Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-24
LETTERS FROM ROANOKE ISLAND.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
ROANOKE ISLAND, CAMP FOSTER,
February II, 1867.


NJ, Ed;tor.-Tbinking that an account Of
our first battle, and as it has proved the most
important victory of the campaIgn-mlght be
interesting to the friends of the Massachusetts
twenty-iftb, will eudeavor to give them
through your columns, some idea of our move
ments for the past few days, and the exposure
we have been subject to.
On Friday morning, Feb. 9TH, the gunboats
at the report of signal gun, all started, for
the purpose of bombardng the first font on
the west side of the island, and the transports,
with all the regiments, followed on so as to
h. ready to land. Thus we had an opportuni-
ty to witness the naval engagement, and
more splendid and magnificent spectacle never
was Witnessed. The continual roar of cannon
laundering in our ears, the hum Of the balls
passing through the air, the bursting of shells
in the water, the clouds of dirt, the fire and
smoke of the burning barracks on shore, and
the bursting of shell high in air, filling the
sky with fire aud smoke, the sinking and burn
ing of rebel gunboats, all were witnessed by
more than ten thousand soldiers, with loaded
muskets, making for the shore, where we were
bound to force landing
THE LANDING.
Our regiment was to take the lead and the
two companies-Co. A and Co. E-were the
first on the Pilot Boy, with Gen. Foster in
command, and took in tow twenty six small
row boats, filled with soldiers from different
regiments, and when they were cast off, the
strife was to see which boat would strike the
shore first, and our plucky little captain was
bound that company A should have that hon
or, and in order to be sure OF it, had selected
his oarsmen and coxswain, and his fourteen
men, and your correspondent was one of that
number. As we neared the shore, we saw in
the distance the gliltering of bayonets, close
by house, near Ashby harbor. They thought
this the only place where we could land, all
the rest of the shore being marsh but Gen.
Foster fearing that they had made prepare
lions 10 contest our landing, as we were cast
of ordered us into little creek, where we
run into marsh, and as our boat struck the
ground Captain Pickett was the first man who
jumped from the boat aud in the water above
our waists, We waded ashore. We were the
first to land. Others followed in quick sue
cesson, expecting every moment deadly vol
ly from the enemy, when from our gunboas
went whistling through the air over our heads
two shells, which dispersed the enemy. 1t
proved afterwards that they had battery
and had we landed at Ashby harbor, we should
have lost many oil our men.
We landed in marsh where the grass was
as high as our shoulders, and had to march
through mud and water three feet deep Tor
nearly half a mile TO dry land, TO farm.
house. As the occupants saw us approaching
they left, the man on a horse, and the women
and children as it seemed hiding in some of
the outbudings. We found the supper partly
cooked and the house deserted Lieut.. Rich
ter at once climbed to the top of the house,
and at one end of the ridgepole nailed the stars
and stripes, amid the cheers OF thousand
voices. The officers took possession of the
house for their quarters, and nearly all OF the
fences on the farm were used for fires and to
make road through the marsh to get our
field pieces on shore. AS soon as we effected
landing several regiments were put into the
woods on picket duty, and made all advance
of nearly two miles. All the regiments left
their blankets and knapsacks on the steamers
so as not to be burdened, and had to stand
around their camp fires all night in drilling
rain. About hali-past seven in the evening
we learned that one of the Massachusetts
twenty. first had been shot, and that his rifle
had been taken from him, he returning wound.
ed to our camp. Gen. Foster took company
A,and made a reconnaissance till nearly eleven
o'clock, II arching us four times through water
from two to three feet deep. Several times
we ran the pickets of the enemy, but received
no fire from them. Since their surrender we
have learned that we advanced more than halt
mile beyond their line, and that they had
sent back to their camp for several companies
to flank us but fortunately for US we retired
just in season to prevent it, and our forces
continued 10 land all night
SEEKING THE ENEMY.
On Saturday morning few minutes before
seven o'clock we were called upon by our re-
spective officers to fall in. Our guns had been
stacked all night in the ran aud we feared
that many of them might not go. But, with
Gen. Foster at our head on we marched, COM
P""J "a t"tNibS t'S ASoo 40 We
had gone nearly mile less distance than we
had marched into the woods the night before
when two rife balls came whizzng by Gen.
Fosters h. ad, and Capt. Pickeu's voice was
heard quicker than thought, in a clear and
commanding tone, Company A advance and
deploy as three skirmishers to the right and
left" which order was obeyed. Then came
the order, "Hunt them up, boys! Clean them
out! Keep your eyes open!' And through
brush high as our heads, and nearly as
thick as buckthorn hedge, we run, tearing
our clothes and hands with brers, for nearly
two miles, driving the enemy before us, with
out receiving from them single shot, Capt
Pcketts voice ringing through the woods
cheering on his boys, "Clean out the rascals
every one of them !" Thus we drove them,
with the assistance of company L, acting with
us as skrmishers We drove them to their
battle Ground, when ball came whistling by
Fred. Whites head, and he returned the shot,
it being the first ball from our side.
THE BATTLE FIELD.
Before us was large Clearing" through
which was the only road over the island and
here the enemy had prepared to give us bat.
tle.s Before proceeding further, let me give