The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter., 1962-02-02


the west side of Fulker's Shoals
toward the island, having for its
object to compel vessels passing
on the west side to approach the
shore batteries, but up to the day
of the battle a space of 100 yards
was open opposite Fort Barlow,
since vessels had been sunk and
piles driven on the west side of
Fulker's Shoals. These completed
the land defences of the island.
which, when manned, left 1,O24
men, of whom 200 were on the
sick list, available to resist Burn
sides army of 17,000."
j. Fred Roush, Park Historian
for the Cape Hatteras National
Seashore, has written the following
account of the Roanoke Island con-
fict: "The Federal attack began
on the morning of February q, 1862.
The gunboats started to pass
through the Roanoke M arsh h e $
channel, followed by other naval
vessels and transports, into Roa-
noke Sound. The seven Confeder-
ate gunboats were behind the line
of slnken ships and pilings, ready
for battle, which began about 1880
am.
"By noon some Federal warships
were concentrating their fire on
the Mosquito Fleet, others were
trading shots with the shore bat
teries. The battle lasted all after
noon with the Federal Admiral
Goldsborough refusing to be tempt
ed through the unmarked channel
in the barrier and into the direct
fire of the more northern forts.
Two of the defending gunboats
were hit, and the remainder had to
retire up Albemarle Sound when
their ammunition was exhausted.
At dusk the Federal warships were
still trading shots with the shore
batteries, and the transports were
anchored in the sound out of range
of the Confederate fire.
early in the afternoon, Gen.
Burnside had ordered Lieut.. An
drews, a party of 10 soldiers and a
negro boy named Robinson who
had escaped from slavery on Roa-
noke Island, to scout along the
shoreline of the island. Young Rob-
inson pointed out Asllby's Harbor
(later Skyco) as the best harbor
on the western shore. While scout
ing on shore there, the Yankees
were surprised by Rebels, and one
man was wounded by muslOet ball
as they showed off. But they got
back to Burnside with accurate in
formation about Ashby's Harbor
and its surroundings.
The gunboats Immediately raked
the defensive position there with
shrapnel, and Confederates soon
abandoned it.
"The Federals began to disem-
bark and by 5 O'clock an estimated
1000 were on shore. Rain came
with darkness and slowed the land
ings, but by dawn the troops We're
ready for a full-scale attack.
"The Confederates had expected
the landing to be made farther
north in the vicinity of their forts.
When they found differently, Col.
Shaw ordered his only movable
guns to oppose a landing farther
south. Two were taken to Pughs
Landing, near present-day Wan
ehese, and a third was set up near
Aahby's Harbor. When Burnside
by-passed Pugh's Landing and be
gan shelling Ashby's Harbor, all
three Confederate field pieces were
hurriediy withdrawn and on the
morning of February 8 they were
mounted astride the causeway,
where they had been before the
attack. About 1000 men. were de-
ployed in the rear Of the cannon.
The Confederates expected that the
deep and heavily wooded swamps
on either side of the causeway
would confine the attack.
"In this, they We're in error. All
three divisions of the Federals
made their way to through the
swamps and attacked the Confeder-
ate defenses at about the same
thine. 1t was too much for the de-
tenders and they broke and ran,
There was only one brief encounter
before Col. Shaw saw that he was
hopelessly outnumbered and sur
rendered Roanoke Island to the
Federals. When the rebels lined NO
to be Invested Of their equipment,
it was found that many had only
shotguns, squirt rifles and carving
knives. General Wise and some OF
his troops managed to escape up
the Banks ahead Of the Federals." !"
ElEcTiON