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

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sou saAa, snnnased to be within the means
r. ~ ,avernment; that the same vas not I
- "a the Jefences constructed were
-hasi. inadequate for iis protection from
s,tacL either by land or water; and the |
~ have no difficulty in assigning as I
~ saass az our disaster aud defeat, on the |
e,h &c February. the want of necessary de-
fences Don the Island, the adjacent waters,
snd ppon the mainland upon the Tyrell side
the want Of necessary field artillery. arma-
ment and ammunition, and The great and nn-
uardonable deficiency of men. together with
the entire want Of transportation. by which
the whole command might have been convey
ed from the Island alter the defeat At the bat
terry. But the committee have had much
difficulty in locating the responsibility for
the neglect Of This exceedingly important
point, owing to the fact that the command
Of that Island has been transferred so fire.
quently from one military commander to
another, between lie lime that the Coincide
rate government became responsible Tor the
coast delences of North Carolina aud the at
tack upon that Island upon the 18th of Feb
ruary, 1862. That Island. upon the fall of
Hatteras, was taken possession of by Col.
Wright under instruction from Gen. Huger.
and the principal defences constructed IN
der the authority and direction Of Gen. HUI
ger. who assumed jurisdiction over the ISL
and. although il was within the military com.
mand of Gen, Gstlin. Afterwards Brig
Gen. ID. II. Hill was assigned for short
time To the immediate command of that post,
who Immediately entered upon his duty,
made an examination of the deiences in per-
son. and was making active preparation FOR
putting the Island in q state of defenc e.,
when he was suddenly superseded, and Brig.
Gen. Branch given the command. II does
not appear in evidence that General Branch
ever visited the Island. or made any move
towards its defence. He. however, was SUI
perseded bs Brig Gen. Wise, about the 1st
Of January. 1861, who Immediately proceed
ed TO the Island in person. about the 9th OF
January, spent several days in recon-
noisance Of the Island aud its defences, and
in examining the adjacent waters. with a
view OF constructing distractions IN CrOatan
Sound TO prevent the passage OF hostile
feet; and from that moment up 10 the 9TH OF
February. the committee are satisfied. that
General Wise has devoted his whole time
in jealous. energetic and indefatigable eff
fort to place that Island in a state of defence.
and has done all and every thing in his pow :
err, with the means he had at his command,
to effect this important object. At Norfolk
upon the I'd OF January, on his way 70 Roa-
noke Island, he met an express from Colonel
Shaw, (who was then in the immediate and
temporary command Of the Island) to Gen.
Hpger. informing him Of the defenceless
state Of the Island. and urging the necessity
of strengthening Fort Barlow, by mounting
other guns, obstructing Croaian Sound and
making acquisitions tor ammunition. pill
driver, and other things necessary. General
Wise endorsed and approved Of the req"isi.
ton, and seconded the demands Of Colonel
Shaw.
Gen. Wise arrived at Roanoke Island up
on the 9th. and assumed command at that
point upon the 9TH Of January. 1862. At
ter making a Reconnaissance Of the Island
and its defences, Gen. Wise, on the 18th
January, informed Gen. Huger, I" that Ro-
snoke Island was in defenceless condition
and in presence Of very formidable enc
my's force. The Burnside expedltion.is re-
ported to have sailed. Independent Of that.
the force now at Hatteras inlet, can pass or
take Roanoke Island, and pardon me for
saying that, I respectfully differ from the
opiulvh you tkpTesstu IN your ofuefs " "
day. that to prevent the enemy's gunboats
from passing the marshes at the south end,
viii also prevent any landing. Batteries q
the marshes are vitality essential to prevent
the gunbOats from passing into Crostau
Sound. they will not prevent the landing on
the south and east end Of the Island. AZ
least 5000 infantry are needed on the Isl.
and, and a considerable force, say 500 men,
are needed on the beach, aud II the enemy
pass Roanoke, 5000 al least are necessary
to fight them on the tongues Of land aud on
the North side Of Abemarle Sound. We
need on the beach and On the IsIand at Ieasi
field pieces and the carriages and caissoni
necessary. We require 50 horses for III,
artillery. We need at least 6 heavy pieces
at the south end marshes and two al least Al
FIeetsood point" On the same day Genera
Wise addressed the Secretary Of War. il
which he says. that " II is very important
that my Legion should be forwarded az
speedily as possible. The dcfences u Roa.
noke Island. which is the key Of sll the real