The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-07-31
The La1e Engagement ON the Roanoke
River.


NEwBERN, N. C. July 18th.
An engagement of no little importance tool
place on the morning of the 9th inst, on Ro-
anoke River, some 60 miles from its mouth be
tween three of our gunboats, the Commodore
Perry, Ceres and Shawsheen, and company o
Hawkins Zouaves, under Capt, Hammel, or
our side, and regiment of rebel cavalry, sup
ported by strong force of infantry and artll
lerv, and rebel fort which commanded the
river. 80,
The particulars are as follows: On the 9th
| inst, Capt. Flusser, of the Com. Perry, VINO Is
commanding officer of the naval force IN Aloer-
marie Sound, decided to make reconnaissance
up the Roanoke as far as Hamilton, where ne
understood rebel steamer was anchored, and
also that the enemy were erecting fertilization
and collecting large force; with the intention
of resisting all approaches to Weldon by the
river. 1885
After taking on board Capt. Hammell's COM
pany ofZouaves, which are stationed at Plym-
outh, ca very important point at the mouth OF
the Roanoke, and also the headquarters of the
naval force in the Albermarle Sound, the heet
proceeded up the river at rapid rate, meeting
no difficulties until they arrived alta point SIX
miles above Williamson, where barricade OF
RATS and piles were chained together, reaching
transversely up and across the river. just be-
fore the fleet reached the barricade, deadly
fire, from infantry in an ambush, was opened
upon the Ceres, which was IN advance, killing
one seaman, j ohm H. Bridges of Danvers, Mass,
and wounding several more. The Ceres imme-
diately responded with grape, which,wlth some
timely and well-directed shells from the Perry
ard Shawsheen, soon dispersed the cowardly
assassins with heavy loss, who then pushed on
to the fort at Hamilton,to assist their comrades
in resisting us at that point.
IN arrivino ot the barflcade, Capt EIuSS6r
proceeded at once to blow up and destroy the
obstructions in his usual dashing way. 1t was
not long before he succeeded Ill cutting his way
through this difficult blockade, which was con-
sidered by the enemy quite as strong as the
barricade in James River. On went the fleet
up this narrow river, darkened by dense Tor
est on each sidG, through a continuous storm
of bullets and grape from the lnnumera0le
masked batteries which lined both banks of the
river on the bluff commanding the approach to
Hamilton Hamilton is situated on an emf
nence, back some distance from the river, and
separated from this important stream by thick
growth Of heavy timber, which sheltered the
hidden foe, who were raining down an inces-
SAINT fire upon our gunboats, which were una
BILE to elevate their guns sufficiently to do all
the execution they desired. However, they
continued to advance when suddenly the rebel
fort on the eminence, which was concealed from
OO0neQ a
fleet.
In the thickest of the fight. and when the re-
suit was very doubtful, Capt. Flusser discoy
cred large rebel steamer, loaded with rebel
sharpshooters, coming down upon our tieet.-
Suddenly she turned short bend, and before
the enemy were aware of the near approach CT
our feet, she was in good musket range Capt.
Flusser and all his men were III readiness tor
the new foe.
A she'll from the Ceres raled the deck of the
Wilson--for that was the name OF the rebel
craft-and bang again went a hundred or more
Union rife bullets among the sharpshooters on
the rebel steamer, who being astonished at the
rapid advance of Flussers fleet, leaped from
every side of the Wilson into the water, leav-
lug their deserted craft to drift into our posses
sion.
AS soon as our fleet got beyond the enemy's
batteries, the Zouaves, under Capt. Hammel,
were landed with howitzer, and with liked
bayonets commenced the advance on Hamilton,
accompanied with strong company from each
of our gunboats armed in the same manner
making four companies in all, who were order
ed by Capt. Flusser "to flank the rebel fort aud
take Hamilton while the gunboats were again
to advance and silence the rebel batteries in
front. Again the gunbo ITS went into action,
and such an unearthy sound-owing to the
peculiar situation of the countly-as the echo
from their heavy ordnance IN this dense forest.
was never before heard. Soon there was q re-
Spouse from the rear of the enemy, which was
the rapid report Of the howitzers, and deaten-
ing cheers from our brave mariners and Zou-
ayes, who had been led in a successful charge
against the fort, which they took, despite
strong opposition, together with the village of
Hamilton over which the stars and stripes were
raised with an additional outbreak of enthusi-
asm.
TIE shouts from our land force were soon re-
sponded to by shout still more deafening, |
which was given by the crews OF three gunboats |
as they drove the rebels out of their masked
by three well-directed broadsdes =
leaving our forces in possession of the highly
important port Of Hamilton, with all its steam
ers, schooners, and large amount of commits
sary stores and cotton, which the rebels had
no time to destroy.
The rebel steamer captured is exceedingly |
in this department, for the purpose of
transporting troops throug these shallow wat
ers. She was not crippled nor injured in the
least, strange as it may appear, by our shells
which raked her decks. She is a sternwheel |
steamer, of very light draft, and capable of
carrying regiment Of troops
In this engagement, every officer and man
behaved in the most heroic manner.