Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-04-23

portaton. Itendangers the subsistence of his whole
army, threatens the Navy Yard at Gosport and to
cut Of Norfolk from Richmond, and both from Rail
road communication with the South. 1t lodges the
enemy in safe harbor from the storms Of Hatteras
gives them rendezvous and large, rich range OF
SUPPLIES and the command of the seaboard from
Oregon Inlet to Cape Henry. 1t should have been
defended at the expense of 90 600 men and OF many
millions of dollars.
The committee are of the opinion that the Island
of Roanoke military post of great Importance
that 1t might have been placed in state of defence
against any reasonable force, with the expenditure
OF money and labor supposed to be within the means
of the government; that the same was not DONE
and the deences constructed were wholly inadequate
for its protection from attack, either by land or
water; and the committee have no difficulty in
signing the Of our disaster and defeat, on
the Sth of February the want of the necessary de-
fences upon the Island, the adjacent waters, and
upon the mainland upon the Tyrel side; the want
of necessary field artillery armament and ammuni-
ton, and the great and objectionable deficiency of
men, together with the entire want of transporta-
ton, by which the whole command might have been
conveyed from the Island after the deleat at the
battery. But the committee have had much Diff
Guilty in locating the responsibility for the neglect
of this exceedingly important point owing TO the fact
that the command of that Island has been transfer
red so frequently from one military commander to
another, between the time that the Confederate
government became responsible for the coast de-
FENCES OF NOTlu-CaTOllna anu lHe alIdCh upOn lidl
Island upon the 7th of February, 1862. That Is
land upon the fall of Hatteras was taken posses
sion of by Col. Wright under instruction from Gen.
Huger and the principal deferces constructed under
the authority and direction of General Huger who
assumed jurisdiction the Island although it
was within the military command OF Gen. Gatln.-
Afterwards Brig. Gen. d. Ii. Hill was assigned for
q short time to the immediate command Of that
post who Immediately entered upon his duty, made
made an examination Of the defences in person, and
making active preparation for putting the Is
land in state of defence, when he was suddenly
superseded and Brig. Gen. Branch given the CON-
mand. II does not appear in evidence that General
Branch ever visited the Island or made any move
towards its defence. He, however, was superseded
by Brig. Gen. Wise, about the LIST OF January, 1862,
who immediately proceeded to the Island IN person,
about the 9TH of January, spent several days i'll q
reconnaissance of the Island and its deienceS and in
examining the adjacent waters, with view of con-
struclng Instructions in .CrOat III Sound to prevent
the passage of hostile feet and from that moment
up to the 9TH of February the committee salts
tied, that General Wise has devoted his whole time
in Jealous, energetic and ndefati gable effort to
place that Island in state OF defence, and has done
all and every thing in his power, with the means he
had at his command effect this important object.
At Norfolk, upon the I'd of January, on his way to
Roanoke Island he met an express from Col. Shaw,
(who was then in the immediate and temporary
command of the lsland) to Gen- Huger, informing
MIN OF the ueIenCCleSS OF UTk-
ing the necessity of Strengthening Fort Barlow, by
mounting other guns, obStructing Croatan Sound
and making acquisitions for ammunition, pile driver,
and other things necessary. Gen. Wise endorsed
and approved OF the requISltion, and seconded the
demands of Col Shaw.
Gen. Wise arrived at Roanoke Island upon the
9Th and assumed command at that point upon the
9Th of Feb, 1862. After making a reconnaissance
of the Island and its deenceS, Gen. Wise, OH the
18th January informed Gen. Huger, THAT Roam
oke Island was in a GeienceleSs condition and in
presence of a very formidable enemy's force. The
burnside expedition Is reported to have sailed. In
dependent OF that, the force now at HattcraS inlet
can pass or take Roanoke Island, and pardon Inc
for saying that, respectfully Otter from the opinion
you expressed in your orders Of to-day that pre-
vent the enemy gunbOats from passing the marshes
at the south end, will also prevent any landing
Batteries at the marshes vitality essential 10 pre-
vent the gunboatS from passing into Croatan Sound,
they will not prevent the landing tho south and
east end Of the Island At least 3, 200 infantry are
needed on the Island and considerable force say
1900 men, needed on the beach, and if the enc
my pass Roanoke 5000 at least are necessary to
fight them on the tongues Of land on the north side
of Abemarle Sound. We need on the beach and
on the Island at least field pieces and the carriages
and calSsOns necessary. We require 80 horses for
the artillery. We need at least & heavy pieces at
the south end marshes and at least at Fleetwood
point. On the Same day Gen. Wise addressed the
secretary OF w III WHICH he says, IL Is very
important that my Legion should be forwarded as
speedy possible The defences of Roanoke Island,
which is the key of all the rear deienccS of Norfolk
and its canals and railroads, is committed to my
charge, and have just returned from a reconnoIs-
Of that point. 1t is now utterly defenceleSs
No preparations have been made there at all ade-
quate. Gen. Huger has given large authority
to do whatsoever is necessary, and has advised what
he deems proper IN my command but we have very
limited means and not half time enough to prepare
to meet an enemy, who Is now almost IN immediate
presence, in very Formidable force. Twice the num-
Der of my Legion is necessary, and beg that the
place of my Sd regiment may speedily be filled or
that it may be restored" On the 18th January,
1862, Gen. Wise writes to the Secretary OF War:
l. am sure you will not adjudge Inc importunate,
when | inform you that returned from Roanoke
Island to Norfolk last Saturday. FASTENED back
after a short reconnaissance to Headquarters and
appraised the Department, that there defeHceS
there adequate preparation whatever to meet the
enemy, and to forward all the means in my reach
speedily possible, to make the key of all the
Of Norfolk with its canals and railroads safe. In
side of Hatteras inlet found "a vessels of light
draft eight of which at least steamers said TO
carry four guns each. They are, at fartheSt, but
30 miles from Roanoke Island, and reach there
any four hours OF less to attack five small gunboats
under Capt. Lynch and four small land batteries
wholly inefficient Any boat drawing seven feet of
water, or less can pass the Croatan Sound as far
off as 1t unlcs from any battery and the cnemy's
guns silence batteries there in a very short |
time. Neither battery is caSemated, and our men |
now there are unframed to heavy pieces mounted |
on navy carriages. The moment the enemy passes !
Croaton Channel the North landing river North |
river, Pasquotank, Chowan, Roanoke, Alligator, and |
Scu2pernong rivers, and the Dismal Swamp ard |
Albemare and Chesapeake canals will be blockaded |
eiectually, and Norfolk and Portsmouth will be cut
off from supplies of corn, pork and forage. The |
force at Hatteras is independent of the Burnside |
expedition. No matter where the latter is, the |
former is amply sufficient to capture or pass Roanoke
Island in any IL hours. Let say then, sir, that
if We are to wait for powder from Richmond, until
we are attacked at that Island that attack will be
capture and our defeat will precede our supply of
ammunition. The case is too urgent for me to delay
speaking this out plainly at once :" and in another
mart of the letter he q nj