Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-27
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u. . STBAMkK UNDERWATER,
moEth Of Eorfh RtutT, Feb. IA, 1892
Sir: On parting company with YOU az tnis
place yesterday, proceeded In the Lockwood.
Acting Master Graves, accompanied by the sharp
ers to the mouth Of the Chesapeake and Aibe.
marie canal.
On opening the reach OF the river leadins IN
| the mouth OF the canal discovered two small
steamers and three schooners about mile and
aquarter up the canal, aud that the mouth OF the
canal was obstTuc'ed.
Plckets stationed near the mouth fred their
muskets TO give the alarm, and q large BODY OF
men, whose muskeb glistened ia the sunshine.
got under cover at the point where those vessels
were.
immediately moved Up within couple Of
hundred Yards OF the mouth OF the canal untiI
all the vessels grounded, and ordered toe White
head to open Ere with her nine-inch guns But
three she'll. Tere fred, chen the ,okols body pre-
| cipitateGy fed.
On going on shore found that a schooner had
been sunk about rfty yards within The mouth,
supported by piles, logs, Sc forming a complete
barrier. 1 advanced a picket OF fifteen men nm.
| der command Of Acting Master Graves followed
| bT the InachiGists OF tue Louisiana with crow
bars, mauls, &c. At the distance OF half mile
| a second row Of piles had been driven. They
were at work on this when surprised them.
The steamers and schooners had left before we
landed; but hne large dredging machine re-
nsined, and this We soon saw sinking This
sunk diagonally across the canal closing Il en-
iFely for the passage Of the Hest ves,- being
saw, ten feet from one bank aud >.K from the
other.
Inc machinery was entirely DESTROYED by the
working party, the hull above water burned and
entirely consumed. reS1elt named store,
having a store near this point. in'errnRated
and stated that the force near ~ fhs rsrrzaHt Of
fhs WISE Legion, commando By HIst ~ prison,
and numbering about co. men. Captain Graves
with few men, followed their rear guard 20 tie
county bridge. This Is the thoroug hfare between
Currtuck and the upper counties, and there was
a battery o. three guns placed to command the
canal and main road. The guard had been
removed. la their haste they left the axes used
in destroying the dredg cling machine some cam
teens, hav.Tsacks and clothing Ia fact al a
co1tTabaSd deserter from the Legion, az Eliza
beth CITY, told me, sever since that fight In
W estern Virginia in which we Lost 500 men. we
| have been running all the time, and now they
will never stop until they get back 10 Rich
mond 20
completed the rebel works by sinking two
schoOners In the mouth OF the canal and burning
ali that remained above water
The work completed, returned 10 this anchor
age.
My thanks are due to Acting Master Graves,
and Assistant Engineer Ley, acting chief Of the
Louisiana, for the complete manner In which my
directions were carried out.
Respectfully submitted,
WV. N JEFFRRs, Lieut.. Cong.
Lieut. CONG A. MAURI, senior on Ger command.
ing expedition.
ROANOKE ISLAND, n. C, Feb Is 1871
The mission OF our joint expedition is not 60
invade any Of your rights, bat 10 assert the
authority of the United States, and 10 olose with
You the desolating war brought upon your ststc
BY comparatively few Dad men Ia your midSf
lnhuenced il q litely more by the worst passions
OF human nature than by any show Of elevated
reason, they are It'll urging you sstrsY 20 crafty
their unholy purposes
Tn impose upon your credulity by telling
you OF wicked ard eve diaoolical Intentions on
our part-Of our desire 70 destroy your freedom
demolish your property, lbeT~ te your slaves, In
jure your women, and such like enormities-aIl
OF which, we assure YOU, ie not only ridiculous
but utterly and wilfully false.
We are Christians as well &c yourselves and VIC
profess 10 know full well and TO feel profoundly
the sacred obligations of tia character
No apprehension need be entertained that tho
demands Of humanity or justice viii be disre-
garded.
We shall inHict no injury, unless forced 70 do
80 by your own acts, and upon this you may con.
fdeatly rely.
Those men your worst enemies They, In
truth, have dawn you into your present condi.
tOn and the real d sturb of Your peace and
| the hspPiuess OF your hresides.
He invite you in The name Of the Constitution,
and In tHst OF vittuOus loyalty aud civilization, 70
separate yourselves at once from their malign
indusnce, 10 return 70 your alley lance, and not
compel 70 resort further 70 the force under our
eontFol
The Government asks only that its authority
may be recognized, and, we repest, Ia no man.
ner or way does IL desire 20 interfere with your
laws consttutionally established, your Institution
| Of any kind wnatever, your property OF any sort,
your usages In any respect
(Signed) L. NJ GoLDsBoRouer,
/ Flsg Of1cer Commanding
North Atlantic Blockading SQ dadron.
(Signedl A T.. BURNSIDE,
Brigadier General Commanding
Department Of North Carolina.