Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-02-21

Foster overlook, Gen. Reno, who had matt
ed 10 make a movement to cut off the re-
treat Of a body of +, bells, numbering be-
tween 500 and 900 on the left, near Wier's
Point. and not far from the upper battery.
Taking part Of his force, Gen. Reno
lpusled on in that direction. IL being un-
derstood that there was two-gun battery
near Shelbag Bay, Col. Hawkins with his
Zouaves, was dispatched in that direction.
Gen. Foster pushed on at double-quick
with the oath Massachusetts,, followed by
an adequate force in the tracks of the reb
els, who panic-stricken, were fleeing at the
top of their speed, throwing away as they
went, guns, equipments. everything, SO that
the road for miles was strewn with whatev-
err The fugilves could disencumber them
selves Of Thus was the pursuit kept up for
five or six miles, when Gen. Foster, as he
was close on the heels Of the enemy, was
met by flag Of truce borne by Col Pool
of the Sth North Carolina, with message
! from Col. Shaw of the North Carolina
! forces, and now senior in command, asking
what terms of equalization would be grant
ed. Col. Fosters answer was, " Uncondi.
tional surrender" Col Pool wanted to
know how much time would be granted.
=" No longer than will enable you 10 report
to your senior"
The rebel officer had hardly reached his
men when the Massachusetts Oath, burning
with impotence, sprang forward in the di-
recion of the enemy, when Col. Shaw inn
medately raised white handkerchief as a
signal that the rebels had concluded TO sur
render, and accepted Gen. Fosters terms.
The usual forms of capiiulation were
gone through, and about two thousand reb-
els laid down their arms. They were vari-
ously effected Some OF them had arrived
| from Norfolk that same morning, and they
| ioked and swore by turns at the way they
had been led into the trap. The celebrated
Wise Legion, among the captives, were dis
posed 10 be considerably uproarous. Some
of the officers expressed themselves glad
that the result was as it was, and appeared
to be well satisfied. As a general thing,
utter dismay and astonishment prevailed
Meanwhile Gen. Reno had pushed on,
and came up with body of about eight
hundred rebels, commanded by Col. Jordon
who surrendered his entire force uneondi-
lionally, and aflerward stacked their arms
in presence of the victors.
Col. Hawkins finding the two-gun bat
terry on Shallowbag Bay deserted, took pos
session of il, and shortly after came up
with a body of rebel fugitives, about 200,
whom he took prisoners. Wise here IN
dertook to escape in boat and with others
had already moved off, when he received
three shots, one of them through his lungs,
woundng him MORALLY.
Commodore Goldsborough signalled the
feet, The Fort is oars" and cheer upon
cheer rent the air from our brave troops,
both on land and sea. The number Of
prisoners taken is some 5000. A despatch
from Gen. Burnside says he has not yet
had time to count them. Thus fell Roam
oke Island. Our loss viii be about As
killed and $50 wounded
The next day, Sunday, Elizabeth City
was captured by Commander Rowan, with
few ships of the fleet detailed for that
purpose. The rebels tried TO make stand
and had a battery and feet of gunboats
Upon these our feet charged.
The charge was short aud desperate, and
! without any exception is one of the mos
brilliant ever made by the American Navy
All eyes were on the Commander, Rowan
10 see what the first order would be, as ",
were rapidly approaching the foe.
In due time he ran up The signal TO en-
| gage the enemy in close action, hand tt
At u.
, the enemy. This was a signal for a test o.
speed as well as the signal for deadly en-
counter with desperate foe, whose all wa;
: staked upon this final enga cement. For /:
} distance of two miles it was race between
\ our steamers in their eagerness to outstriv
each other, and TO be first TO meet the enc
my of the Republic face to face
The river began to narrow as we ap
y preached the city. The point where, th,
t fort was situated necessarily brought ou
steamers nearer together, making then
sure marks for the enemy's guns; indeed
it would be miracle if shot from one o
+; the enemy's guns did not strike some on
{ of our steamers. Under the circumstances
o most any other commander would hav,
!. thought it advisable to first attack the for
and Hence the guns on both sides of tina
y narrow point, and then attack the rebe
steamers; but not so with the brave anC
!, intrepid Rowan, whose motto is TO charg,
n bayonets on The enemy whenever and wher
!. ever he may be found. In action the posi-
ton of the commanders ship is in the cen
ter Of the squadron. The Delaware, Capt
) Rowan's flagship, was at the head of tn
r advancing column, and led the van. N,
!. attention was paid to the fort or arme,
schooner, as they dashed by them through
a perfect torrent of shells and grape, board
u ed the rebel steamers, and engaged them a
n the point of the bayonet, as the panie-strick
r en- rebels leaped into the water in every di
4 rection. Many were killed by the bayone
and revolver in this hand-io-hsnd fight
II and sank below the water. Their real los
o will doubtless never be known to us tn
e slaughter, however. was fearful, and tn
a struggle short and desperaie-not more tha
:, fifteen minutes in duration.
The fort and armed schQoners were de
serted quite as soon as were the rebe
e steamers, for it was made quite as hot worl
II for those behind The guns as it was for thei
e .confederates on the gunboais. Our loss
/. two killed and about a dozen wounded-al
, seamen. The deaih-siruggle was briei
10 less time than it would take to write