REBELLION RECORD, 1862. remainder of the crew to be supplied from the At a signal of the Union Jack at the foremast At a signal of the American flag under the Union Jack at the foremast of the flag-ship of the brigade, Patuxent, the men will be placed in the boat awaiting the signal to start, which will be the blue flag of the brigade, with the letter A in the centre, under the Union Jack and American flag. ers and lines stretched between them. At halfpast seven, Flag-Officer Goldsborough's vessel, the Philadelphia, moved forward, heading partly southward, and was followed by the other ves sels of the naval squadron. As the squadron held that Newbern was the point of attack, but it was a southward course for some time, it was asserted soon discovered that the channel describes a zigzag line, for several turns were made before the course about west of north, when all concluded main course was indicated. At last she held a that Roanoke Island was certainly the point of our destination. Stretching along at regular and short intervals, the gunboats filled their places in the line, and without changing their positions in relation to each other, and with scarcely perceptible motion, steadily stretched away to the horizon. If the transports of the brigade cannot approach within easy rowing distance of the shore, all the and gunboats carrying troops. The little propelAfter the naval squadron came the transports boats of the different vessels of the brigade will, ler Picket, with Gen. Burnside on board, was movat the third signal, row to the Patuxent and at- ing about in every direction and firing guns as tach themselves in two lines as they arrive in suc- signals of departure to the various brigades. But cession--the painter of each being attached to the few changes had been made from the order of em stern of the preceding boat. The Patuxent will give barkation at Annapolis. Some of the ships of one whistle in starting for the shore, two whistles heavy draft were relieved of their troops, who as a warning to prepare to cast off, when the coxswain of each boat will be ready to cast off, at a mo- cilitate navigation of the sound. The Ninth Newwere transferred to other ships of less draft to fa ment's warning, the painter of the following boat. Jersey were transferred to the George Peabody, At three whistles all the painters will be cast off, while the Ninth New-York, with their battery of the coxswain will give each boat the proper di- six twelve-pounder howitzers, were distributed rection toward the shore, the oarsmen will seize among the canal-boats, which were towed by the oars and pull rapidly to land, where all the some of Flag Officer Goldsborough's gunboats. soldiers will jump out at once, holding up their The appearance of the fleet is very imposing. It cartridge-boxes and muskets, and form rapidly consists in all of sixty-five vessels of all classes in line by the colors of their regiment without and characters. regard to companies. A field-officer will accom-umns, headed by the flag-ship of the brigade. Each brigade forms three colpany the first detachment. Having made one The gunboats of the coast division occupy chiefly trip, the boats will return and land the remainder positions on the flanks, to be ready for a response of the regiment as rapidly as possibly. In order that the officers and men may fully understand the movement, the commanding officers will drill the men in getting into the boats and out if practicable, so that all in succession may be fully instructed. The to any demonstration from shore that we may hear. Each large steamer has one, two, and in some instances, three schooners in tow, whose tall, tapering spars point unvaringly to the zenith as the water is just ruffled by the light wind. It is absolutely necessary that the most silent, aisles between the three columns of ships are unSeveral of the gunboats also have tows. prompt obedience be rendered during the disem- broken through the whole length of the fleet, barkation, so that all confusion and consequent de- which extends almost two miles over the surface lay may be avoided, and the commanding officers of the sound, except by the two or three small are urged to give their personal attention to the pre-propellers, whose duty consists in conveying orparing of all necessary detail, by designating boats, finding their capacity, and assigning the officers and men for each and every trip, etc. Three days' cooked rations will be carried in the haversacks, and canteens will be filled with water, overcoats will be carried, but knapsacks will be left on board. The vessels will be in readiness to start to-morrow morning. By order of EDWARD M. NEILL, A.A.G. J. L. RENO, ders in relation to the speed of some steamer that The Eighty-ninth New-York, the Sixth NewHampshire, and the Eighth and Eleventh Connecticut have been assigned to Gen. Williams's briAfter a stay of three weeks and two days in- This force will take part in some future moveFebruary 5, gade, and remain at Hatteras Inlet, in side of Hatteras Inlet we are at length in motion.ments in this department. camp. At an early hour this morning active movements commenced. A few vessels that had not yet been They consist of schooners, chiefly loaded with About fifty vessels are left behind at the Inket. towed into position were hauled astern of steam-stores of various descriptions. The fleet now mov February 6, ing is supplied with fifteen days' provisions, while will probably blossom forth here in true Souththe vessels remaining at the Inlet are stored with ern exuberance, namely, the masked battery. food for the entire fleet to last about sixty days. The day is beautiful, with a few light clouds floating through the sky. We have a head wind, but not a strong one. It is expected that the lodgment will take place to-morrow. The water over which we are sailing is shoal and the winds of the past week have stirred up the sand from the bottom until the sound about us is streaked with alternate stripes of blue and muddy water. The vessels at the inlet are more than hull down, although our progress is very slow. We hold our course through a serpentine channel, which makes navigation tedious and difficult. The signal to weigh anchor was hoisted at the mast-head of the flag-ship, at eight o'clock this morning; the weather being dark, and the horizon filled with heavy clouds. The fleet was soon in motion. The gunboats are a considerable distance in advance of us. Our progress is slow and careful, as the water shoals considerably. The low marshy shore of the mainland, as we approach the entrance to Croatan Sound, is clearly seen through a glass, and the white-barked cypress trees distinguished from the general darkThe latter part of our passage of the sound has ness of the forest. At intervals, tall, blasted trees, been through a more direct course, scarcely de- with forking branches, can be seen towering above viating from due north. The mainland of North- the ordinary height of the more vital trees, like Carolina appears more distinctly to the west of the spectres of a past growth of forest trees, much us. The low swampy shores, covered with reeds taller than the woods that now cover these swamps. near the water, can be seen with the aid of a A low point to the east of us has the remains of good glass, while the cypress trees further in a lighthouse on it, but its warning eye is dimmed seem to grow out of a mirror. A few isolated by the vandalism that characterizes every act of houses rise out of the water at intervals, which the Southern rebels. About north of us, the southour pilot, who has navigated the sound off and on ern extremity of Roanoke marshes looms through during the past sixteen years, informs me are the rainy atmosphere, by which we are now surseine-houses, used during the shad and herring rounded, (eleven A.M.) Our progress is entirely seasons by the fishermen of the mainland. No arrested by the storm for about a quarter of an other indications of life are visible. Those inter-hour, but there goes the clang of the bell, to "start minable swamps along the shore can shelter her." A mile or two further on, we anchor for nothing higher in the scale of being than lizards, the night, the weather not permitting an attempt toads, and snakes, and perhaps runaway negroes. to pass through Roanoke Inlet without extreme A country with such a seaboard can be fit only for a puerile and purposeless race. But to-morrow will decide whether spongy-shored Carolina or sterile, rocky-coasted New-England produces the better men. At sundown this evening, the signal to come to anchor was displayed from the flag-ship, and our anchors were dropped in about two fathoms water, and within ten miles of the southern point of Roanoke Island, which, after to-morrow, must acknowledge allegiance to the Stars and Stripes. The marshes of Roanoke are within about seven miles of us to-night, and a sharp look-out is kept up by our gunboat flotilla. The bright moonlight, however, will do more toward keeping off prowlers who may desire to approach us than the utmost vigilance of our picket-boats. A dark night is a powerful ally of spies and other vermin. At dawn to-morrow we move forward, and expect in two hours to be at Roanoke Island. The precise point of attack is scarcely indicated yet, but will be determined by the presence of the enemy's batteries. Such craft, as may appear with hostile intent, will first be disposed of, and the batteries will next be attended to. The channel, through which we pass, is at some points so narrow, that a musket can do execution on the opposite shore. At other points it approaches the shore very closely. At no point in the channel are our vessels at any time beyond easy range of batteries erected on the mainland. We expect hot work, or batteries totally evacuated. The favorite mode of warfare of the sons of chivalry VOL. IV.-Doc. 7 danger. ON BOARD THE 8. R. SPAULDING, CROATAN SOUND, N. C., Feb. 7. The small tugs, J. P. Levy, Champion and Alert, acted last night as picket-boats to the fleet, occupying positions a mile beyond the most advanced of our vessels. The quiet of the expedition up to this time, having rendered your correspondent anxious for an incident, he could not resist the temptation to accompany the officers in command. On board the Levy, Capt. Wm. Cutting, (of New-York,) was in command, accompanied by Lieut. Fearing, also of Gen. Burnside's staff, and several members of the signal corps. Lieut. Anderson, accompanied by Lieut. Flagler, was in command of the Champion, and the Alert was under Lieuts. Reno and Leydig. The duties required of these officers were to lie at anchor off the entrance of Croatan Sound, and to keep a sharp look-out for hostile craft from within. Precautions were observed not to be caught by any venturesome vessels, such as dropping the anchor with a buoy attached, in order to be ready to slip cable and run within the line of the gunboats. All lights were carefully concealed, and everything that would tend to betray our presence, completely shaded. The early part of the night was clear, affording a good view of the inlet, the lighthouse, (without a light,) and the marshes at the entrance. The low western shore of the is land was obscured by fog, which increased about midnight, until everything was enveloped in a veil impenetrable beyond two boats' length. Should a hostile vessel appear, the alarm was to be given ing to complain of in relation to them. An effort to sleep, which was persisted in through four hours, resulted in about one hour's sound slumber, sitting on a wooden stool, with the head resting against the side of the steward's table. The number of the rebel gunboats visible in the early part of the engagement was seven, but as our vessels came into closer action, they moved to the northward, with the design of drawing our fleet after them, so as to bring them under the guns of their batteries on the island. At twelve o'clock the engagement became genInformation received from other sources, gives eral, between the retreating gunboats of the rebthe floating force of the rebels at fourteen steam-els and our fleet, with an occasional shot from a ers and eight sailing vessels, consequently great battery on shore. The firing was exceedingly anxiety was felt, lest some of these would venture brisk for some time, but the distance was evidently out to attack our defenceless tugs. Our fears, al- too long for destructive effect. The one hundredthough sufficient to make us wakeful, proved to pound Parrott gun on board the Southfield, to be entirely groundless. Toward morning the fog which the Flag-Officer transferred his flag, boomed cleared away, and the sun arose in a sky marked forth with terrific explosions, followed by the with clouds enough to give it beauty. roar of the flying shell and the crash in bursting. The puff of smoke in the air was almost simultaneous with the splash of fragments in the water. The rebel gunboats kept up a steady fire in reply, and their shots could be seen skipping along the water among our vessels. Their fire was varied at times by the louder report of a hundred-pound Parrott gun on board one of their vessels. The Sawyer gun on board the Fanny, which was captured by the rebels at Hatteras Inlet, was the most annoying in its effects, as the range is long and very accurate. As we return within the lines, we pass the steamboat Southfield, to which Com. Goldsborough has transferred his flag from the Philadelphia, and were requested by him to tell the General to close up the rear division as rapidly as possible, as he would go into action as soon as that could be done. We arrived on board the Spaulding, where we found the General urging forward, by signals and other processes, the preparations for passing through the inlet. ON BOARD THE S. R. SPAULDING, PROCEEDING TO THE BOMBARDMENT. The fire from the fort indicated a weak force working the guns. Their shots, which were inaccurate and chiefly ricochet, were fired at considerable intervals. The guns of the fort are evidently heavy but not rifled. The rebel gunboats retire steadily before our flect, and are now a considerable distance up the sound. A line of piles driven into the bottom across the principal channel, obstructs the progress of our vessels in the direction of the retreating rebels, which occupy an inner channel under the guns of their battery, and our fleet now turn their attention to the fort, which keeps up a steady and rapid fire from one gun only. Our vessels have got the range of the battery, but some shells explode high in the air, and over the woods in the rear of the work. All our preparations having been made by ten o'clock, the gunboats, under the lead of the FlagOfficer's ship, moved forward, and were soon inside the narrow passage leading into Croatan Sound, known as Roanoke Inlet. The mainland juts eastward, forming a point of marshy land at the southern extremity of Croatan Sound, which forms the only navigable water leading past Roanoke Island. A small marshy island forms the eastern boundary of the channel, while the western shore is a low marshy point. One of our gunboats grounded in passing through, but was soon got off. Following Com. Goldsborough's squadron were the gunboats of the coast division, all of which passed through without interruption. Gen. Burnside, on board the Spaulding, has The S. R. Spaulding, with Gen. Burnside on approached sufficiently near to have an excellent board, next passed through, but the remainder view of the bombardment, and is now pacing the of the transports were detained about two hours. deck with impatience at the delay in the arrival The rebel gunboats could now be seen close in of the transport fleet. He has ordered a trial of shore, evidently under the guns of batteries on the range of the eighteen-pounder Dahlgren gun shore. As our fleet passed into the sound, a on the forward deck to be made. Three shots signal was fired from one of the rebel gunboats, were fired, which fell short, but in a direct line to announce our approach. This was about with the battery. Our fleet of transports may half-past ten o'clock. At half-past eleven the first now be seen crowding through the inlet. The gun from our vessels was fired from the flag-ship, stern-wheel boat Cadet, with the Fifty-first Newand was replied to by the rebels. The Flag-Offi- York, Colonel Ferrero, on board, has just come cer hoisted the signal: "This day our country ex-up abreast the Spaulding, and Col. Ferrero is orpects that every man will do his duty." The effect of this on the "shell-backs" was electric. They worked their guns with unflagging energy, determined that their country should have noth dered to be in readiness to land his men, to which he responds: "All ready, General." The fire from the battery has slackened, and now shots are fired at intervals of ten or twelve seen to arise from the battery, and the quarters of the garrison are evidently on fire. A shell from the Picket, which has just come into action, burst among the corn-husks and dry materials in the barracks, and set fire to the temporary board quarters of the soldiers. In a few minutes a lurid flame bursts from the thick black smoke, and leaps upward. The entire work seems to be enveloped in the smoke of the burning buildings, but the white smoke of their cannon springs out yet. Their fire, however, is slackened, and the fire from our vessels is also slackened, evi minutes. The opinion gains ground that the battery is silenced, and that a force landed now will meet with but little resistance. The impatience of Gen. Burnside increases, and he orders the anchor of the Spaulding hauled up with the design of landing with the Rhode Island Fifth battalion, and Col. Ferrero's Shepard Rifles. He said: "If I can get two thousand men ashore, I am all right." A small cove, known as Ashby's harbor, about two miles south of the battery, is indicated by • Gen. Burnside as the point at which the troops are to be landed. The position is marked by a house, the residence of Capt. Ashby. Gen. Burn-dently supposing the resisting powers of the batside instructed Lieut. Andrews to take a boat's crew with ten soldiers, and pull toward the shore, and examine the character of the water at the landing. The enterprise was not unattended with danger, as the sequel proved. tery to be nearly exhausted. The flames from the quarters are partially subdued, and the fire of the battery is recommenced, our gunboats replying with increased vigor. The fire from our vessels for half an hour is exceedingly lively, and the flames seem to gain on the garrison, who keep up their fire from one gun with unabated energy. The entire quarters are now apparently enveloped in smoke and flame, but the gun from the battery booms forth at intervals, steadily maintaining the fight, and sending its shot ricochetting along the water, but their aim is bad. Scarcely any of their shot strike our vessels. All acknowledge the resistance of the rebels to be most determined. The slackening of our fire when theirs slackened was an acknowledgment of the bravery of the garrison, for during the whole bombardment all supposed our fire to be terribly destructive, and a desire to prevent further bloodshed prevailed throughout the fight. Lieut. Andrews has made a reputation for fearlessness and judgment, by the cool manner in which he took the soundings, and the complete success of his examination of the landing. Lieut. Andrews is a son of Mr. Stephen P. Andrews, of New-York, and is topographical officer on Gen. Burnside's staff. He is a lieutenant in Colonel Hawkins's Zouave regiment, and has acted as topographical engineer on Gen. Williams's staff. He has made soundings of many localities here, and several reconnoissances. After sounding the water, he went ashore, and looking about a short time became convinced that some guns were stationed so as to command the landing, and the glitter of bayonets of two companies were seen near them. He returned to the boat and shoved The flames within the enemy's work having off, when about thirty men sprang up from the again been partially subdued, their fire recomtall grass, and discharged their muskets at the mences with some briskness, but with very little boat. One of the bullets passed near the Lieuten- effect on our gunboats. Our vessels have gained ant, and took effect in the lower jaw of Charles a nearer range, and every few minutes shot and A. Viall, of the Fifth Rhode Island regiment, in- shell rain on the battery, and are seen to strike flicting a severe but not dangerous wound. A in and about it with great precision. young contraband, who escaped to Hatteras about a week before, belonging to Joseph M. Daniel, of Roanoke Island, was sent by General Burnside with Lieut. Andrews to point out Ashby's harbor. Much valuable information was gained from this boy, who is unusually intelligent, although illiterate. His name is Thomas R. Robinson. The bombardment is steadily kept up by our vessels, and is replied to feebly by the battery. Our missiles seem, from on board the transports, to be well directed; the sand and water close to the battery, are constantly thrown up fifty feet into the air. Signals having been made to the transport fleet to make all possible haste, they are now rapidly approaching, and preparations are being made to land. Gen. Burnside makes the remark, "That battery is about silenced; I will take these troops and land," but the battery opens afresh, and sends several well-directed shot in among our gunboats. A shot from our flect has just carried away the flag-staff of the battery, and an officer (afterward ascertained to be Major Hill) plants a regimental confederate flag on the work, and the firing is continued. At one o'clock a dense column of smoke is A movement among the rebel gunboats, appa rently to flank our fleet and attack the transports, is prevented by Flag-Officer Goldsborough, who sends three or four gunboats out in the direction of the mainland, on seeing which, the rebels abandon the attempt and retire further up the sound. The flames from the barracks are again extending, and have broken out in other places. They continue their fire, but with less vigor. Twenty minutes elapse between the discharges from the battery. The time of each discharge is carefully noted by the spectators, in expectation that it will prove to be the last shot from the battery. Half-hours now elapse between the discharges, and it is expected that the work is about being abandoned. The rebel gunboats which retired up the sound again appear near Wier's Point, coming down to engage our vessels. This was evidently intended to draw our attention from the landing of reenforcements on the east side of the point. A brisk contest ensued between the rebel vessels and three or four of our boats, which resulted in one of the rebels hauling off toward the mainland and running ashore, where she was soon seen envel |