Evening star., 1862-02-12
GREAT CONSERVATION AT NORFOER
AND RICHMOND.
so MUCH FOR THE RESULT IN THAT
QUARTER OF GEN. McCLEL-
LAN'S STRATEGY -!
[Per Telegraph to The Star ]

PASsc suCCcos VI huC nOdIl-
| oke Island.
The island was taken possession OF, and Com.
modore Lynch's feet completely destroyed
Elizabeth City was attacked on Sunday, and
evacuated by the Inhabitants. 1t was previously
burned, whether by our shells or by the inhablt.
ants is not certain.
The first news of the defeat arrived at Norfolk
on Sunday afternoon, and cat Ied great excite
menr. The previous news was very satisfactory,
stating that the Yankees had been allowed to ad.
vance, for the purpose Of drawing them into a
trap.
The Rebel force on the island Is supposed to
have been only little over 1900 effective fight
ing men.
present during the engagement. When the sit
uation became dangerous he was removed to Nor.
folk.
All the rebel gunbOats bu' one were taken.
That escaped up creek, and was probably also
destroyed.
One report at Norfolk says only 20 Confederates,
and another only 25, escaped from Roanoke
Island. Gen. Huger telegraphed to Richmond
that only so Confederates on the Island escaped
There appears to be no bright side of the story
for the rebels
The Richmond Examiner of this morning
Q0th) says, in its leading editorial: 'The loss of
an entire army on Roanoke Island is certainly the
most painful event Of the war. The intelligence
Of the telegraph yesterday is fully confirmed;
25O0 brave troops on an island in the sea were ex-
posed to all the force Of the Burnside feet They
resisted with courage; but when 5000 were
landed against them retreat being cut off by sur
rounding elements, they were forced to surrender.
This is a repetition OF Hat.eras on large scale"
i The following are dispatches on the subject in
Richmond papers Of this morning:
"NoRFOLK, Feb. 1O.-The latest news states
that Capt. o. Jennings Wise, son of Gov. Wise,
was shot through the hip and disabled, though
his wound was not mortal. Major Lawson and
Lieut.. Miller were mortally wounded. About 800
Confederates were killed. Our (rebel) wounded
number over 900. The number of Yankees
wounded isabout the same. Midshipman Camm
had his arm shot of The other casualties are
unreported. A late arrival this morning sav.
Elizabeth City had been shelled and burned by
the Yankees, and that the enemy was pushing on
through to Edenton."
Second Dispatch Feb. 10 ,r
NOR has prevailed that Commodore Lvncb,,
feet Of gunboats had been captured. II 1, not
regarded true, but It is believed that all were
burned by the COnfederates to prevent their cam
ture, with the exception Of one, which was en-
deavoring to make lis escape The feet went to
Elizabeth City from Roanoke Island, ard wa,
probably burnt at the former point.
TAird Dispatea.-NoREoLx, Feb 10, received
In Richmond at midnight.-A courier arrived
here this afternoon at o'clock. and brought the
intelligence that Elizabeth City was burned this
morning by the Inhabitants. During the conha-
grafton the Federals landed a large force. ALI
OF our gunboais, excepting one, were captured
by the enemy. Gen. Wise has not yet arrived at
Norfolk.
Acourier arrived here Yesterday afternoon about
three O'Clock, from whom we gather the follow.
Ing Information: The enemy advanced in full
force upon Elizabeth City yesterday about seven
O'Clock, and began an attack upon that place.
The citizens finding assistance In vain eva cuated
the place, but before doing so set fire to he eown
and when our informant left II was still I'm flames
We have also to record the capture by the enemy
Of all our little feet, except the Fanny or Forest
informant no. certain which. This eluded the
enemy and made up the Pasquotank river. II was
pursued, however, and fears are entertained that
she too was captured. 1t is said that before our
boats surrendered they were abandoned and that
the crews succeeded In making their escape If
50, we are at loss to conjecture why they were
not fred before they were abandoned
The disaster to our little fleet is attributed TO
the fact that having exhausted the supply Of cos
and ammunition, they proceeded to Elizabeth
City for the purpose of obtaining supply Ev-
| cry effort was made to Obtain coal, but without
success, and on this account the feet was unable
to return to the Island or send any assistance
whatever to our forces.
| All the details as published with reference to
the capture Of Roanoke Island are confirmed by
courier. He represents our loss at 800 killed
and wounded, and that Of the enemy at not less
than 600 killed. Great havoc was made among
them while Coming up the road leading to the
fort. Our forces brought to bear upon them two
S2-Pounders, and at every FIRE their ranks were
terribly thinned; the places Of the fallen were,
however, quickly filed. Pork Point battery was
manned by the Richmond Blues, and most nObly
did they defend 1t during the conflict. They
were attacked by whole regiment Of Zouayes,
and though completely overpowered, they stood
their ground bravely, nor did they yield a foo.
till all save seven fell bleeding to the ground.
There is good reason to believe that had Col
Henning,el, with his artillery, been on the island
ii would not have been forced to surrender A
lacb ofaeld pieces was sadly felt, ana had these