Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-02-19
The Fall Of oanoke island,

The fall Of Roanoke Island has placed the baek-door
key to Norfolk in the hands Of our enemies, with
Gen. Wool threatening that place in front This
disaster has also placed the whole Albemarle coun.
try at the mercy of our enemies Time and again
called the attention Of the authorities to the i'm
portance Of defending this island and to the conse-
quences which would follow its occupation by the
enemy. In the Standard of the I'D Of laspmon:h
we said:
I'VE cannot doubt that the first point of attack
will be at Roanoke Island. and the main object OF
the expedition is to get in the of Norfolk The
attack upon Newbern, Washington and the Abe
marie towns are also included in the programme
We withhold an expression Of our fears, if an early
attack is made upon Roanoke Island. Gen. Wise
has been appointed there too recently to have &C.
complish much. Should damage ensue we shall
charge it upon the removal of Cen Hill from that
department. He had started plans Of defence which,
if he had been permitted to carry out, would have
rendered US secure against an attack.
And in the Standard of the 9TH of this month
We said
We are satisfied from the size of the Burnside
expedition, from the intimatons Of the Northern
press, and from the importance of the stake, that
tie first object Of the expedition is to take Roanoke
Island and immediately to push for the Seabcard
Railroad to get in the rear of Norfolk. Let any one
curious enough to know, take the map and trace the
course the Chowan and Nottoway rivers and notice
their contisuity to the Seaboard Railroad How
many troops have We on the Seaboard Road? How
many near Franklin depot! How many at Suffolk?
How many rangers on Chowan river to watch the
advance OF the enemy and give warning? What if
General Wool from Fortress Monroe, were to make
simultaneous movement across James river and
get possession of the Petersburg and Norfolk Rail-
~,,,I9 Whpt l,o xl,,o l.ts1 oc
Norfolk, if the enemy were to get possession of
those two Roads?
This, we believe, is the main design of the enemy.
Should he be successful, it will be an easy matter,
then, to carry out his marauding designs upon the
Eastern Counties. When we think of the possibili-
ty Of his despoiling and running fellow citizens
of those Counties, of the immense damage and loss
to accrue to us by the taking Of Roanoke Island,
Hyde, Washington and Newborn, and then reflect
! how easily and at what small cost it might have
been prevented had the authorities done their duty,
We are at loss for terms to express indignation
at so wanton sacrifice Of the larest portion of the
State May benlgnant Providence still interpose
to prevent so sad calamity"
1t gives US no pleasure to remind our readers Of
these predictions and fears. We do so only in the
hope that those who have the management Of our
affairs will profit by the past.
" Nv 70 " odhe io' ttiS SddMiIy 40 Oeii W Iee
Is Gen. Huger? Is Gen. Gatlin? Is Mr.. Secretary
Benjamin. Is Col. Shaw! We do not know but
We do believe if Gen. Hill had not been removed,
the island would have been fortified and successfully
defended. Why was Gen. Hill removeds Because
he obeyed the orders of the Governor of this State
and called out pc, ton of the militia. Who had
him removed? The highest authority" in this
State, as we understand, represented to President
Davis that he was not acceptable to our people, but
that Gen. Branch would be; and 80 President Davis,
believing he was doing right, ordered Gen. Hill to
=! Virginia, and made Col. Branch Brigadier. Gen.
Branch was soon relieved of the command of Roam.
oke Island as part of the coast which had been
assigned him, but not until he had ordered the 31s,
regiment half armed to that place; and Gen. Huger
then assumed command of the island, and sent Gen.
| Wise there as his subordinate 1t seems that Mr..
Secretary Benjamin does not regard the loss Of the
island as very important We trust the whole mat
ter will be investigated. Let those who have done
their duty be commended and let heavy censure
rest on those by whose neglect Or improper conduct
| the island has been lost.