The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-02-20
The Burnside Expedition.
CAPTURE OF ROANOKE ISLAND.
PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE.

PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette-l
BALTIMORE, February IA.
ne at last have definite news from the
Burnside Expedition, confirming its glori-
Gus victory. The intelligence caused great
rejoicing here, more especially for the rea-
son that the triumph was gained without
SO great slaughter on either side as reported
by the gasconading "Dixie" journals. 1t is
enough, and better, that we have gotten
their whole army prisoners and possess
their entire ornaments The following are
the particulars:
The battle was commenced on Friday by
the Federal gunboats attacking Confed-
crate battery at place called "Pork Point"
1t consisted of five guns, and successfully
maintained itself throughout the day until
dusk, when firing ceased on both sides. On
Saturday the attack was renewed by the
Federal gunboats, and the fortifcation was
greatly weakened at an early hour. The
contest gradually grew more vigorous.
The Ninth New York Zouaves after
some time, made a landing, when they
charged upon the work with determined
vigor encountering the Richmond Blues
as they advanced engaging them as they
approached at the point of the bayonet.-
Dispensing this company, after a severe
struggle, they pushed forward aud succeed
ed in capturing the battery.
The Federal gunboats at this jnncture
moved gradually up the Powhattan Sound,
until nearly opposite Fort Barto, where
they found qIiIe formidable obstruction
in the chan =! laced there by the Confed-
crates. / ,...s 81. the character of a che
vaux de irise, t.trneI of piles, logs, brush
wood, and trees, which had effectually closed
the channel. With indomitable energy the
| Federal soldiers and boats went to work in
| removing this obstruction, VIII. oh, after a
short time, they succeeded in doing, so that
their boats were enahaed to get through
This accomplished, it was not long until
they engaged Fort Barto, pouring into it
perfect shower of shot aud shells. Whilst
| this was going on they also attacked the
Confederate feet at the same time, which
was under command of Com. Lynch.
The contest was quite spirited. The re-
suit was a scattering and demolition of the
| Confederate gunboats. An immense shell
from the Union gunboat Southfeld, dis
| charged by a gun aimed by Lieut.. Tillttson,
1.-THE Union post-gun,) struck the flag ship
| of the Confederate mosquito squadron,
passing through her engine room and maya
zine, penetrating also through the bottom
of the vessel, and exploding underneath in
| the water. A moment afterward, scarcely
a vestige of the ship could be seen. She
was literally shivered to atoms, and it was
supposed all on board had persisted. If
Commodore Lynch was on board at the
time, he must either have been Instantly
killed or..drowned, though some believe he
had made his way to the shore previous to
the disaster. Fragments of the vessel lay
piecemeal all round, and many bodies float
ed upon the water, whist others seemed to
be swimming toward land.
The Federal gunboat Tempest now
steamed up to the Confederate gunboat FL
lis, striking her with her boom aport quar-
ter doing great injury to the latter. Be
ing thus almost transfixed, the soldiers and
others on board the Union gunboat rushed
on the deck of their enemy, armed with
cutlasses handspikes, short swords, and
other weapons, under command of their
officers Here desperate conflict ensued,
which ended in victory to the Federals. 1t
is described as a terrible scene Men were
| knocked down on the Confederate vessel,
and their brains lay scattered on deck
Many jumped overheard and were drowned
while few are supposed to have swan
ashore The boat was finally captured,
with what Confederates were left alive.
A Federal gunboat gave chase to the
Fanny, Confederate gunboat formerly
captured from the United States. Finding
herself too hotly pursued the possessors set
her on fire, and jumped overheard to make
shore, which, it is thought, some succeeded
in 1ninG- while others we're drowned
The tight on the island was desnarate
whilst it lasted, but of short Duration
/ After carrying the battery at " Pork Point,
the advance of General Fosters brigade
made up the main road to the center of the
island.
Proceeding thas, the General deployed
| regiment as an advance guard, and after
marching over very bad roads, for two or
three miles, they suddenly came face to
face with brigade of North Caroliniaus
The remainder of the Federal brigade now
came up, when the contendiug parties were
within rife range The North Carolinians
delivered volley, which the Federal troops
took with the loss of only one killed, and
ten or twelve wounded. The Confederates
it appears, aimed too high, otherwise the
result must have proved more destructive.
The Federal troops were next ordered to
fire. which they are represented to have
done, with much GOODNESS. This resulted
in killing ten Confederates and woundinp
some twenty or thirty more
A cessation of hostilities now took place.
as if by general impulse, when suddenly a
Confederate staff officer eappeared on the
right, bearing a flag of truce. He rode up
aud delivered it TO Gen. Foster, who quick
ly over its contents. The bearer OF this
flag inquired of General Fost err if he would
allow his commander twenty -four hours to
consider terms Of surrender General Fos-
ter quickly replied No. Nothing but an
unconditional surrender will satisfy my
Government, and give you fifteen minutes,
after You have arrived within your lines, to
say definitely and positively, what you W iii
do"
A short time subsequently, the same Con
federate officer returned, bearing a flag OF
truce, and informed Gen. Foster that his