The latest Northern News.
Northern accounts of the Roanoke affair.
the attack on Fort Donelson.
&c. &c. &c.
The New York Herald of the 15th, devotes three entire pages to a description of the ‘"Great and Glorious Union Victory at Roanoke."’
The Federal forces engaged comprised 31 vessels and gunboats of all classes, and 15 regiments of infantry.
Bennett considers the victory unequalled by anything which the Federal arms have yet achieved, and in this we think our readers will coincide.
The Herald says: ‘
The battle was a desperate one; but from the beginning, when our troops were landed at Ashly's harbor, on Friday afternoon, the 7th instant, success seemed to attend them.
The rebels were entrenched in the centre of the Island, but by the gallantry of our men they were dislodged at the point of the bayonet, and driven towards the Northern end of the Island, where those who were not killed or wounded surrendered.
Our loss is said to be about fifty killed--thirty of the army and twenty of the naval force.
Our wounded number about one hundred and forty. ’
The battle.
A reconnaissance was made on Friday morning, after which the attack was commenced by Commodore Goldsborough, who was on board the Southfield. She and the gunboat Underwriter opened fire upon the rebel forts and batteries at eleven o'clock in the morning. The gunboats and vessels of the rebels were attacked by our boats and were sunk or destroyed. The Fanny, the little propeller that was taken from us some short time ago by the rebels, was in the fight and was burned. Our boats advanced to the attack in three columns — the first being led by the gunboat Stars and Stripes, under the command of Captain Wordent; the second by the Louisiana, in charge of Captain Bunnay; and the third by the Heizel, under charge of Captain Davenport. The gunboats that were nearest to the forts and batteries, were the Ceres, Putnam, Valley City, Commodore Perry, Bringer, and the Whitehead; all the others were in the immediate vicinity, but the above-named boats were the closest in. One of the shots of the enemy took effect in the bow of the Louisiana, but no one was in the least injured by it. The Heizel lost one man; she burst one of her rifled Parrott guns. Some splendid firing was made by the gunboat Hunchback, and the greatest praise was showered upon all for the indomitable courage displayed upon the occasion. At six o'clock in the evening after a hard day's fighting, Commodore Goldsborough signalled our fleet from his flagship to cease firing, and to withdraw for the time being, which order was at once complied with. In the meantime the soldiers were being landed on Roanoke Island, and as the night advanced, there was a Union force of nearly eleven thousand soldiers landed on the island, the rebels having fallen back behind entrenchments on the centre of the Island about four or five miles from the shore. The first points attacked were the forts, which returned our fire with hearty good will, and with a courage and a determined perseverance worthy of a better cause, but they were at last compelled to give way from the terrific force of our united fire, the ground in the vicinity having the appearance of newly ploughed land from the thousands of shells that had burst and scattered devastation everywhere within their reach. On Saturday morning some five or six thousand men were landed in addition to those that were already placed on the shore, and skirmishers were at once deployed to reconnoitre, and the result of their march was the discovery of a masked battery, mounting three guns. This was at once attacked by the Hawkins Zouaves, flanked by the 21st and 25th Massachusetts regiments. It was carried at the point of the bayonet, and a more gallant and successful charge was seldom witnessed. The brave fellows rushed at it, determined to ‘"do or die."’ The regiments that suffered most were the 25th Massachusetts and the 10th Connecticut, who lost several men during the charge. The conflict was hot, the possession of the battery being hotly contested by the rebels, but after an hour or two they were obliged to yield to the prowess of the Union troops, and the battery was abandoned. Our men followed them closely, and surrounding them held them as prischers.--Among the others who fell on our side in this engagement was the lamented Col. Russell, of the Tenth Connecticut regiment, who was killed while at the head of his men, cheering and leading them on to victory, and Lt Col. De Monteil, of the D'Epineuil Zouaves, who had nobly volunteered his services for this occasion. No other officer of rank was killed who held a rank above that of a lieutenant. General Wise's son commanded the rebels at the time of the attack by the Zouaves and others, and resisted the storming portion bravely until, owing to a wound that he received, he had to be carried off the field, his command retiring a short distance, when they laid down their arms. The total number supposed to be killed and wounded on the part of the Union troops is about 200, of which number some fifty were killed. We took some twenty-eight hundred prisoners, together with everything belonging to them. Among them are several officers of very high standing in the rebel army. After this glorious victory on Saturday afternoon, a fleet of fifteen of our gunboats was dispatched towards Elizabeth City, and, upon arriving within range, the city was shelled; but this was almost unnecessary, as the inhabitants, or at least some of them, upon hearing of the approach of the Union forces, applied the firebrand to different portions of the city, and in a short time it was wrapped in flames — far more terrible in their destruction than any attack could have been. It was evidently the work of others than the residents of the place, as an appeal was made by some of the citizens to our naval officers to send on shore a force to assist them in battling with the flames; but an order had been issued to the effect that no person should be permitted to land, so as not to give the people of the place an opportunity of saying that the torch of the incendiary was applied by any hand but their own. The place was about half burned at the time it was occupied by the Union troops. Shortly after, the gunboats proceeded to Edenton, which was taken possession of by Commodore Goldsborough, without the least opposition having been offered. Edenton is the key to the road around the Dismal Swamp, over which our troops can march to Suffolk. Suffolk is the junction of the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad and the Norfolk and Petersburg and Richmond Railroad. Suffolk, once occupied by our troops, will isolate Norfolk from those places by land, and give us possession of the junction of three important railroads — the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad, and the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad.A Second report.
When abreast of Pork Point, about midway between the Point and Roanoke Island, a ten-inch gun battery opened on the fleet. A reconnaissance by the Underwriter showed that the enemy had obstructed the passage by sinking vessels and driving piles the entire width of Croatan Sound; that above this barricade were eight gunboats, and that in addition to the battery on Pork Point, named Fort Bartow, were Fort Blanchard, four guns, and Fort Huger on Weir's Point, four guns, and Fort Forrest, eight guns, on Red Stone, on the west side of the Sound, opposite Weir's Point, all of which bore so as to play on our fleet should it attempt to pass the barricade. The fleet immediately advanced in three columns to attack Pork Point battery and the rebel gunboats. At half-past 11 the engagement became general, and in less than an hour the rebel fleet retired, the Curlew being so much disabled that she was run aground under Fort Forrest. Our fleet now concentrated its fire on Fort Bartow, at a range of three-quarters to one mile, which was as near as the water would allow our boats to approach. At first the fort replied vigorously, but gradually slackened its fire. The resistance was, however, stubborn. The flag was shot away, the quarters set on fire, and the work ploughed up by our shells. About two P. M. General Burnside's forces commenced landing at Ashby's Harbor, about two miles below Pork Point. A rebel force of 2,000, with three piece, was stationed in the woods to oppose them. Our gunboats shelled the woods and scattered the rebels in all directions. Our men were taken in small steamers and launches as near the shore as possible, and had to wade, sinking to the middle at every step for upwards of a quarter of a mile. Between three and four o'clock the rebel fleet returned to the attack vigorously, and an engagement ensued between it and several of our gunboats, while the remainder kept up the fire on Fort Bartow. In an hour the rebel gunboats retired the second time, several of them disabled. Fort Bartow fired but seldom now. At six o'clock flag-officer Goldsborough signalized our fleet to withdraw, after an action of seven or eight hours. Many of our gunboats were struck, but none of them seriously damaged. The casualties were three killed and eight or ten wounded. Meanwhile the land forces continued the debarkation, and by midnight had a force of nearly 11,000 men on Roanoke Island. The enemy were entrenched on the centre of the Island, four or five miles At an early none or Saturday morning Gen. Foster commenced a forward movement, followed by the entire force under Gen. Reno and Gen. Parks. At about half-past & Gen. Foster came up with the enemy, defended by a three-gun earthwork, flanked on both sides by what was deemed an impassable morass, the only approach to which was a narrow causeway, on which their guns bore. In the battery and vicinity were from two to three thousand men. Our artillery, which consisted of six pieces from the naval launches, was placed in front by Gen. Foster, who had the immediate command, Gen. Burnside being at the point of landing. The infantry and artillery opened on both sides with vigor. Our reinforcements, as they arrived, were placed with the view of penetrating the morass on both sides, so as to flank the battery. Our men steadily advanced, closing around the enemy, under a hot fire from all sides, and suffered severely. At about eleven o'clock the New York Ninth, Hawkins Zouaves, received the order to charge, and under the fire of the enemy charged up the causeway, a distance of upwards of half a mile, yelling themselves and cheered in the wildest manner by the entire force. The enemy became panic stricken, and as the Zouaves entered they went out, fleeing precipitately, leaving everything behind them. As soon as possible Gen. Reno took up the pursuit, followed by Gen. Foster, who kept up the pursuit on the main force of the enemy, while Gen. Reno went towards Fort Huger, where a body of rebels had fled. At the same time Colonel Hawkins was sent with his regiment to the right in the direction of Shallowback Bay. The enemy in their flight strewed the road with guns, equipments, and everything that they could throw away. The panic and rout were complete. When close on their heels, and near the upper part of the island, Gen. Foster was met by a flag of truce from Col. Shaw, demanding terms of capitulation. Gen. Foster replied that the surrender must be unconditional, and immediate. These terms were accepted, and about 1,500 laid down their arms. Meanwhile General Reno came up with a body of 300, under Col. Jordan, who surrendered unconditionally. Colonel Hawkins found the battery at Shallowback Bay deserted, but took several prisoners. Captain O. Jennings Wise was attempting to make his escape in a boat, when he was shot in three places, and died next morning. The forts were all occupied by our forces that night. The rebels the same evening blew up Fort Forrest. The obstructions having been removed, our fleet entered Albemarle Sound. The landing was effected under cover of the guns of two of our gunboats, the Delaware and Morse, which, with the Shrapnel, drove away and dispersed two rebel regiments that were stationed there with three field pieces to oppose their landing. Our men were up to their middies in mud and water in landing. When on shore they found the there rebel pieces in the morass. By nine o'clock P. M. that night General Burnside had landed six thousand men, and continued landing them through the night at the rate of one thousand per hour. Our forces advancing in the direction of the battery in the centre of the island, the rebels were soon driven behind their entrenchments. Here they resisted. Eight mortars were landed from the fleet to serve as our army's field artillery. About midday the Hawkins Zouaves and the Tenth Connecticut regiment, under the command of Gen. Foster, made a dashing bayonet charge upon the battery commanded by young. Wise, wading knee deep through mud and water, to get at the fort, and yelling like so many Indians. Mean while a detour was made on the right by General Reno, and on the left by General Foster. This attack from three sides decided the fate of the day. The rebels fled from their entrenchments before the array of cold steel brought to bear against them. The Hawkins Zouaves leaped the front defences, bayonet in hand, as the rebels fled. Young Wise was not wounded here, as reported, but received his wound in endeavoring to escape from the island in a boat from Shallow back Bay. The boat was fired on, and he received four wounds. He was made prisoner, and died on Sunday morning of his wounds. General Foster's men pursued the rebels to the north end of the island, where was also in camp, or drawn up, a Virginia regiment, that had been rowed down in six schooners from the main land early Saturday morning. Gen. Foster approached, and had an interview with the rebel commander, Col. Shaw, of North Carolina, who asked him what terms he would exact. Gen. Foster replied, ‘"An unconditional surrender,"’ and consented to give him time to return to his camp to decide, or not to accede to the demand. The rebel officer had hardly reached his men when the Massachusetts 24th, burning with impatience, sprang forward in the direction of the enemy, when Col. Shaw immediately raised a white handkerchief as a signal that the rebels had concluded to surrender. he rebels had proposed to cut off our passage up Croaton Sound by a chevaux de fries of stakes, extending from the main land entirely across to the head of Roanoke Island; but our gunboats forced their way through, and commenced the impetuous pursuit of the enemy's fleet, which had been drawn up behind this barrier. The official reports of the affair thus far received at the North give no additional facts. Commodore Goldsborough says of the rebel defences at Roanoke, ‘"They were truly formidable, and they were used with a determination worthy of a better cause. They consisted of two elaborately constructed works, mounting together twenty-two heavy guns, three of them being 100 pounders rifled; four other batteries, mounting together twenty guns, a large proportion of them being also of large calibre, and some of them rifled; eight steamers, mounting two guns each, and each having a rifled gun, with the diameter of a 32-pounder; a prolonged obstruction of sunken vessels and piles to thwart our advance, and, altogether, a body of men numbering scarcely less than 5,000, of whom 3,000 are now our prisoners."’The Fort Donelson attack — the first day's Bombardment — the rebel camps surrounded.
The New York Herald, of the 15th, contains the following particulars concerning this important point of attack: Camp on the Field, near Ft. Donelson, February 13--12:30.
Fort Donelson is invested by our troops.
Our lines are formed from right to left and from north to south, nearly surrounding the fort.
A heavy cannonading and skirmishing have been going on since half-past 7 o'clock this morning, but, owing to the extent of our line of action, little can be learned of the result.
I hear, however, that the Captain of Company I, Seventh Illinois regiment, has been killed.
Gen. McClernand's division is operating on the right wing, and General Smith on the left.
We have had but one gunboat to play upon the fort until just within the last half hour, since when the other gunboats have been firing on the fort.
The force estimated to be within the breastworks, from the best information, is about 15,000.
No reinforcements can arrive, as all communication is cut off.
It is now thought that their left redoubt has fallen into our hands.
All the officers are acting with great valor, exhibiting a fearlessness highly creditable to our Western army. General Grant and staff have been riding along the lines all the morning, regardless of the grapeshot that is being showered in every direction.
The cannonading and skirmishing has continued briskly all day, but has been lately discontinued.
A considerable number have been wounded on both sides.
The Twenty-fifth Indiana, which rushed boldly up to the entrenchments, had during the day forty of their men wounded, all slightly.
The Seventh Illinois and Seventh Iowa, who have been close to the enemy's fire, have lost some men. Among the killed is Captain Wardell, of company I, Seventh Illinois; and Colonel Morrison, of the Forty-ninth Illinois, is wounded.
Captain Birnk, with a company of cavalry, went around to the left bank of the river this afternoon, and reports that the gunboat Carondelet received a ten-inch ball through her casemate, which wounded eight men, but did not injure the boat materially.
Captain Walker, of the Carondelet, says he has dismounted three of the rebels' river guns.
The other gunboats had not arrived up to six o'clock in the evening.
The rebels'rifle shots and grape have been flying thick and fast about here all day. Some six shots struck around General Grant and his staff this afternoon while they were riding along the lines.
One bullet hit one of the horses of the body guard near by.
The fort will be stormed in two days if not surrendered before that time.
Our men have driven back the enemy in every instance.
Generals Pillow, Floyd, Johnson and Buckner are said to be here.
St. Louis, Feb. 14, 1862.--The Democrats special Cairo correspondent says the fight at Fort Donelson began at nine A. M. yesterday, and during the day the rebels were driven out of the fort three times, and forced back again by Gen. Grant.
The gunboat Carondelet had been struck but twice up to noon yesterday.
A battery of five pieces, opposite the river, opened on her during her approach to the fort.
The steamer Alps has arrived here with the wounded from the Carondelet.--Some of them are seriously hurt by splinters.
The Alps met Commodore Foots thirty miles below Donelson, with the gunboats Louisville, Conestoga, Tyler, St. Louis, and Pittsburg, and towed the two latter to within twenty-five miles of the fort, where she left them at three o'clock this morning.
A Cairo special to the Democrat says that Capt. Horton, from Fort Neary yesterday send reports to Manassas with plans .....
ed to be on the Cumberland river, at ten miles below Fort Donelson.
Beauregard John Bell are said to be at Donelson.
At $100,000 worth of tobacco reached here from Tennessee river.
A foraging party, which left Bird's Point yesterday, brought in several thousand bushels of corn, taken from Lieut. Col. Swank, of the rebel artillery.
Special dispatches to the Republican, dated Fort Donelson, last night, say that up to that time our loss was about 20 killed, and 250 wounded. The right wing of our army rested within 60 yards of one of the rebel redoubts, the enemy having been driven one mile. Twenty rebels had been killed in skirmishes.
Company ‘"G,"’ Berges Sharp-Shooters, Capt. Cutter, got within 75 yards of the rebel battery, and completely silenced it during the entire afternoon, by killing every man who attempted to work the guns.
A desperate advance was made on one of the redoubts by the 17th and 49th Illinois, under Col. Morrison, of the latter regiment.--They made two gallant charges, getting close to the enemy's breastworks, but were obliged to retire in beth instances under a heavy cross-fire of artillery and infantry.--Both regiments suffered considerably.
Col. Morrison was severely wounded while very near the ramparts.
There were great quantities of brush piled before the breastworks, which it was impossible to penetrate.
Capt. Brohan, of the 49th Illinois, was killed.
The loss of both regiments is about 100 killed and wounded.
A heavy rain set in to-night, which will try the men severely, they having no tents, and in many cases, owing to their position, not being able to build fires.
Colonel Oglesby says, ‘"We came here to take that fort, and we don't intend to leave until we do it."’
Chicago, Feb. 14.--Capt. Willard, of the Chicago Light Artillery, left Fort Henry day before yesterday, at half-past 10 o'clock, and reached this city to-day.
From him we learn that the artillery left Fort Henry for Fort Donelson between three and four o'clock on the morning of the 12th, with six regiments of infantry.
Gen. Grant and staff and body guard left at ten o'clock the same day. The rear guard left at two P. M. The whole force was 40,000 men, with twenty-seven pieces of light artillery.
At four o'clock on the morning of the same day eleven regiments left Paducah, under convoy of the gunboats, to go up the Cumberland river — making the whole force fifty thousand men. The gunboats expected to reach Fort Donelson at seven o'clock yesterday.
It was designed to attack Fort Donelson with the whole force yesterday afternoon.
From Missouri--"another splendid success."
St. Louis,
--The following dispatch was forwarded from headquarters this morning to General McClellan, at Washington:
The flag of the Union floats over the Court-House in Springfield.
The enemy retreated after a short engagement, leaving a large amount of stores and equipage, which was captured by General Cultis.
Our cavally are in close pursuit. H.W. Halleck.
Springfield, Mo., Feb. 13.--Our troops are in Springfield.
The enemy retreated last night with great haste towards Ozark and Wilson's creek, without accepting battle.
St. Louis, Feb. 14.--A special dispatch to the St. Louis Democrat, dated Springfield, Mo., 13th, via Bear Creek to-day, says: ‘Our troops took possession of Springfield to-day without firing a gun. General Price evacuated the place yesterday afternoon, marching out on the Fayetteville road.’
From ship Island--Confederate vessels captured, etc.
The U. S. storeship Supply, from Ship Island, on January 24th, arrived in N. York on the 13th. She has on board, as prisoners, Capt. Lee and nine others, officers and crew of the prize schooner Lizzie Weston; also, Jacques Earnest Sanagin, Captain of the rebel steamer Anna; J. Winters, Captain of the rebel steamer Henry Lewis, and William Blakeley, Captain of the rebel schooner A. J. Vien. The prisoners were delivered over to U. S. Marshal Murray, who committed them to the House of Detention. The Supply brings a prize cargo, valued at $60,000, consisting of sugars, molasses, turpentine, and stores, taken from the captured vessels. The Supply boarded Jan. 30, off Florida, British schooner Stephen Hart, of Liverpool. The captain reported being from London, bound to Cardenas, but having no papers to that effect. Capt. Coressi seized and put a prize crew on board, and brought her to this port. Her cargo consisted of arms, ammunition, boots and shoes, clothing and other articles. The Hart was formerly known as the Tamaulipas, and when captured was flying the English colors, although when first seen by the supply she showed the American ensign. The chare was continued six hours. She has successfully run the blockade three times. There were about 2,000 Federal troops on Ship Island when the Supply left. Reinforcements were daily expected, and when they arrived, it was believed active operations would be immediately commenced.The Confederate prisoners at Fort Henry.
The New York Times gives the following complete list of all the prisoners captured at Fort Henry. It also includes those, or a portion of those, since captured:- Brig Gen Floyd Tilghman, commanding.
- Major F Lynch Lee, 15th Arkansas regiment.
- Capt Leech, Alabama battery.
- Captain H L Jones, Quartermaster.
- Captain John McLaughlin, Quartermaster.
- Major W L McConnico, Assistant Adjutant General.
- Captain Taylor, Artillery.
- Lieutenant Watts, Artillery,
- Lieutenant Weller, Artillery.
- Major Vorhies.
- Captain Horton.
- Orderly Sergeant J H Laughlin, 15th Arkansas regiment.
- Lieut. G. R. G. Jones, heavy Artillery.
- private B T Stone, heavy Artillery.
- Serg't J R Smith, 3d Alabama battalion.
- private R N Fleming, 3d Alabama battalion.
- private S S Sears, 3d Alabama battalion.
- private James Nolen, 3d Alabama battalion.
- private Samuel Currey, 3d Alabama battalion.
- private J C Cooper, 3d Alabama battalion.
- private John Fleming, 3d Alabama battalion.
- Corporal M D Kellingworth, 3d Alabama battalion.
- Corporal S M Phillips, 3d Alabama battalion.
- private Z J Phillips 3d Alabama battalion.
- private J O Winstead, 3d Alabama battalion.
- private J L Harris, 27th Alabama.
- private a K Harris, 27th Alabama.
- private John Harris, 27th Alabama.
- private W N Sutherland, 27th Alabama.
- private J M Berns, 27th Alabama.
- private George McDonald, 10th Tennessee.
- private Thomas Hailey, 10th Tennessee.
- private John Galden, 10th Tennessee.
- private James Carroll, 10th Tennessee.
- private Wm Ryan, 10th Tennessee.
- Corporal Z J Waters, 48th Tennessee.
- private John Kelly, 48th Tennessee.
- private R M Kerr, 48th Tennessee.
- private S L Zunt, 51st Tennessee.
- Corporal M Taylor, 51st Tennessee.
- Sergeant John Jones 1st Artillery, Tennessee. Privates W R Cubine, H C Hallow, W H Selkirk.
- Corporal S W Greenleaf.
- Corporal Edward Drake.
- Corporal N Copass.
- Killed--Privates Douglas, McCabe, Lee, Callahan, Boswell, and Pinkston.
- Wounded--Corporals Renfrew, McEvoy, Selkirk, Centre, and five others — all being members of regiment or companies enlisted in Tennessee. It is believed that others were killed at the time the Essex woke them up a day or two before the fight, but it is denied by the officers.
