Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-17
THE VICTORY AFR0ANOKR.
Interesting Particulars Of the
Attack and Capture.

he following extracts, which givea clear idea
If the manner in which the brilliant victo-
y was achieved:
THE ADVANCE OF THR FLEET,
The entrance of Oroatan Sound lies be-
tween low marshy point and two small,
low islands, between which on piles Is set a |
light house. The passage is not over two !
hundred yards wide, and could easily have |
been ohstructed by sinking wrecks or driving |
piles. It was not capable of being defended |
however, the mainland at the left being an |
extensive marsh, cut up in all directions by |
deep slues. A few small huts, used by fish. |
ermen, are dotted here and there along the |
banks, half concealed from view by the tall,
rank grass.
TIE REBEL FLEET AND BATTERIES.
With the naked eye we could now discern
six or seven rebel gunboets hugging the
island shore. Their steam was up, and they
kept up regular distances, apparently In
in line of battle, lowering under cover oi
shore batteries. They moved nerVously
about, putting out occasionally white cloud
of steam, which clearly indicated their po-
sition. Four steamers were also in plain
view, lying northwest of the islands, and on
the opposite shore, two or three schooners,
evidently placed there for the purpose of car
rying off the troops in case Of necessity
Between rs and these vessels, lying directly
across tn, channel we could count sixteen
sunken vessels, and long rows of piles were
driven to obstruct our passage. just to the
right, toward the island shore, is q wide space
suspiciously left open-the whole looking as
it it were arranged as a trap to decoy US
within range of their bat cries. Commo-
dore Goldsborough hoisted the signal, "This
day our country expects every man 10 do bis
duty"
DRAWING THE REBEL EIRB-BoMBARDMHNT OF
PORK POINT BATTERY.
In order to draw the fire OF the enemy,
and thus be enabled to determine the precise
location Of their batteries, the Underwater
strikes out from the rest OF the feet and
steers boldly toward the shore. On pro
iectinR point about two miles west Of the
middle of Roanoke Island, something like
earthworks are discovered, and dimly visible
against the background of gray forest Is
some kind Of q color flying at the top Of
twenty.fo flagstaff. The presence near
and on each side of il Of two steamers indi-
Gated the spot as the location Of battery.
At lL45 the Underwater fred gun, which
was immediately followed by one from the
Commodore, on the SOuthfeld, and several
of the naval feet followed suit. Five of the
steamers steer in shore, while the bulk Of
the feet keep at a more respectful distance.
At lI:50 two heavy guns followed each other
in quick succession from the shore, backed
M by one, two, three from the rebel steam.
ers lying near.
Before the smoke from these guns had
cleared away, the naval ganbOats, led by the
Stars and Stripes, the South6eld and Della
ware, give them two for one all round
Commodore Goldsborough sends them his
compliments in the shape of l00-pound
shell, which burst at the very foot Of the
works, throwing dozen jets OF spray high
in the air. Solid shot plOw up the sand and
scatter the sod on their parapets, while shells
burst over and around the fort in quick sue.
cession. At IL o'clock the majority Of the
vessels were fairly engaged, and the heavy
booming of cannon from the fort showed
that the contest had begun in earnest. The
rebels used only two or three of their guns,
which seemed to be protected by cssemates
or deep embrasures. Our shells went over
their parspets, and burst in the swamp be-
hind the fort, apparently taking little effect
on the works. Occasionally shot would
slant oIoud of sand 15 Would 9A hide 1 the t1s e Fea a
ramparts from view. The Picket went IN
close to the works and discharged several
effective shots from her Wizard and Parrott
guns. Mr.. Hitler did some excellent psactiee,
and shot directed by him, or by Capt. Ives,
is said to have set the barracks on FIRE in the
rear of the works.
Before the bombardment had continued
an hour lense volumes of black smoke were
seen rising from behind the parspets Of the
rebel battery, aDa for time their position
looked discouraging indeed. Red flames,
cleaning through the pitchy volumes of
smoke, were curling about their dwellings,
and sweeping all before them. 1t was q Wis.
ion of Sumter, with change of scene; and
while the Kissing flames, like the tongues of
fiery serpents, encireling their battallioRs,
was it strange that each one thought of the
18th of April-Of the brave Anderson and
his devoted band and in his heart uttered
q deep tAmen" to this instance ofretributiVe
Justice
This conhagratiOn, however, was not near
enough to the rebel gunners to interfere ma
terially with their Operations, the buildings
being situated some two hundred yards in
their rear. The firing still went on, though
with gradually decreasing activity, showing
that the rebel strength was gradually giving
out under the terrible ordeal. Yetit seemed
surprising that anything less than demons
could live under a tempest of bursting fiery
projectiles. Their Ere was not well directed, |
many of their shots falling short OF going |
wide of the mark. The propeller gunboats |
did excellent service going into the very face |
of the battery at times to deliver their FIRE. |
The FIRE Of the naval vessels and of the ferry |
boats was also terrific, though it was OBJ |
served that many of their shells did not burst.
The sloop Granite, which had been anchored
outside of the feet, as soon as breeze sprang |
up, literally ''ssiled in, E" and with provoking |
coolness kept tacking in the very front Of |
the rebel battery, delivering her compliments
from her large thirty-two, and then wearing
or tacking again to repeat the operation.
HOW THE LANDING WAS REJECTED.
Nothing could exceed the skill which was
By Gen. Foster in landing the troops
of the First Brigade. The Pilot Boy, which
had some twenty launches In tow, was run
into a small indentatiOn in the bank, and
ust at the proper moment all the boats were
detached and swung in procession along the
bank. The troops sprang out with the great
,st alacrity, and just as the sun went down
ts last rays kissed the folds Of the American
lag and the coat Of arms OF old Massachusetts,,
which had been planted together on the
,each. Col. Ferrero, Of the 5lst New 70 K,
md the 23d Massachusetts, Col. Kurtz, land
d at the same time The bank was covered
With heavy jungle, come two Lundled yards
n width, through which the troops were COM
Yelled to pass in mud halfknee deep. Be-
Tond this they came to an open field, in
which, at the left, was farm house and out
buildings Passing to the eastern edge Of