Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-03
Written for THE EVENING STAR
VICE ADMIRAL ROwANIN THE WAR.
The North Carolina Campaign.
downright 1881

1896 as a midshipman: he was commissioned
lieutenant I'm 1887, and the years 1sI6-is
found him the executive officer OF the sloop-of.
war 'Cyane." attached to the Pacific squadron
In this vessel he took an active part in the war
then waging with Mexico. During the years
1s5o-53 and 1S5S-61. he devoted himself 10
ordnance duty, acquiring a thorough knowl-
edge OF that branch OF his profession, and pre-
pairing himself for the high command and
heavy responsibilities which were soon 20 de-
volve upon him. At the breaking out of the
war of the rebellion he was In command of the
steam sioop-of-war "Pawnee." He had. pre-
viously to this, married and settled
In Norfolk, Va 1t was the home of
his adoption and affections; here were
the friends and attachments OF many wears.
no time was given and none required by
Rowan 70 determine his course: AZ once he
drew his sword in the cause OF the linton and
the nag, abandoning home, friends and the at
fractions OF life. Would that the high and lofty
motives actuating this gentleman had entered
into the souls OF those who went astray AFTER
iaise doctrines and heresies. and so preserved
them also to the navy and the service OF the
country 10 receive its highest honors The gov
eminent, knowing the lofty character and repn-
tation OF Rowan, had no misgivings as To his
the "Pawnee." In this vessel he engaged
shortly after the breaking out OF hostiities, the
enemys batteries at Aqua Creek, on the Poto-
mac Inns was the hrst naval engagement OF
the war. Later, in the "pawnee." he partici-
pated in the attack on and in the capture OF the
forts and garrison
AT HATTERAs INLET.
the first important naval success of the war I'm
the honors of which Commander Rowan fully
shared. The Joint expedition OF the army and
navy for operations In the waters OF North Car
olina to which Rowan had been ordered rs sec.
ond in command, and which sailed from Harnp-
ton Roads I'm January, 1862, was about TO open
suitable Held Tor the display and employ ment
OF the high qualities and professional attain
ments he possessed. The naval force. which
consisted of seventeen light draft vessels, ar
rived at Hatteras inlet January I3, 1862. but
the army was not fully prepared for active CO.
operation until three weeks later ON the morn
Ing OF February the combined expedition pro-
ceeded toward Roanoke Island. The naval YES
sells, placed by Admiral Goidsborouch under
the immediate command of Commander
Rowan, were formed i'm three separate columns
commanded respectively by Lieutenants Reed
Werden, Alexander Murray and Ii. X. Dayen-
port The enemy had formed an extensive OBJ
struction OF a double row of piles and sunken
vessels stretching across the sound between the
batteries on Park and Mier Points, and be-
nina this their vessels. eight ia number
were drawn up. By haIf-past ten on the morn
ing of February the engagement commenced.
BY noon the action became general, and was
continued so holly that a two O clock the bat
tered barracks behind the fort were burning fi-
riously, and at half.past four the batteries, Tor
the most part, ceased for a while to reply 10 the
hiring OF the teet,-1ive OF the enemy steam
ers, apparently injured, retired behind the point
and the first landing OF troops took place. The
landing was effected In light draft steamers and
boats at Ashbys harbor, a large body OF the en-.
envy guarding the shore being soon cleared
away by some shrapnel from the guns of Ro-
vans flagship. BY midnight 10, 900 troops had
been landed, when they were Joined by a battery
OF SIX howitzers from the naval force. At nine
O'Clock the next morning continuous firing i'm
the interior announced that the army was hotiy
engaged about midway between the landing
a ana lark u, Point, and the vessels moved up 70
the rear of the batteries the vessels ceased
firing, and proceeded TO clear a passage-way
through the distractions. BY pin. this was
accomplished. and when the vessels burst
through the distractions the American ftaV vas
uniurled over the battery on Park Point. 4 few
minutes aIterward the enemy fired the works
on Red Stone Point together with a steamer
which had taken refuge under It's guns aud
illus ended the eventfui struggle of two days,
wnlch secured complete possession OF Roanoke
Island. Retreating from Roanoke Island the
enemy's heet fed up the sound and into Pas
Quotank River toward Elizabeth City, Com
mander Rowan pursuing them with a fiotilla of
fourteen vessels, and auchoring for the night
lew miles from Fort Cobb. On the morn
Ing oil the 10th they were discovered
drawn up behind the battery, which mounted
iour heayy guns, and supported bya schooner
bank, and carrying two heavy 32-pounders
When within long range fire was opened from
tue battery, schooner and steamers. but the
vessels moved on silently and steadily. shot
and shell falling thick and last among them
When within three-quarters OF a mile of the
battery Commander Rowan gave the signal
with telling effect, and the vessels pushed 10
their utmost speed. The enemy was COM
unexpected mode of attack The "Black War
rior' was set on fire by her officers and de-
stroyed, the fort abandoned, and the entire
river, the hotilla took possession of Elizabeth
City, which the enemy had attempted to fire
before hastily leaving, and Lieutenant Murray
was dispatched with small force TO Edenton
which he quietly took possession of on the
12th, and was then sent to obstruct the Chesa-
peake and Albeinarfe Canal, "a duty which he
thoroughly accomplished. At the same time
Commander Rowan made a reconnaissance of
the Chowan river as far as Winton, where a
sharp engagement took place on the 18th; the
town was the following morning occupied by
the troops under Colonel Hawkins, who en-
tered the place and destroyed the military
stores and quarters found there.
THE ATTACK ON NEwBERN
A combined expedition OF the army and navy,
under Gen. Burnside and Commander Rowan.
left Hatteras Inlet on the morning Of March II,
for an attack upon Newborn, n. c. The fleet,
numbering fourteen vessels, besides the trans
ports entered the Neuse river in the afternoon.
and at nightfall anchored i'm three columns off
Siocum's Creek, the point selected for the de-
barkation of the troops, about fifteen miles from
,Newbern. Early the following morning the
mouth OF the creek, and opened with grape and
canister upon the landing place, while the
troops started from the transporis,-the fire
ceasing as soon AS the first brigade had landed
AT the same time six naval howitzers, under
command OF Lieut.. r. s. McCook, were sent
ashore TO assist IN the attack upon the enemy's
works. As soon as the troops had landed the
flagship delaware" Lieut.. Commander s. Z.
Quackenbush, with another vessel, pro-
ceeded on a reconnaissance up the river
when fire was opened from Fort Dixie
upon them, and a spirited engagement was kept
up until dark, when all the vessels anchored
for the night in q position TO support the troops
AT daylight on the morning of the 18th Gen.
eral Burnside engaged the enemy in force, and
Commander Rowan advanced steadily up the
river with his fleet The passage OF the river
was Obstructed by formidable line of piles and
torpedoes, and defended by six well-constructed
FORTS at distances Of half q mile TO a mile and a
half from each other, mounting some thirty
two heavy guns; but under pressure OF the
com blned attacks the enemy abandoned their
defenses in succession,-Jhe navy and army
contesting the honor of raising the American
nag on their ramparts,-so that at noon the
fleet arrived before the deserted town of New
bern. A large quantity of public stores fell
into the hands OF the navy and were turned
over TO the troops, who arrived and took pos
session OF the town at p. IN. After the fall
of Newbern, Lieutenant Commanding MUIR
ray was dispatched with a naval column to
take possession OF Washington, n. G. On April
1, Commander Rowan dispatched to New York
and Philadelphia nine vessels freighued with
naval stores, some OF the fruits of the capture of
Newborn. Fort Macon was the next object
which engaged the attention of the army and
navy. On the morning OF April 25, Commander
Samuel Lockwood, the senior officer OFF Beau
fort opened on the fort in conjunction with the
batteries on shore, and continued the fire for
some time, until he was obliged TO withdraw on
account of the heavy sea- Toward evening q
nag OF truce appeared on the fort, and
the next morning the old flag reap
fort Commander Rowan had an inter
view with Gen burnside with whom ba