The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-19
THE BURNSIDE VICTORY.
SOCO Prisoners Taken.
BALTIMORE, Feb. Is, 1862

ed Crot0n Sound early on Friday morn
ing, the 7th, Flag Officer Goldsborough's
feet in advance When abreast of Park
Point, about midway between the Point
and Roanoke Island. A 10-nch gun
battery opened OH the feet. A recon
noissance by the Underwater showed that
the enemy had obstructed the passage by
sinking vessels and driving piles the en-,
tire width of Croton Sound; that above
this barricade were eight gunboats and
that in addition to the battery on Pork
Point, named Fort Barton, were Forts
Blanchard, four guns, and Fort Iluger on
Weir's Point, four guns, and Fort For
rest, eight guns, on Red Stone. on the
west side of the Sound, opposite Weir's
Point, all of which bore So as to play on
our fleet, should it attempt to pass the
barricade. The feet Immediately ad-
vanced in three columns, to attack Pork
Point battery and the Rebel gunboats.-
At IL the engagement became general,
and ~ less than an hour the Rebel feet
retired, the Curlew being so much disab-
led that she was run aground under Fort
Forrest. Our feet now concentrated its
IRE on Fort Barlow, at range of three
quarters to one mile, which was as near as
the water would allow our beats to ap-
proach. At first, the fort replied vigor
ously, but gradually slackened its fire
The resistance was, however, stubborn.
The flag was shot away, the quarters set
on fire, and the work plowed up by our
shells
About m Gen. Burnsldu's forces
commenced landing at Ashby's Harbor,
about two miles below Pork Point A
Rebel force of 1000. with three pieces,
were stationed II the woods to oppose
them Our gunboats sheled the woods
and scattered the Rebels in all directions.
Oar men were taken in small steamers
and launches as near the shore as posi-.
bic, and had to wade, sinking to the mid
die at every step, for upwards of quar-
ter of mile
Between 8 AMI 4 o'clock the Rebel
feet returned 10 the attack vigorously,
uuA an IuSuGd UIIhCCu II
and several of our guEboats while the re-
mainder kept up the fire on Fort Barlow.
In an hour the rebel gunboats retired !;
the second time several of them disabled.
Fort Barlow fired but seldom now.
At 8 clock Flag. officer Goldsborough
signaled our fleet to withdraw after an
action of seven or eight hours. Many of
our gunboats were struck, but none of
them seriously damaged The causual.
ties were three killed aud eight or ten
wounded.
Meanwhile the land forces continued
the debarkation, and by midnight had a
force of nearly 1900 men on Roanoke
Island. Tie enemy were intreuched on
the center of the Island, four or five miles
distant.
At an early hOu: on Saturday morning,
Geu. Foster commenced forward move
ment, followed by the entire force under
Gen. Reno and Gen. Parks. At about
half past s, Gen. Foster came up With
the enemy. defended by three gun
earthwork, Hanked on both sides by what
was deemed an insupDortable morass, the
! only approach to which was a narrow
causewav, on which their guns bore. In
the battery and vicinity were from two to
three thousand men. Our artillery
which consisted of six pieces from the
naval launches, was placed in front by
Gen. Foster, who had the immediate
command, Gen. Burnside being at the
poiut of landing. The infantry and ar
tillery opened on both sides with vigor
Our lie endorsements as they arrived were
placed with the view of penetrating the
morass on both sides so as to flank the
battery Our men steadily advanced
closing around the enemy under a hot
fire from all sides, and suffered severely
At about | clock the New Y ork 9th
. Hawkins Zouaves, received the order tC
charge. and uuder the FIRE Of the enemy
charged up the causcway, a distance Of
upward of half mile yelling
themselves and cheered in the
widest manner by the entire force
The enemy became panic c-stricken, and as
the Zouaves entered tue works they went
out fleeing preciptateiy, leaving every
thing behiUd them. As soon as possible
Gen. Reno took up the pursuit, followed
by Gen. Foster, who kept up the pursuit
of the main force of the enemy, while
Gen. Reno went toward Fort Huger
where body of Rebels bad fed. Al
tie same time Col Hawkins was sem
with his regiment to the right in the di
rectiou of Shallowbag Bay. The enemy
in their flight strewed the road with guns
equipments, and everything that they
could throw away. Tie panic and rou
were complete. When close on theiI
heels, and near the upper part of the is
land, Gen. Foster was met by flag o.