The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-03-03
.o,pAY noRHrxa.. :. MARCH 8 lss
..rTLE or ROANOKE ISLAND.
/oUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE
MoSun7sr Horn,
RIcHnoup. March lat 1852


S,,os the battle OF Roanoke, Gen. hum.
IA. has said shat be did not commence the
.,,.et uutll fifteen thousand mon had been
.1.rt.a and that there were ten thousand
-. In the ship. to land II required. Nine
.,,,.nt. of the land force were bro uxht
-, the battery, behind which we had
80, tour hundred men and II was mot
III they had fought near i've hours. and
,,,.rs nansed on either side, that they were
f,rced to retire. Remaining entirely pro-
,ec,sd By the battery. and BY the neig boring
trees, IL was seldom the volleys Of the On i.
,my took eject upon our soldiers, who only
fed whenever a fair mark presented Itself
Cspt. Wise was tnually talking to his
nfn. cautioning them against ex posurs, and
directing them when It was safe to fire. 1t
pu while ordering his men TO look out for a
vollsy that he receHed the first shot. The
r.mainder OF his wohnds were given while
being carried from the field. The first, how
ever, was the mort tai wound which laid the
hero and noble patriot In the grave. lie
ai,a ths following day. When the enemy
~ss sssn approaching through the swamp
.-at. 1t was evident that the battery
lid b. hel.. no longer, and immediate pre-
tis men around hi.u, Col. Anderson retired
about three hundred yards, to the reserve,
consisting cf four companies, under Capts
wallace, Dorman, Morris. and Lieut.. Dur
hsn. under Adjutant Blocker. He at once
fsss tho order to fall in, and they promptly
rsllied to protect the reserve, and stood firm
ustl every man had passed by. some OF them
rgfeotly yanic- stricken. The Goth fell in
promptiy, "A an orderly manner, and marched
Immediately to the rear. The reserve was
c.dered to form by companies, firs by com.
peIies, aud protect the retreat unit til another
sand could be made. The slst North Caro-
Ens. st once ran to their quarters, Col. JQr.
dan riding at the head OF the frigh tened pro.
es,slon. and there remained until summoned
psurrsndsr. Meanwhile the enemy had ad.
vsnced upon the deserted battery and taken
possession with prolonged cheers.
This was about one O'Clock. and at that
hour Col. W. J. Green's battalion. the and
North Oarolina, arrived at the upper end Of
the island ana effected a landing. His force
consisted Of eight companies, making about
i've hundred men. After forming in line and
issuing arms and ammnnition, Col. Green
marched down by the uppsr battery to Col.
shaw's encampment. He found the latter
py his quarters considerably dlstur bed and
serious. Col. Green Immediately asked
what he should do. 81 hardly know" said
Col. Shaw, "the day II lost" Col, Green
then proposed that he should 60 back TO the
beach, where his baggage was left, for the
purpose OF protecting 1t, and meanwhile to
putout line of pickets and sen ntinsls to watch
the enemy's approach. He further asked
Col. Shaw II he would rally to his assistance
In case the pickets were attacked.
Receiving an Affirmative reply he advanced
three or four hundred yards and was met by
the sd Gath, and 26th Massachusetts regi.
nsEts, drawn up to receive him. The com.
mand for companies to fall into line. was
instantly given, but just before ordering q
fire, one Of the Federal Colonels shouted to
him saying, "you are mistaken, don't shoot" !"
Suspeeting the trick, he fred upon them for
several minutes and repulsed them. Seeing
what q force he had to contend with he rs-
usset in an orderly manner to the q uar tsrs
Of ;hs slst. and while railying for another
iasek, nag OF truce passed by towards the
enemy. Col Green at once rcde over to Dol.
Shaw and asked If it was his comm and that
he surrender. The reply was that the
rendered. Col. Green said no more but ex.
eesdingly chagrinnsd and humiliatsd, march.
cd his battalion into camp and delivered mr.
their arms. In the engagement. he lost i've
men killed and three wounded. The enemy
had seven teen killed.
The seth marched directly by the quar- tera
OF Col. Shaw, and halted at the beach. Ou
the way down the remainder Of the doth Vir.
rnia, under Major Fry, joined thsm, having
Just landed from barges which brought them
from Nag's Head. Forming on the shore,
COL Anderson and Major Fry proposed to
make final stand there, and, while listen.
ing TO the flght above between the enemy and
Col. Green, drew mp the men and deployed
skirmishers. Word was soon after brought
that flag OF truce had been sent, proposing
terms of surrender Col. Anderson sent Oapt
Wallace, upon his horse, to ascertain the fact
from the commander Of the island. Riding
up to the quarters, Oapt. Wallace said:
"Col. Shaw, Col. Anderson wishes to know
hitis your desire that he surrender his rsgi'
msnt'
IL have already surrendered my COM
mand," was the reply. .......
"Do you consider Dol. Anderson under
your commando -.. ..,
"Coi. Anderson will know that fact"
Captain wallace rode back Immediately tc
tea 70. and curses, and rawlings, were marched
ups 'prisoners of war. 80
Whs the Wise Legion came first I'd thu
beach ii ss,eamtug with several hats attach-
Cd wa. slos . by the shore, and 1t was exps It.
ed that the n ,eL would h-ve been taken on
Thscommand or o. the tug was MAJOR Bacon
aid to General Wise, and 1t was IL. " 70 pre-
'ans that he wo aid do all In his pow &c
t@umany as po, Nibie from the island, Th.
ne1' therefore, watched his motions with
t.sS!ntsrest and saw the anchor hove upas
a 7" come in shore. All were prepared 10
sads QUITO the Hats, which might have been
uols lad they remained a. at hrst. When
'le alcAor ~as up, Major Bacon steamed
-"a! rom the island, and left the men TO b
sp'a.sd All Of the Wise Legion, might
-" been saved. for they remained on the
pun 'ares hours before sing summoned to
sarreuder. -
soon as IL became evident the steamer
sa'ins, several prepared to 1re upon
~ man In uniform sta nding upon the dscS,
we're restrained by their ofncers, who
1.p'0 that the tug was only turning to come
90" land But straight across the sound
"A carried, towing tbs hats along. and
"s saw her stsaming for Nag's Head
.'h little exsrtion every man Of the Wise
hson might have been taken on board and
Tue HATS been turned adrift many might
escaped. What the excuse for such
h.sact wa cannot imagine; II is to bs
~n' ~a mat Major Bacon has . good one. and
~ Eivs 1t to the public without delay. .sss
oss oy one the regiments marched mp The
70 'hs quarters OF the commander. DOL
NV. .S. and there delivered sp tAStr arms and
Ises =, ~ prisoners Of war. ., Apee san',
,o.. ofam ma Of the day closed. and twenty.
u holdred and forty mon rlAnf thai