[96]
remainder of the crew to be supplied from the soldiers, and the crews will not be changed unless deemed necessary by the commanding officer.
A steering-oar, if there be no rudder to the boat, must be rigged, and a coxswain appointed to each boat.
At a signal of the Union Jack at the foremast of the flag-ship of the brigade, Patuxent, the boats will be cleared away, lowered, and the rowers and coxswain placed in them.
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.
If the transports of the brigade cannot approach within easy rowing distance of the shore, all the boats of the different vessels of the brigade will, at the third signal, row to the Patuxent and attach themselves in two lines as they arrive in succession — the painter of each being attached to the stern of the preceding boat.
The Patuxent will give one whistle in starting for the shore, two whistles as a warning to prepare to cast off, when the coxswain of each boat will be ready to cast off, at a moment's warning, the painter of the following boat.
At three whistles all the painters will be cast off, the coxswain will give each boat the proper direction toward the shore, the oarsmen will seize the oars and pull rapidly to land, where all the soldiers will jump out at once, holding up their cartridge-boxes and muskets, and form rapidly in line by the colors of their regiment without regard to companies.
A field-officer will accompany the first detachment.
Having made one trip, the boats will return and land the remainder 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.
It is absolutely necessary that the most silent, prompt obedience be rendered during the disembarkation, so that all confusion and consequent delay may be avoided, and the commanding officers are urged to give their personal attention to the preparing 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
February 5.
After a stay of three weeks and two days inside of Hatteras Inlet we are at length in motion.
At an early hour this morning active movements commenced.
A few vessels that had not yet been towed into position were hauled astern of steamers and lines stretched between them.
At half-past 7, Flag-Officer Goldsborough's vessel, the Philadelphia, moved forward, heading partly southward, and was followed by the other vessels of the naval squadron.
As the squadron held a southward course for some time, it was asserted that Newbern was the point of attack, but it was soon discovered that the channel describes a zigzag line, for several turns were made before the main course was indicated.
At last she held a course about west of north, when all concluded 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.
After the naval squadron came the transports and gunboats carrying troops.
The little propeller Picket, with Gen. Burnside on board,was moving about in every direction and firing guns as signals of departure to the various brigades.
But few changes had been made from the order of embarkation at Annapolis.
Some of the ships of heavy draft were relieved of their troops, who were transferred to other ships of less draft to facilitate navigation of the sound.
The Ninth New-Jersey were transferred to the George Peabody, while the Ninth New-York, with their battery of six twelve-pounder howitzers, were distributed among the canal-boats, which were towed by some of Flag-Officer Goldsborough's gunboats.
The appearance of the fleet is very imposing.
It consists in all of sixty-five vessels of all classes and characters.
Each brigade forms three columns, headed by the flag-ship of the brigade.
The gunboats of the coast division occupy chiefly positions on the flanks, to be ready for a response 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.
Several of the gunboats also have tows.
The aisles between the three columns of ships are unbroken through the whole length of the fleet, which extends almost two miles over the surface of the sound, except by the two or three small propellers, whose duty consists in conveying orders in relation to the speed of some steamer that cannot be curbed down to the snail pace at which we are travelling--four miles an hour.
This speed will bring us within ten miles of Roanoke Island about sunset, when we will anchor for the night.
The entire distance from Hatteras Inlet to Roanoke Island is laid down at about thirty-eight miles.
The Eighty-ninth New-York, the Sixth New-Hampshire, and the Eighth and Eleventh Connecticut have been assigned to Gen. Williams's brigade, and remain at Hatteras Inlet, in camp.
This force will take part in some future movements in this department.
About fifty vessels are left behind at the Inlet.
They consist of schooners, chiefly loaded with stores of various descriptions.
The fleet now moving 