The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-27

A. THURSDAY MORNING.
&ittmunh gispzttt.
THURSDAY MORNI10 .FEB. +, -.
BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND
(oUR OWN CONFECTIONERY
RIoHnoND, Feb. 20, 1854
In commencing slight accolat Of the oap-
turs OF Roanoke Island with forces there,
wish to say that, 20 far ~ my opinion goes
the place was entirely undefsnsible, without
the aid Of n6>al force strong enough TO
cope with the Federal gunboats. In thess
days Of diving bells and sub b-marine batteries,
the ordinary channel obstr uctions are Of lit.
tie avail unless protected by ships. Of war, for
they can bs readily removed At n ght after 4
days aghs 10 over. With q clear channel,
and NO batteries within . mile, q gunboat
will put ON . full head Of steam and pass the
shore fortiflcations with chances of moro
than two to one In favor Of going by them
without serious Injury. Taking all things
into consideration, / believe that, had no
force been landed upon Roanoke Island
1t must have fallen inevitably in the course
OF . 1sw days by cutting on communication
with tho main lana. It 10 evident to any
ono who will study the position Of the island
and the surrounding waters, that 90 soon as
the Federal ships passed Roanoke 1t was lite.
rally In the hands Of the enemy. and that the
more men there were upon the island the
sooner must 1t have capitulatsd. In a sub
seQuent letter, will give my reasons for this
statement more fully, and will endeavor to
convince every ono that, with the present
resources Of the Oonfederacy. 1t 10 impossi.
BILE to hold such point as Roanoke Island,
where a large hostile fl set can be brourh.
into action.
On the 9Th Of February, Comm odors Lynch
received intimation that Burnside's neet was
slowly feeling Its way up Pamlico Sound
He at once sent the Curlew down to make a
reconnaissance, and Capt. Hunter reported
the fleet at anchor some six miles below the
island. The evening was cloudy, misty, and
very dark. Judging that the fleet would ad-
vance Immediately upon tho approach OF
clear weather, Commodore Lynch sent word
to Uol. Shaw, the commander of the Island.
to be ready for an engagement, ON the NOR
row. The next morning, also, was dark aao
misty, but our fleet was drawn up In line of
battle, the dag ship ON the right and the
others according to rank on the left. waiting
for the approach Of the enemy. when the fog
cleared away.
After a time the sun ngnIed up the dense
massee Of clouds that hung over the sounds,
and soon after the wind lifted them In air,
and sent them drifting seaward. This was It
half-past ten, and at that hourthe fleet OF the
enemy got under way and advanced slowly
mp the channel. Some twenty gunboats came
mp in line OF battle. with two black steamers
On either side, as fiankers, some distance in
advance. Atl1.s5. they arrived within about
two miles Of our feet and commenced firing
with rified guns Of long range and heavy
calibrs. Gradually falling bask to bring tho
ships within range Of the guns in the "Pork
Point battery, our ships finally made a
stand, and at 1910, commenced the fight
Then tho engagement became general, and
rapid firing was kept up on both sides. Our
steamers Joined the battery in sending def
ance to the thunder Of the enemy's guns.
Meanwhile prepar atoms were going on to
make defence on land, and W ord Was sent
to Gen. Wise to send over reinforcemen enz
Immediately from Nag's Head. Az soon az
possible the seth Virginia regiment, under
Col. Frank Anderson, with two companies OF
the 46th Virginia, under Captain y. J. Wise,
were embarked on barges for the island. The
fight had begun before the troops reached the
point Of Roanoke, and as tho upper POI tion
was 70 pnded tho whole scene burst upon the
eye. All! what beautiful sight it was
Below, some three or four miles away, wal
our little feet in line. and beyond was the
enemy, rapidly pouring out shot and shell
at them or a the batteries. Still farther on
just cleaning through the sunlight, was thu
forest Of masts and the white sails of the
transports. kept far in the rear out Of the
reach Of danger. The Federal gunboats fired
rapidly and with great precision, the shell
exploding with admirable accuracy around
our little boats. They replied spitefully and
effectively, and made a most gallant and de.
termined fight. diminishing to the right and
left to destroy the range and aim of the enc
my. The guns of Fort Barlow fred slowly
but steadily, and seemed waiting for a neare,
approa before turning lose all the heavy
dogs Of war; that, shotted and aimed
crouched in readiness TO spring upon the foe
The barges containing the soldiers, towsd
by a small steamer, ran around the point Of
the island towards the engagement. Ths
channel at that point was tor tuous and mar.
row, and, there being but one approach to the
landing place near Fort Huger-ths uppe,
battery-it was necessary TO proceed with
great caution to prevent being grounded on
the shoal. It became necessary to approach
nearer the fight than was anticipat ted, az d, al.
most before tho fact became Known. the
bargss wsre within range Of tho guns of the
ships, and the shells began to explode around
them at . furious rate. About that time
Commodore Lynch determined to skirmisn
to the rear behind the channel barricade, IN
order to draw the enemy on within q faiz
distance Of Fort Huger. At the first intima.
| ton Of retreat the euemy's ships started
forward and our boats huddled together a
much as possible to protect the barges, at tn,
same time sign aling them to retire. Tha,
moment was a fear ful one for all. The shell,
came one after tho other with terrible fore,
and rapidity, their explosion ringing through
tho ar, scattering tho fragments In every di.
rection over the water. Occasionally lare,
one hundred and twenty FOUNDER thunderec
across the waves, and sent Its ponderou,
shot in tho midst Of the hotilla. The air wa,
filled with heavy reports, and the sea wa,
| disturbed in every direction by fragments O,
she'll. Several exploded near the berKes
and pieces were thrown upon the decks, bu
/ fortunately doing no serious injury. One BY
ono the gunbeats came up and crowded
around to receive the fire, all the time reply.
Ing rapidly with their rifle guns, who's,
shells ricocheted into the enemy's ships
Immediately in front was the Fanny.
with the gallant Tayloe, actively working biz
gun, and beyond the Beaufort" Oaptair
Parker, and tho "Sea Bird" the nag ship O.
Commodore Lynch, and the others who's,