The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-02-27


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GENERAL A. Il. BURNSIDE, U. s. A., FED
ERAL LEADER AT ROANOKE ISLAND.
which lay a feet 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 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 II
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
gunboats 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 O'Clock the Federal transports
had all arrived. and the first body of
troops landed unobstructed at
O'clock. In a 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 flanking column, under
General Reno, consisted of the TWEEN
ty-first Massachusetts. Fifty-ffrst New
York. Ninth New Jersey and Fifty
first Pennsylvania: the third, or right
f1anking 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 thick underbrush. An
earthwork about thirty-fve yards wide
had been erected across the road for
defense
The rug of war came when the sol
diers attempted to carry the swamp
battery. All depended upon that. for
the Union fleet had dispersed the Con-
federate ships. yet were unable to 81
lence the forts. These could not be
stormed from the water side nor reach
ed at all excepting by the road through
the swamp. Hawkins zouaves ninth
New York;. the Fifty-f1rst New York
and the Twenty first Massachusetts
captured the battery by rush.
The attack was bravely made as it
had been planned upon the enemy's
position. and after most spirited and
splendid defense. as reported by the
assailants. they were obliged to give
way before this overwhelming force
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 were
captured The Union loss was 81 killed
and pa wounded The Confederate loss
i'm killed was reported to be q killed
and IS wounded The capture of the
island forts opened Albemarle sound
to the Federal warships. On the 10th
Commander =. G. Rowan's division at
tackled the Confederate defenders of
Elizabeth CITY and brought about the
surrender OF that post.