, 1862-02-13

Z .,.
eEctical importance in THIS section, and the
first SUCCESS Of General Burnside has made the
leading one our own. When the Expedition,
Its dctentions and experiences at the Swash
Channel Of Hatteras Inlet all past, found itself
af:oat Oh Pam1ico Sound, the terror Of the
rebels began. The numerous vessels Of the
fleet we're supplied with large stock Of coal,
md sixty days provisions. The men were in
the highest health and spirits, ready for the
fray, and it has come. While our previous
maps have shown on IN extended scale the
situation on this part Of the coast, the lesser
map above presented shows the precise points
Of attack and yictory-Roanoke Island and
Elizabeth City.
Roanoke Island, represented in the right
hand lower corner Of the map in the narrow
strait which connects tic two sounds, Pa1nlico
and A1bclnarlc, fifteen miles north Of Hatteras
Inlet. THIS strait is some twenty miles long,
and divides the main land Of Tsrrell county
from the banks. Nearly in the middle Of tlls
strait is the Island, which is about twelve
miles in length and thrcc in breadth Roanoke
Island divides the strait into two paris; that
between it and the main land being called
Croatan Sound, and that between tic Island
and the banks being called Roanoke Sound.
The former, Croatan Sound, admits the pas
sage Of vessels drawing eight and half to
Line feet Of water-cigsht and thrcc-quartcrs is
marked on the Coast Survey at the slallowcst
point. This channel approaches at one part
Of its course 10 within easy range Of the island,
from which batteries might command il. 1t
could not be SO easily commanded from tho
main land. 1t is thus evident that Croatan
Sound viii allow the passage Of vessels Of as
large draugllt Of watcr US can approach it
from the sea, whether they approach it by
Hatter:s OF Oclacokc Inlet The channel,
however, is intricate and narrow, and vessels
ut some points must proceed in single ilc.
These points VIC give, Us most plainly showing
The disadvantages under which the Federal
commander Went forward. The precise ma
lure OF the defcnses Of Roanoke Island, aud
Tic force by which it was held, the accounts
Of the engagements themselves can alone in
form us.
It isknown however, that the rebels had cs-
tablishcd IN cntrenched came in the center, and
lad erected five or six forts at important
points for tho defense Of the channel, which
latter was obstEucted in a hasty manner by all
attempt to sink hulks. The following was the
rcbel garrison:
THE REBEL GARRISON OF ROANOKE
ISLAND.
GENERAL OFFICERS.
Major General 11in Of North Carolina, command
Brigadier General Ex-Gov Henry 4. Wise OF
Virginia.
TRooPs-W1sE LEGION.
| Light Artillery buttery, Captain Romcr
Fret Regiment. Colonel E. s. EHal.
| Second Regiment, Colonel Frank Anderson.
| Third Regiment Colonel j. l.. Davis.
Infantry battalion Lieutenant Colonel Gihb=
Infantry battalion, Major DufHc1d-
| Infantry battalion, Major Hansborongh-
| Gcorgia regiment, Colonel Mcmillan.
| North Carolina regiment, Colonel -.
In all about s, eco troops
| The rebel land force was supported by i
! small fotil1a, under the command Of Commo
| dorc ". F. Lynch, best known as the coulman
der Of the "Deaa Sea Expedition" In Iii;
command were the rebel steamers, trans
formed 10 Sun-boats, Fanny, {captured from
the Federa1s,} Curlew, Sea Bird and Post
/ Boy, each carrying two guns. From tho land
forces good fighting was predicted by tic reb
| els, AMI the result shows it.
Roanoke Island taken, the Federal ltcet
passed into Alben,arlc Sound, to accomplish
at once their GRAND which is forcshadowed b3
tlle directness with which Gen. Burnside pro
cccdcd 10 the head Of the estuary where tht
rasquotank river cmptics into the Sound, ans
1lcre occupied Elisabeth City.
Our n1ap represents the important waite.
connections from the Pasquotank rivcl
through Dismal Swamp, where the river take:
its rise. 4 canal, called the Dismal Swamp
Canal, connects this river with Drummol1t
Lake in Dismal Swamp. This lake is abou
thirty miles in length, and from ten to twcly'
miles i'll breadth. When full the surface o
tho lake is twenty-onc feet above tide water
The Jericho Canal connects this lake with Sui
folk, which is Situated on the Nanscnlon'
river, and on the Portsmouth and Roanok
Railroad It is ciglty-iyc miles northeast q
Richmond, and twenty miles from Hampto1
Roads. Nanscmond river enters Hampto
Roads, and is navigable fol: vessels Of ten fec
Of water from Suffolk. This important waite
connection between these sounds and Chess
reake Bay has proved Of Immense value in th
SUPPLY of the rebel forces at Richmond an
Manassas, and their seizure By our forces wi
cut off these as well rs all connection by ri
or water between Norfolk and the rebel n
| gious South and West. Elizabeth City, whic
lad been burned by its Inhabitants previous
its occupancy by our troops, is located on til
right bank Of the Pasquotauk river, twcnt
miles from the Sound. 1t was the princip
Commercial town Of that section Of the Stat
aud contained from two to three thousan
| SOn1s