The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-24

Gen. Butler showed the Secretary of War at
Washington that a Union feet could enter
Pamlico Sound and with an army Of $4,000
men could capture Roanoke Island. which the
Confederates had fortified; that the feet could
then enter Aibemarle Sound, which would
threaten Norfolk; that Huger would have TO
leave; that all the towns along the waters of
the two sounds could be captured. The Secre-
tary of War and Pres. Lincoln thought favor
ably Of the plan, and very soon there were
lively times at Fortress MonrOe-the arrival of
a great feet of steamers and war ships and the
gathering of 1900 men under Gen. Burnside.
Most of the troops were from New England.
No one knew whittier the troops Were bound,
so well was the secret kept.
CONFEDERATE DEFENsEs.
Gen. ii. A. Wise bad been Governor of Vir-
ginia before the war; II was he who signed
the warrant for the execution Of John Brown.
He had been Member of Congress for many
years and welded at one time great influence.
He was a General in the Confederate service
and was sent to defend the North Carolina
coast. The Confederate Secretary Of War Mr..
Benjamin. and jefferson Davis had 10 great
love for Gen. Wise, because he was very indie
pendent and was IN the habit of criticising
their administration Of affairs. Gen. Wise
called for 10000 men TO defend Roanoke Island
Mr. Benjamin told him that he must get the
men of North Carolina to enlist: but recruits
that he could get 10 supplies from the Secre-
tary of War, VINO, il seems, allowed his per-
sonal feelings towards Gen. Wise TO influence
his action.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE ATTACK.
Gen. Wise was sure that the Union feet and
army at Fortress Monroe was bound for North
Carolina. A gang of slaves was set to work
building forts. Going down now to Roanoke
Island we see that the outbern end is marsh
and dense forest. halfway up the island,
on the west side, we see Fort Barlow Beyond
We come to Fort Blanchard, and at the upper
end of the island, Fort Huger. Opposite HUI
| ger, on the mainland, is Fort Forest. On the
east side of the island is another fort, guarding
| Roanoke Sound. There were - heavy cannon
IN the forts. The water in Croatan Sound was
not very deep, and Gen. Wise had line of
piles driven across the sound to stop the Union
war ships, leaving only the channel open
There were eight small Confederate steam
ers. each carrying one or two guns, In Abe
marie Sound With the forts, the obstruc-
tons and the gunboats, the Confederate author
| tiles at Richmond expected that GEN Wise
would prevent Union feet from getting past
the island. The ground was so marshy on the
mainland and ON the lower part of the island
1t was supposed that no Union army could get
possession OF the forts
THE UNION FLEET
| The water was so shallow that no large veg
sells could be used. The Union feet, under
Admiral Goldsborough, consisted OF 20 light
draft vessels. Two of the largest carried four
! guns, two others carried three guns each most
OF them had only one gun, but they were all
large-sized capnon-two Of them 100-pounder
rifed-guns; none less than 30-pounders.
| There were 40 steamships to carry the troop
nearly 100 vessels III all swept out from Fortress
Monroe Oh Sunday, Jan. II, 1862 None OF the
/ Captains knew whittier they were bound till
| they were out upon the broad ocean, when they
/ opened their sealed orders and found that they
were bound FOR Hatteras Inlet. Fog came on
and on Monday, when the vessels were off Cape
Hatteras, a storm burst upon the feet, in
which six vessels were lost but only three men
were drowned.
Again the newspapers Of the Southern States
rejoiced and hoped that the whole feet would
| 20 to the bottom of the sea- but one by one the
ships reached Hatteras Inlet, crossed the bar
and huated in the calm waters Of Pamlico
Sound.
| q Bo3BARDnEST OF THE FORTS
Not till Feb. was Commodore Goldsbor-
ough ready to lombard the Confederate forts-
AT 10 o'clock the sailors on the gunboats saw
q line of signal flags flying at the masthead of
! the Southfield-the flagship Of the feet This
| is what they read:
"On this day our country expects every man
| TO do his duty"
The Stars and Stripes led the way and the
other vessels followed.
! Down from the northern end Of the sound
steamed the Confederate feet under Com.
Lynch 1t was past II o'clock when the Stars
and Stripes sent shot from its 100-pounder
riled gun spinning towards Fort Barlow IL
was the signal for battle. One after another
the vessels opened FIRE. but Com. Lynch s largest
vessel, the Curlew, was quickly riddled by
solid shot that crashed through her sides The
water was pouring in and the Captain ran her
| ashore.
4 continuous storm Of shells rained upon the
fort, tossing up clouds of dust, blowing through
the embankment, dismounting cannon, cutting
down the flag staff, setting the barracks on fire.
| Through the afternoon the bombafdment won't
on-the FIRE of the forts growing fainter the
| Confederate feet moving away beyond the
reach of the long rifles
TOM
Behind the gunboats came the transports
with the Union troops on board. By the side
of Gen. Burnside stood colored boy, Tom.
He was only 90 years old.
He had been slave of John NJ Daniel, of
Roanoke. He longed for liberty He knew
that there was Union feet and Union SOL
diers at Hatteras Inlet, and one morning when