cept one were captured by the enemy.
Gen. Wise has not yet arrived at Nor
folk.
St. Louis, Feb. II.
A special dispatch to the Republican
dated Fort Henry nth, says that tn.
gnnboats Conestoga, Tyler and Le:c-
ington returned from the upper Ten
nessee last night. The boats went as
far as Florence, Ala, and were receiv-
ed with the widest joy by the people
along the river. Old men cried like
children at the sight of the Stars and
Stripes, and invited the officers and
men to their houses, and told them all
that they had was at their disposal.
Large Numbers were anxious to en-
list under the old flag, and the zyler
brought down $50 men to fill up the
gun boat crews. Our officers were as
Sured if they would wait few DAYS
whole regiments could be raised, and
if the Government would give them
arms to defend themselves, they could
bring Tennessee back to the Union in
a few months. They said when the
secession ordnance was passed, armed
men stood at the poles and everything
went as certain politicians said.
At Savannah, Clifton, Eastport. and
Florence, officers and men of our boats
went ashore without arms, and mingled
freely with the people The Union
men along the river comprize the
wealthiest and best portion Of the in
large number of whom
have American flags.
Not gun was fired either going or
coming.
Th" rebel gnnboats Eastport, Sat
lie Ward and Muscle, only partially
were captured, and are here.
The Eastport had 100000 feet of INN
Der on board, and the 4Sal7ie Wttr9 had
a quantity of iron plating.