New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-27


bers. and small hears of smoky bricks. In Wise
Headquarters our fellows found mas Of letters ana
documents of various descriptions, among when TUG
applications for commissions ana apPe'iS 'oi "a!
ment of bills were in large PrePonoerahec'
turning over heap Of old letters wneh naPPs"0o
upon one from man in Richmond, applying ~,
commission in the Wise Legion. had known 'pc
writer for dozen years, but learnt for the hrst line
from his fugitive letter that he was "a warm and
original Seeessonist.' Alas, what revelations have
been made by this war!
No signs of hostile force were seen at long dis
lance nortbward from Nags Head, so that we are
warranted in believing that The retreat OF the Rebels
was actual and complete. The few inhabitants OF
the village remained quietly at their homes, and
have, without exception, come over to headquarters
to procure proleclon-eertiicates from Capt. Rich
mond, Assistant Adjutant.G General of Gen. Burnside
staff. They are mostly fishermen and bos,men, who
gained q preCmious livelihood by supplying game
aud fish to the hotel catching sbad for shipment to
Northern and home markets. Thus far the appllca-
iions for protecon.certitcate by householdes who
have taken the oath Of aegianc amount to about
i0O-probaby all who have been able TO get trans
portaion TO headquarters. The plain people Of this
country have 10 doubt been ground beneath the iron
heel of a military despotism, and given a passive
allegiance to the Rebels. 1t seems hardly possible
that so stolid and ignorant community should have
heartily esponsed the Rebel cause, nor strange taai
they are SO willing TO swear allegiance TO Govern
ment. So long as they get enough food TO eat ana
tobacco to chew il matters little TO them whether
the flag sbov. them il quartered into stripes or bars
/ At the wharf at Nags Head, lies hard end fast IN
the sand. a large dredging-macbine, with its boiler
and machinery in tolerably good ORDER IL was
built by the State of North Csrops for tho purpose
of opening channel through the shallow water
mscalled Roanoke Sound, under the Impression that
the water, having thus more direct ontlet than
through Cros,an Sound, would naturally seek the
new channel and keep i, open. Like most other
Southern schemes foT internal improvement this one
failed; and the great dredging machine was tied up
al Nsgs Head wharf. Captain Ives Of the gunboht
Picket, made attempt to drag it into deep water
Yesterday, but not succeeding after on hours nara
work. abandoned IT.
The preliminary steps toward the establishment OF
a Post Office for the division have been taken.
house is TO be fitted up, and corps of about fifteen
smart intelligent men detailed for the service. Ii
will be their duty 10 board all boats arriving sort
the nails and deliver the matter TO each regiment
az soon as possible. Each vessel 10 the fleet will
have ito own box, and all the running hither and
hi.her, the confusion and disappointment caused by
the present loose way Of doing thing, will be otvi-
ated. Letters and papers for this division should
now be addressed "Rosnoke Island, Department, Of
North Carolina" The name Of the regiment, vessel,
or corps 10 which the per.on is attached shouId DO
plainly written OF line by itself, thus:
Private JOBS SsnF.
a,h Massachusetts r. .ipisn,.
Roanoke Islsnd
Dept Of North Carolina.
Now. the face vi q letter 10 filed with elaborate
directions, csrs Of Brigsder General Burnside,
and what not, that il lie long JOB to deciPber the
inscription, and pccks OF letters are going adrfi
through the ships and camps.
The Rebels have made no more fatal mistake since
the war began than in obs,Iucling the channels in
Crostsn Sound to bar the progress Of our fleet.
The three forts the western shore Of the Island,
and the one on the main land opposite, built
that their guns bore upon the water at point mid
way between the upper and lower forte. IL wss
their plan 10 allow vessels to psss Fort Barton
and yet to the proper place, when the convergeni
fire of thirtytwo guns, several Of them rhsd, was
TO be poured upon US. In all probability we should
have fallen into the trap il they had not, with singu
lar short-ss tedness made barricsfe OF wrecks
and piles, with only one narrow opening for the
passage Of boats which we did not discover until
the whole plan Wa. made known to US. As IA conse-
queuce, cur forces We're landed at Ashbys Iiarbor,
agreeably 10 the original plan, and the inland bat
terry being carried, the whole leland was ours. The
General officer who ordered that barriosde deserves
to be degraded from bis spurious rank in the Rebel
army.
The health Of the army continues very good, the
fine weather of the past fortnight having cured most
Of the coughs and colds and rsinyigorated the sys-
TENS Of the men after their long confinement on
ship-board. The wounded are all comfortably qusr-
tered in three large hospitals, and under the
of Surgeons Green, Derby, and Cutter, are doing
we'll. No returns have yet been made TO beadqnar-
,ers OF those dead Of their wounds since the battle
hope however, 10 give in iay next letter q COM
pee report OF the condition Of the patients in hos
pita and Oh board ship.
/ The news Of our victory was taken 10 Uatteras by
the gun.bost Star, and Stripes II was received
there az 40 doubt il was in New.York, with the
livee. manifestations Of joy. Every yessel in port
was decAed out with flags enoigns, pennsnts and sl
the bunting ON board; the news was announced to
the regiments at dress parade, the men were drawn
up in hollow square, and "a rounds of blank
fridge were fired az q national salute. We have no
news vet Of the manner III which the glad tidiDgs
were received At home, and the arrival Of newspa.
pers is awaited with grea. impotence.
The brilliant naval victory at Elizabeth City has
been followed up by naval expedition to EdentOn,
which resulted in capture Of the place and the
destruction OF the batteries there.
When thinesget little settled here we shall have