New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-27
THE CAPTURE OF EDENTON
Rebel Documents Found Oh their Flag Ship
Prem OuT Special Correspondent.

Prem Oar Special Correspondent
RoAsoKs Island. se0 20. 1882.
In the twelve DAYS that have elapsed since our
capture Of tais island, the army ard navy have ac-
eompl,sbed even more than coud have been ex-
peceJ. The first business in hand WAS naturally the
proper disposition of oug 5000 prsoners for until
tey were removed 10 safer quarters somehow pro-
vided for, their presence was burden and coos'ant
care The fact that they were stripped of iirearms,
fuives, and all other offensive weapons, did not
make The n source OF less anxiety, for there was
always the possibility that in one Of our ungnsrded
momen,s they might possess themselves Of arms and
overpower their guard. Arrangements were a.
once made by Gen. Burnside to send them North
and the steamers Cossack, Eastern Queen, s. H.
Epaulding aud Northerner were got in readiness for
their reception. AS one precauton sgaius. the TO-
uentation of trouble the commis Toned officers, num-
be,ipg l69, were placed on board the spaulding'
upder guard A flag of truce from the Rebels, ASK
ing for the bodies of Cspt. Wise, Lieut. Selden,
and Capt. Coles, offering suitable opportu'
nity for opening communication with the Reb-
els. Can't. ]. ID. De Wolf of Gen. Burnsde's
staff, and Lieut.Coi Osborn OF the 9th Masea-
cbusetts were sent on the 18th inst in steamer
to Elizabeth City with propositions for an exchange
of prisoners. Tae dispatches were delivered nperson
to Major Lee Of the Rebel army 81 place four miles
from the town, and by him forwarded 10 Norfolk
On tho morning Of the second day Major Aston, Of
Gen. Huqer staff, arrived fron headquarters, with
authority 20 accept terms, and arrangements for
the transfer were ~ cnce made between oiiccrs
and him. The terms of exchange follows:
Officers are to be exchanged, rank for rank; tbose Of
our officers now in THEN bands who have been
longest in confinement, 10 10 frst exchanged; any
surplus OF officers in or hands to be exchanged for
IN equivalent Of pfiyates to be determined by the
Commission lately established by the Government;
any surplus of prisoners in hands whch may
remain after all theirs have been exchanged lie to lie
passed to our credit, and al equal number Of future
prisoners released by them as they may cspiare
them. You will observe that this most equitable and
enlightened system will restore to their families and
friends, officers ike Corcoran sad Wilcox and men
who have langushed in Southern prisons since July.
Our prisoners ere to be eli9ered Immediately at
Elizabeth City; theirs at the time al Fortress
Monroe. The steamers are now lying Of Wiers
Point with the prisoners on board and will start for
Elizabeth City in an hours time.
Gen. Burnsdes secretaries, Messrs Larned ard
French have been hard at work for three nights pss
preparing III H'ie "'.'
ing the dispatches and returns which are to 90 b,
this resmer. TIE number and rank Of our prisoner
are actually as follows:
Two Colonels Lieu,ens Cocne Majors 81 Captains
IS Fin. Lieueusnt. So Second Liest nsns IhIs Lieuten
snt Musician as sersesns l2s Co'porss 1858 pfVA,es
end 20 servants belonging TO otieeu,
Making in all grand total Of 9, 4Ss prisoners o.
all ranks
The smoke of the battle hsd hardly cleared away
certainly the dead had not been buried-before
Lieut.. Flagler, the Division Ordnance officer, CON-
meneed q survey Of the i've forts On the Island.
He found the gun, all spiked, the bteecbngs and
trsintsckle cut, ammunition thrown into the
swamps, and such damage done as the enemy.
in the haste Of bis evacuation Of the premises could
accomplish. Only in Forts Blanchard "a guns and
Ellis q guns the vents stopped With rst-tsil
files wrought, or cut malta being used in all the
other cases. To draw these would have been an
easy matter in itself, but the enemy had taken the
additional procsution Of driving shot home and
wedging i, in, and even in some eases, Of loading
the gun and wedgiBg shell, fuse down, half way
70 the muzzle 90 that in al attempt to clear the
piece the shell would eN plodo and burst il.
The Division Headquarters have been established
., a email house the beach between the lower aud
middle forts and some lille attempts have been made
% make the quarters comfortable. The commanding
General, however slice pa IA cot on q husk bed and
with biz army blankets wrapped around him. The
example is not lost upon bis officers and men, who
bear privations aud troubles without q murmur for
they zee their Generals sharing them az well. In
fact, the hapres spirit animates our army, the men
being no less contented with their lot than willing
and anxious to meet the enemy again the
exigencies Of the service require. i firmly believe
that these regiments would follow their Generals to
meet any force the enemy might array against them,
40 implicit is the confidence which the conduct and
Issue Of the memorable battle have inspired. Gen.
Burnside and lis Brigaders seem never to tire OF
prasing the veteran vaior and steadiness displayed
by their raw troops under fire. The order from
Headquarters that the name ROANOKE shall be in.
scnbed on the resimental colors Is hailed with entha
Sssm by all, Us it well may be.
visited Mays Head yesterday. This locality is
famous an watering place or Summer resort for
SoutberDer, who, in their usual spirit Of Boosting
have moi hesitated 70 compare il with Newport or
Eahant. In plain English, it is nothing but a col.
lection Of sorry-looking frame hous.s-Jy a p,essno
yhcuon Termed cousees-perched barren hills of
"a nd, and clustering III an irregular manner about
laAe hotel. miserable den Of store. dark. dspk.
and dirty with greasy counters, cracked esss sbo,,.
cases, low, fy-specked ceiling, and ricke.y floor I.
kept by An Israelite as convenient means Tor ,w;n.
ding visitors. All about lies waste Of ssnd into
which pedestrians sink ankle deep, and the burning
glare Of July sun 10 unrelieved by speck Of Yer.
dure The hotel was occupied by the Rebels as bar.
racks for troops sntil the day of the battle, when
4. ro...... .cys q --c-.l ~. NE ID ra.n