Evening star., 1862-02-15
THE VICTORY AT ROANOKE ISLAND.
FULL EBEL ACCOUNT.
TERRIBLE FIGHTING.

TERRIBLE FIGHTING.
The Norfolk correspondent Of the Richmond
Dispatch, dated Feb. TO- gives the following de-
tails Of the recent victory of the gallant Burnside
\ and Goldsborough at Roanoke Island:
| With inexpressible sorrow announce ths fall
of ROdnoks Island, after spirited and heroic
l sistance by our brave troops. This occurred be-
L tween IL and 2 O'Clock on Saturday, and the
1 news received here with every indication Of re-
i gret and indignation. We gather the following
| particulars from young man from the Rich
mond Blues, who participated in the fight, es-
capped In a small boat and rowed to Nag's Head,
| where he was taken up by one of our gunboats
| and brought to this city. He is an Intelligent
| lad, and believe a son of your postmaster The
/ enemy's ships, he says, opened Are our bate
ries at Roanoke Island, about 7 O'Clock In the
| morning, and kept up an incessant FIRE until
| O'Clock In the evening doing, however but
i little injury to the Island About O'Clock the
| next day (saturday) the Hessians were allowed
i to land on point TO the east Of Roanoke Island,
| where they marched upon that point
The booming Of heavy cannon in the distance
| heralded the enemy's eppToach. Our brave troops
| prepared to meet them. suppOsag their numbers
| TO be about i've thousand. Gradually the sounds
came nearer and nearer, and the shell came thick
i and last over cur intrenchments. Confident Of
Il their own strength, our troops moved rapidly
i forward, when, in a few mnntes, the ball opened
| and the teri. hc contest ensued. Bravely did
boys stand up TO the overwhelming forces Of the
Il enemy, ind not till every man was dead or
1 wounded did they leave their stand Nothing
Il remained but retreat, which our men did, con-
Il stan:ly turning and giving them a shot Finding
1 II useless to hold the island under such over
/ whelming numbers, the order to retreat from the
Il island was given, and our remaining troops re-
tired, leaving their strongholds in the hands Of
the enemy.
1t will be pleasure hereafter to record on the
page Of history the heroic fortuds Of our gallant
/ troops. Nobly and well did Capt. o. Jennings
| fierce encounter, when, suddenly, he was shot
i through the side and instantly fell. One Of his
men asking him II he was much hurt-U N OF
| much, said he, " but fight them yet" He was
Il borne from the scene Of action in a blanket
Abort 800 Of or brace boys JeI, asd nearly az tAs
rest trsrs siIhsr trOEnded taken prisoHsYs The
enemy's loss is laid down at 900. For of thsi,
ships trsJs sunk, they doing but little damage to
| any Of our boats. Commodore Lynch and other
parts Of our feet did noble service his ship being
l among the first to open fire on the enemy,s ship
ping Al last accounts they were In pursuit Of
Commodore Lynch.
In the midst Of this terrible struggle Il will be
regretted that Gen. Wise seriously In disposed
Il at Nag's Head. Both he and his son are ex pected
L here to-day. / am sorry to say that but very few
/ escaped from Captain Wise's company Large
/ quantities OF ammunition were saved by our
troops The women, children and number Of
negroes are reported now on their way to our CITY
Il The enemy will be successfully checked from
getting possession Of railroad in that vicinity
l Active preparations have been made here regard
ing this disaster, which Ii may be imprudent for
4 me TO mention. The news fell upon the ears of
l our citizens with fearful significance MANY
/ would dare shut their eyes a9aifst the fact had
Il not dread conviction come so dire"' Every man
l was at his Tost, and our departments here were
i engaged in sending dispatches to the various en-
Il campments. The alacrity with which every on.
Ger executed his orders is theme Of public praise
and especial praise Is due to the Young Guard Of
our city, for their services on the occasion. AT
| verv late hour military movements We're going on,
and everything Is In great excitement.
/ NORFOLK, Feb. 10 The Intelligence of the
| desperate and unequalled contest at Roanoke
Island, and Its result have doubtless reached YOU
oy telegraph. or course this Is the principal sub
/ ject OF conversation here. Considering all the
circumstances attending the hght, more favor
| able termination Of the affair could scarcely have
been expected by those competent to Judge Our
force on the island at the time Of the attack was
| but small In comparison with the heavy and nu-
/ merous force OF the enemy. or the bravery and
/ gallant conduct OF our troops too much can
scarcely be said In commendation. That they
| were oyerpowered by greatly superior numbers
| after fighting with q reckIessness and desperation
never surpassed, 10 fact already established and
| history.
send you herewith such particulars OF. the bat
tie as have been able to gather true account
| cannot be given now. We know enough to causs
deeP sign OF grief for the brave men slain and
| the gallant sons Of the South who are now cap
| uves In this cruel war, Of homes rendered desc
| late, OF hearts wrung with anguish, and ties of
love and friendship severed But who believes
| except the deluded and revengeful Yankees, that
the South will ever yield to them THAT the great
cause OF southern liberty, and honor, and human n
A ltY Is not still Onwdrdi .-... ..
| True, the news comes that the hospitable town
Of Elizabeth City has been shelled and burned
and that the vandal hordes are desolatinp the
pleasant places Of the sound coast But thew can
not 90 far into the Interior and the day 10 coming
when these northern minions shall be driven bacE
In disgrace to their inhospitable and barren soil
Zen Wise, though still sick, Is, learn, on his
SaSgsn S%sy 70 this city; EsPt O. Jennings Wise w.'
Miller and Captain Coles are reported among the
HInea The enemy lost In killed and wounded
thousand; our loss three hundred BESIDES n1Ors
shdH Zoo fAoNSard prisoners. We must be nerved
Iof vigorous resistance and Providence will assist
Us as heretofore In the cause of honor, and truth
ana human rigAt.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS
/ lF rom the Richmond Dispatch Feb IL
| The Disaster at Roanoke IsIand The eycj,,no
occurrence al Roanoke Island, resulting In a re,
verse TO our arms, was the theme Of Conversation
Yesterday In the city, TO the exclusion Of almosi
every other topic. The fact that some ~ a.,
Richmond companies were engaged in The 40 n,
oecasioned an Intense and painful anxiety. psT
uculatly among nose who had friends or rela-
cealed. IL 10 but a short period since the W..
Legion, after an arduous and toilsome camn,ign
In Western Virginia, LEFT here for the coast OF
North Carolina, and though now defeated in one
Of the most desperate conflicts Of the war il is si
least consoling to know that the men fought with
determined bravery against overwhelming odds
and won for themselves the proud appellation OF
heroes, Of which their present situation cannot
deprive them. The Light Infantry Blues (Com-
pany A, Of the Legion,l date their organization
as far back as the year 1873, and number among
| their honorary members many Of our oldest and
most yenerated citizens. rhe history OF the com.
PanY Ia 30 well known that we need not repeat II
here.
Captain o. Jennings Wise was elected com.
mander short time before the war broke out,
and the corps was of the rst to respond to the
| cali OF the country. Captain Wise n reported
badly wounded, and Lieutenans Pred Carter and
| Charles Bigger are taken prisoners with, II 10
| presumed, majority Of the men. 6 The jackson
| Guard and the Light Guard, both attached to the
Legion were enlisted here after the commence