Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-22

O by the Review OF Reviews company.
GENERAL A. Y. BURNSIDE, z. S. A., FED
ERAL LEADER AT ROANOKE ISLAND.
which lay q fleet OF wooden gunboats.
A line Of forts and batteries stretched
from the anchorage of the ships down
the shore four miles, resting on the
left In a dense and impossible swamp,
where a three gun battery had been
constructed TO command the only
causeway across the swamp. a gun
fired from one of the Confederate gun
boats announced the approach of the
Federal squadron. At half past IL
on the 18th the conflict commenced be
tween the gunboats at long range. The
Confederate boats gradually retired,
drawing their opponents within range
of the forts, when fire was opened by
the latter.
Land Troops Move to Attack.
The contest between the boats and
the forts continued with varied en-
ergy during the next three hours, In
which time the barracks within the
forts were consumed. At o'clock the
troops began to land, under the pro-
lection of the fire of the three gun
boats. At this time the Confederate
gunbonts drew near and recommended
the action, which was continued until
their ammunition was exhausted.
They then retired up the inlet or
sound. The forts then continued to
fire until the Union gunboats retired
for the night. The bravery of the
Confederate defense was admitted on
every side. On the Federal side FIVE
had been killed and ten wounded. In
the forts the Confederates reported one
killed and three wounded and in the
gunboats five wounded and the largest
gunboat sunk and another disabled.
BY 4 O'Clock the Federal transports
had all arrived, and the first body of
/ troops landed unobstructed at 8
O'Clock. II short time 5000 men
were on shore, and the remainder of
! them landed soon after. The next
morning the troops started in three
columns. the center. under General
Foster, composed of the Twenty-third
Twenty-fifth and Twenty seventh Mas
sachusetts and Tenth Connecticut; the
next, or left fanklng column, under
General Reno, consisted of the Tween.
/ ty-frst Massachusetts,, Fifty first New
York, Ninth New Jersey and Fifty,
first Pennsylvania: the third. or right
fianking column, under General Parke
consisted OF the Fourth Rhode Island
First battalion of the Fifth Rhode Is.
land and the Ninth New York.
The approach to the enemy was by
road through a swamp on each side
Of which was a thick underbrush. Al
earthwork about thirty-hve yards wide
had been erected across the road for
I defense.
The tug Of war came when the sol
diers attempted to carry the swamp
battery. All depended UPON that, fol-
the Union feet had dispersed the Con
federate ships, yet were unable to 81
lence the forts. These could not be
ed at all excepting by the road through
the swamp. Hawkins zouaves CNintt
New York;, the Fifty-first New Yorh
and the Twenty-frst Massachusetts
captured the battery by a rush.
The attack was -bravely made as II
had been planned upon the enemy's
position, and after a most spirited and
! splendid defense, as reported by the
assailants. they were obliged to give
way before this Overwhelming forct
and, retiring farther up the island
were overtaken and Colonel Shaw
their commander. surrendered. Thus
six forts. forty guns. over 1000 pris
oners and 1000 stands of arms wert
captured. The Union loss was 81 kilIet
snd PA wounded. The Confederate los.
In killed was reported to be % killed
and IS wounded. The capture of tbs
island forts opened Albemarle sound
to the Federal warships. On the 10tt
Commander s. c. Rowan's division at
tackled the Confederate defenders OF
Elizabeth City and brought about thi
surrender Of that post.