The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-11

Our Forces-The Number Of the
Enemy.
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NoaroLx, Feb. 10. lss2.
WIZ fn1kpressibls sorrow announce shs
fall Of Roanoke Islspd, after spiritsd ana
Aeroie resistance By our brave troops. THIS
occ,rrsA between II and O'Clock on Sasur'
day. a1d the news was received mere WIN
evsry indication Of regret ana indignation
We gather the following particulars from
vo.Iemsn' fron the Richmond Blues, VINO
participated In the light. escaped IN smaA'
NJ. and rowed TO Nsg's Head, where ne
as tahsn MP by one Of oar gun'boats, anu
nr.usht - this city. He Is an inteIlissm'
IA ana believe son Of Jour Postmaster
The ..emy's ships. he says. opened nre on
our batteries 1T Roanoke Isia nd. about
O'Clock in The morning, and kept up an In
cess,nt fire uatl O'Clock In the evening
doing, however, bnt little injury to the lsl
and. About 8 O'Clock the next day, CSatur
day ) the II eesi ans were allowed " land on
a potut 70 the east of Roanoke Island,
where they marched upon that point
The booming of heavy cannon In the dis
Our brave troops prepared to meet them,
supposing their numbers to DO about 5000.
Gradually the sounds came nearer and
nearer. and the shell came thick and fasi
over our entrenchmsnts. Confident OF their
ownstrength, our troops moved rapidly for.
waId, when. in few minutes, tho ba,l opened
and ths terrific contest ensued. Bravely did
our boys etsnd up to the Overwhelming forces
OF the enemy, and not till nearly every man
wac dead or wounded did they leave their
stand. Nothing remained but retreat, which
our men did. constantly turning and giving
.hem a shot. Finding it useless TO hold the
Island under suGn overwhelming numbers,
The order 70 retreat from the Island was
leaving their stronghold in the hands Ut the
enemy.
IL wall be . pleasure hereafter to record
on che page OF history the heroic forttude
Of our gallant troops. Nobly aud well dia
Capt. o. Jennings Wise, OF your city, stand
up with his men to The fierce encounter,
wben, suddenly, ne WAS shot through tho
side and snstan tly fell. One Of his men ask
ing him II he was m uch nurt-"Not much, '"
said he, .'but fight them YET" He was borne
from the scene Of action il blanket
Abont 500 uf our brays boys tell. and nearly
all the rest were either woundsd or taken
prisoners. The snemy's loss j. laid down At
lvo. -Four OF their ships we're sunk, they
doing bat little damage TO any Of our boats.
Com. Lynch and o,hsr parts Of our flsst did
uosle ssrvice-his snip being among the first
to open fire ON the .ensmy's shipping. At
last ACCOUNTS they were IN pursuit vi Com.
Lynch.
IN the midst OF this terrible struggle. 1t
will ~ regretted that Gen. Wise WAS seri-
ously Indlsposed 1T Mays Head. Both ne
aud his SON are expected here to- day. l am
sorry TO sxy mat but very few ESCAPED from
vApt. Wees company. Large quantities OF
anna unitioA We're saN ed by our troops. The
women, child rem, and = number OF negroes,
are reported now On their way ~ our city.
The enemy will be SUGGEST ully checked from
ting possess,on Of our railroad in that
Vicinity. active preparations have been
made here regarding this disaster, whic b 1t
may he inprudsat for me to menuon. The
news fell upon the ears OF our citizens
with fsarful Significance. Many would
dirs shut their eyes against the fact
had not d1 cad conviction come SO direct.
Every man WAS at his post, and our de-
partmsnts here were engaged in sending
disps toAes to the various encampments.
The alasrity with which every onicer exc.
cuted his orders, IL theme Of public praise
and especial praise Is due to the Young
Guards, Of eur city. for their services on the
occasion. At . very late hour military
movements were going On, and everything
10 In great excitement.
Bat It Identifying, in tho midst Of this A.
fiction, to herald forth the glowing new,
that England has recognized the South
This may be relied upon ss correct-ths
authority ie undisputed, and the New Yorl
am intrudipg too much upon your space
and must close. LUNA.
AHorHRR LETTER.
NoRPoLK, Feb. 10, 1852
The intelligence Of the desperate and une.
DUAL contest at Roanoke Island, and Its re
suit have doubtless reached you BY telegraph.
Of course, this IL the principal subject Of con.
vereation here. Considering all the circum-
stances attending the fight, moro favorable
termia aticA Of the AFFAIR could scarcely have
been expected BY those competent to judge.
Our force on the island at the time of the at
tack was bat small In comparison with the
heavy and numerous force Of the enemy. OF
tho bravery and gallant conduct Of our troops
too much can scarcely be said In commenda.
ton. That they were overpowered by greatly
superior numbers, after fighting with reck.
lessaess and desperation never surpassed, IL a
fact already established, and which will be
placed uron the truthful pages Of history.
send you herewith such particulars Of the
battle as have been able to gather. A true
account cannot be given now. We know
enough 70 cause deep sigh OF grief for the
brave men slain, and the gallant sons Of the
war.-of homes rendered desolate, Of hearts
wrupg With anguish, and ties Of love and
friendship severed. But who believes, OF.
cent the deludeA and revengeful Yankees
that the South will ever yield 10 themf-that
the great cause Of Southern liberty, and
honor, and humanity, 10 not still 0nwardf
True, the neWs comes that the hospltable
town OF liz6both Oity has been shelled and
burned, and that the vandal hordes are
coast. HIT they cannot 60 far into tbs int
rtor, and the day 10 coming when these North
srn minions shall be driven back In dis.
grace to their inhospit.nie ana barren soil.
his way 10 this city. Captain D. JeAninga
wise Vas dangerously wounded. Major
IAawsop, Lieut.. Miller and aIApt. Coles, an
reported aMong the iiied. The enemy los'
ia killed and wounded one thousand, our loss
three hundred, besides moro than two thou.
sand prisoners. We must be nerved for q
Vigorous resistance, and Providence viii Is.
sist us a. heretofore in this cause Of honor
and truth, and human rights.
now VI FoCa1r At 1OA1oKR
The Norfolk Day Book gives the following
concerning the desperate courage exhibited
by our troops st Roanoke:
1t IL said that the en- emy came mp In their