The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-07-21
1.-THE AMERICAN
CONFLICT. /"
Leading Incidents and Episodes
of the War of the Rebellion.
By HORACE GREELEY.
THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION.

ROANOKE ISLAND-ASSAULT ON NEW
BERN, N. C.-TAKING FORT MACON
OTHER MOVEMENTS.
Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside and Connie
dore L. NJ Goldsborough led an expedition
which had in good part been fitted out i
New York, and which left Fortress MOnro
at the opening of the year (Jan. IL, Il
1862, and doubling Cape Henry move
southwark to Hatteras Inlet, whose defense
had been quietly held by our troops sine
their capture by Gen. Butler and Commodor
Stringham five months before.
The naval part of this expedition consiste
Of 81 steam gunboats, mounting "a guns
the military, of about II, 500 men, mainl
from New England, organized in three hri
gades, under Gems. Foster, Reno, and Parke
and embarked with their material on som
80 or 40 steam transports.
The van of the expedition reached the en-
trance of the Inlet on the 18th, when it wa
found that, though care had been taken t
select or obtain gunboats of such draft a
could readily be worked over the bar at higi
water, yet large proportion of the trans
ports, through the incompetence or dishen
esty of those employed to procure them, wer
of such draft as rendered them totally unfi
for this service.
OF these, the propeller City Of New York
600 tons, heavily laden with rifles, ammuni
ton, tents, bedding, and forage, and draw.
ing is feet of water, when the greatest depth
attainable on the bar was but 13, grounded
of course, in attempting to pass it. when the
sea broke completely over her stern, every
breaker lifting her, and causing her, as it
subsidized, to settle still deeper in the sand,
until she became a perfect wreck.
THE vessel and cargo were totally lost; as
were the steam gunboat Zouave, the trans
ports Louisiana and Pocahontas, and two or
three others Col. j. w. Allen and Surg.
ST Weller, 9th N. J., were drowned by the
upsetting Of their small boat in the breakers,
IS they returned to the transport Ann E.
Thompson from reporting the arrival of their
regiment to Gen. Burnside. The National
loss in precious time, as well as life and prop
erty, by the villainy which palmed off on the
Government vessels totally unfit for this
service. can hardly be overestimated.
At length, everything being in readiness,
cur feet moved slowly up Pamlico and Gro
atan Sounds; Feb 3, the gunboats in ad-
vance and on the tanks of the transports,
formed in three columns. each headed by its
flagship, every large steamer having one or
tween the columns kept carefully clear, and
oil moving at the regulated pace of four
miles per hour.
The feet consisted in all of IS vessels,
covering a space about two miles square;
some 80 transports, mainly schooners, having
been left in the inlet. The dav was beauti-
ful; the distance made about % miles, when
they halted, near sunset, still 10 miles from
the southern point Of Roanoke Island, and
lay uEdisturbed through the bright, moonlit
night.
At q. M, the signal to weigh anchor was
given. At IL, progress was arrested. near
the south point, BY storm: and the fleet
AGAIN lay at anchor till next morning, when.
at 10 a. M. the order was given to move for
ward. and the gunboats led the way through
the narrow passage known as Roanoke Inlet,
into Croatan Sound, driving seven rebel gun
boats before them.
At noon. our gunboats were under fire of
the chief rebel battery on the Island, known
rs Fort Barlow, when the rebel gunboats
halted and added their fire 10 that Of the
fort lire of piles driven across the chan
mel was evidently expected TO obstruct our
advance. but proved inadequate.
Soon our soldier-crowded transports were
seen swarming through the Inlet and prepa-
Yations were made for landing at Ashby's
Harbor, two miles below the fort, which had
now been set on fire by our shells The
flames were soon checked, however, and the
cannonade on both sides continued, while
the rebel gunloats, which had retreated up
the Sound, again appeared and engaged our
feet. till the Curlew, their flagship. was
struck by 100-pound shell from the South
field. and soon developed in flames.
Z G,s,x INN 9 nysh nfh r,I oa
night. without serious loss in men on either
The rebel barracks in the rear Of the fort were
DESTROYED by fire, and their remaining gun
boats compelled to withdraw from the con-
test All our transports had passed through
the Inlet and anchored by p. m, when de-
barkation commepced under the fire Of our
gunb0afs, and 1900 men were ashore, and
most of them in bivouac, before IL p. m.
The rebel forces in that region were COM
maDded by Brig. Gen. Henry A. Wise, ex-
Governor of Virginia, whose Headquarters
were at Nays Head, across Roanoke Sound,
and whose forces numbered from 3, 600 TO
1000; but hardly LOCO Of them were on the
Island prior to the approach of our feet,
when achievements were hurried over, rails
ing the number OF its defenders to about
1900 Col Shaw, 9Th n. c., was in imme-
diate command. Fort Barlow, otherwise
Pork Point battery, was substantial earth
work, strengthened by abatis and moat,
and mounting 10 guns; Battery Huger, on
Weir's Point, farther north, had likewise 10
guns; Battery Blanchard, midway. bat four.
After crouching through rainy night,
some of them in miry boys, our soldiers were
formed and led on at an early hour of the
morning Feb. 8. A large portion of the
rebel force was deployed as skirmishers. and
contested our foundering advance through
the bog with spirit and effect until near 10
a. m. when our leading regiments were
close under the fire of the fort. They had
by this time found it impossible to obey the
orders which directed them to flank the
enemy on either side of the swamp-the
abaiis proving at most places impossible
and it was resolved to charge over the cause
way directly in front.
This was done by the 9th n. Y. (Zouaves).
Col. Rush c. Hawkins; the 5lst, Col Edward
Ferrero; the Odd Mass, Col. John Kurtz, and
2lst Mass, Lieut.. Col. A c. Maggi The 25tf
and 27th Mass. and 10th Conn. Col. Russell
were bonorably distinguished in the attack
Col. Russell was killed; as was Lieut.. Col
Niguier de Monteuil, SD n. Y, who wa
serving as q volunteer with Hawkins
Zouayca
Lying down 20 receive Gre Of crane fror
the rebel batteries. part q The 5lst y. Y.
with haWkiuss Ionases and the 2isi Mass
tusfsutiy fos AM rusasd ever he rsis
l.fsaetesfts stsssfns ens siaeir aesss-s-s u