The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-02-11
BATTLE
Continued from Page One)


fired from the Confederate bat.
terry, evidently as a signal of some
kind or other.
The mainland of North Carolina
lay in our left, and this We had
to hug closely for two miles or so
the deep water running there
Every moment l expected to see a
puff of white smoke followed by q
whiz come from among the tall
brakes on the bank, but for some
reason or other the Confederates
had neglected placing a battery
here, which appears to me the
more astonishing from the fact
that at any time during this two
miles / could have almost thrown
biscuit on shore.
After the above distance the
channel made a curve to the right
towards Roanoke, passing under
the guns of the first port and con-
tinuing along the sands to the eX-
IRENE points of the island, with
two other forts commanding it at
equal distances from the first,
they being arranged so that a
cross fire could be brought to
bear on vessels attempting to
force their way through. Between
the first and second forts lay the
Confederate steamers, seven in
number, and the action was COM
menced at long range between
them and the Federal gun-boats
as the latter advanced steadily in
| line to the attack.
This Was The Fort "At Head
quarters"
At half-past eleven Fort Barlow
chimed in as the Federal squadron
came within its range, and it was
now that the Spalding, on board
which ship l was, with the Gener
al and his staff, opened fire from
her rifled parrot. In few min
utes the plan of action was some
what changed, the Confederate
steamers retiring behind some OBJ
structions placed in the channel,
and moving up towards the en-
trance to Albemarle Sound, evil
IDENTIFY with the purpose of draw
ing a portion of the Union vessels
through the narrow opening left,
and Immediately under the guns
of the second port. This was seen
and understood by Commodore
Goldborough, who detached half
dozen of his boats to block their
passage back again, and to engage
them as nearly as the distractions
in the channel would admit.
This is the period of the action
l have chosen for one of my
sketches. About two pm, the Con-
federate fleet retired out of range,
the largest vessel, the Curlew,
being so damaged that they had
to run her ashore under the shell
ter of a battery near the upper
point of the mainland to prevent
her sinking. She was afterwards
burned by her crew, and the bat
terry blown up to prevent it fall
ing into the hands of the Fedora
lists.
At 3 pm, the troops commenced
landing, protected by the guns OF
the Picket and Delaware, who
shelled from amongst the pines
the force that had been drawn up
to oppose the debarkation. At six
the firing ceased between the Fed
eral gun-boats and Fort Barlow
and by midnight upwards of 5000
men had been safely put on shore
without accident.
Went Through Deep Swamp
The difficulties the troops hao
to contend against in landing were
great, the place chosen being 6
perfect swamp, which extended
inland a distance of a quarter of :
mile, and in which the men sank
to their knees and waists. To make
matters more uncomfortable, {
thin cold rain fell throughout the
night, the soldiers having no Other
shelter than what they stood in
and many of them were complete
ly benumbed by daylight. Nothing
disturbed the stiffness of the darl
hours save one solitary report Of
gun which heralded the death Of
Massachusetts, soldier who was
thrown out in the forest as pick.
ct; this was the only collision thai
occurred during the night. There
was something particularly i'm
pressive in gloom of the dark pine
woods with the knowledge that
perhaps within a dozen yards
lurked the enemy, and that at any
moment the watcher might be
sent to his last account.
Day broke cold, damp and mis-
cradle; and, after drink of water
and a biscuit to each man, the
Federal force prepared to advance
into the interior, following patti
which led to the main artery run
ming through the island. About ter
the first collision took place be-
tween the opposing forces, at the
point where the pathway alluded
L Il