The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-02-19


By q flag of truce to-day, We learn the COM
plete success Of the Burnside expedition. Ro-
anoke Island was taken possession of, and Com.
Lynch's feet completely destroyed Elizabeth
City Was attacked or Sunday and evacuated by
the inhabitants. The city was previously burned.
not certain. The 6rss news Of the defeat ar
rived at Norfolk on Sunday, P. NJ, and causd
great excitement. The previous news vas very
satisfactory, stating the Yankees had been a.
loved to advance for the purpose of drawing
them into trap. The rebel force on the Island
10 supposed to have been little over 5000
fighting men. Gen. Wise was i'll al Naggs Head
and was not present during the engagement,
when the situation became dangerous he was re-
moved to Norfolk. All the gun-boats but one
was taken and that escaped up a creek and was
probably destroyed. One report says that only
20 and anothe. that only 25 Of the coufederates
escaped from the island. Gen. Huger teiegraphed
to Richmond that only so on the island escaped.
There appears to be no bright side Of the story
for the rebels. The Richmond Examiner this
morning in . leading editorial says, the loss OF
an entire army on the Roanoke Island is certain
y the most painful event of the war. The intel
ligence OF yesterday b, telegraph is fully con-
frmed; $500 brave troops on ali island in the
sea we're exposed to all the force Of the Burnside
feet. They resisted with the most determined
courage, but when Is, 900 Federal troops were
landed against them, retreat being cut of by
the surrounding elements, they were forced TO
surrender. This is q repetition Of the Hatteras
affair on large scale.
The following dispatches on the subject are
taken from the Richmond papers of this morn
ing:
Norfolk, FEB. l0.-The latest news states
that Captain o. Jennings Wise, son Of Governor
Wise, was shot through the hip and disabled,
though bis wound is no, mortal. Major Lawson
aud Lieut.. Miller were MORALLY wounded
About 500 Confederates were killed. The
wounded numbers over 1000. The number OF
Yankees wounded is about the same.
A late arrival this morning says that Elizabeth
City had been shelled and burned BY tie Yam
KEGS, and that the enemy was pushing on to
Edenton.
Second DispateA-Norfolk, Feb. lO.-A ru-
NOR has prevailed that Com. Lynch's feet OF
gunboats had been captured. II is not regard ed
Is true, but it is believed that all were burned
by the confederates to prevent their capture,
With the exceptions of one, which was endeav-
oring 70 make its escape The Aost went to
Elizabeth City from Roanoke Island, and was
probably burned at the former point.
Third Dispa'eh-Noyfolk, Feb. l0.-A dis
stating az follows: A courier arrived here this
afternoon, at 4 o'clock, and brought the intelli-
gence that Elizabeth City was burned this morn
ing by its inhabitants. During the ccnnagralion
the Federals landed large force. All our gun
boats, excepting one, we're captured by the en-
envy. Gen. Wise has not yet arrived at Nor
folk.
The following. the very latest, we copy from
the Norfolk Day Book: A courier arrived
here yesterday afternoon, about o'clock, from
which We gather the following information The
enemy advanced in full force upon Elizabeth City
Yesterday about o'clock, akd began an attack
upon that place. The citizens finding that re-
sistance was vain, evacuated the place but be-
fore doing 90, set FIRE to the town, aud when our
informant left il was still in flames. We have
also to record the capture by the enemy of all
our little fleet except the Fanny or Forest, our
informant 10 not certain which. This eluded the
enemy. She was pursued, however, and fears
are entertained that she was captured. 1t is
said that before our boats were surrounded, they
we're abandoned, and that their crews succeeded
in making their escape. If so. we are at loss
to conjecture why the boats were not fred be.
fore they we're abandoned. The disaster to our
little fleet is attributed to the fact that having
exausted their supply of coal and ammunition,
they proceeded to Elizabeth City, for the pur-
pose Of obtaining a supply. Every effort was
made to obtain coal, but without success, and
the boats could not, therefore. return to the Is.
bnd and lend any assistance whatever to our
forces.
All the details are published with reference TO
the capture of Roanoke Island are confirmed by
the couries, who represents our loss at 800 killed
and wounded, and that of the enemy at no, less
than 1000 killed. Great havoc was made among
the enemy while coming up the road leading
to the fort. Our soldiers brought to bear upon
the enemy two S2-pounders, aud at every fire
their ranks were terribly thinned. The places
of the fallen, however we're quickly filed
The Park Point Battery was manned by the
Richmond Blues, and most nobly did they de-
fend it. During the contest they we're attacked
by whole regiment of Zouaves, and though
completely overpowered, they stood their ground.
They did not yield foot until sll but seven Of
them had fallen bleeding to the ground. There
10 good reason to believe that had Col Hunning-
sene with his artillery, been on the Island, it
would not have been forced to surrender.
ut is reported that one regiment from Mass
schusetts was badly cut up, but it is almos, i'm.
possible to ascertain which Of the Eve it was
that we're attached to the expedition"
All the Southern papers received to-day are
unanimous in admitting q complete victory fer
our troops, and in saying the loss of the Island
10 very serious one.
The news received to-day occasions great ex.
element at Old Point. A steamer with Official
dispatches from Gen. Burnside is hourly expec-
ted. The prisoners captured, numbering at ieas.
two thousand, will be here in few days.
A Gag Of truce was sent to Craney Island ear.
~ this morning, to inform Gen. Huger tha; the
prisoners of war from Fort Warren had arrived.