The Norfolk
Day Book, of yesterday, contains the subjoined account of the operations of our little fleet in the late disastrous affair at
Roanoke Island:
‘
An officer of our fleet, who was in such a position as to enable him to see all that was transpiring around him, furnishes us with the following account of the engagement:
The advance forces of the enemy, consisting of twenty-two large steamers and one tugboat, began the attack upon the island at half-past 10 o'clock on Friday morning.--The battle continued throughout the day, and whenever our steamers drew near to lend assistance, the whole of the enemy's florilia, excepting three in shore, concentrated their fire upon them.
About four o'clock in the afternoon the
Curlew was disabled by a shell from the enemy, and was compelled to make for shoal water, where she sunk.
During the cannonading the enemy were busily employed in landing their troops below Pork Point battery. Two of their steamers ran into a slough in the neighborhood, and succeeded in covering their landing.
The enemy continued the attack until about dark, when they withdrew.
A little after 4 o'clock, the ammunition of our squadron getting short, an application for a supply was made to the upper battery, but the
commanding officer could spare only about 10 charges.
As it was essential that ammunition should be had, and as there was no more to be obtained from the batteries, a steamer was sent to the upper battery with a dispatch to the officer in command, informing him that the fleet was without ammunition, and that it would repair to
Elizabeth City (thirty-five miles distant） for the purpose of obtaining a supply, and that it would return without delay.
Previous to leaving, information was received by the fleet from
Captain Tayloe, of the navy, who had been at Pork Point battery during the day, that they had only one killed and three wounded, and there was every reason to believe that they would be able to hold out, if the rear of the batteries was not turned.
The fleet reached
Elizabeth City on Saturday morning, and finding very little ammunition there sent an express to
Norfolk for it. On Sunday afternoon, having put all the ammunition and fuel which could be obtained on board the
Seabird and
Appomattox, these two steamers were sent forward to
Roanoke Island.
On arriving at the mouth of the river they met a boat and learned from it that the island had been surrendered, and shortly afterward discovered five of the enemy's gunboats standing for
Pasquotank river.
They returned immediately to the battery at
Cobb's Point, about a mile and a half below
Elizabeth City, and after sending an express to
Gen. Henningsen, distributed all the ammunition among four steamers and a schooner and formed a line just above the battery.
A company had been detailed the day previous for duty at this battery, and the object of the fleet was to co-operate with them.
Shortly after daylight the enemy appeared in sight and a messenger was sent from the fleet to ascertain the condition of the battery.
Finding only seven men there and supposing that the enemy would first attack the battery, the officers and crew of the
Beaufort were sent ashore to man two of the guns — these being as many as they had ammunition to supply.
The Beaufort was sent to the mouth of the canal, where the
Raleigh had been previously sent.
Instructions were given by the
Commodore to the
commanding officers of all the vessels that when all means of resistance failed, and they found themselves unable to escape, they should run into shoal water, set them on fire and save their crews.
The action commenced at forty-five minutes past seven in the morning, and resulted in the enemy passing the battery and overwhelming the
Seabird and
Alice.
The last-mentioned vessels were the only ones known to have fallen into the hands of the enemy.
The
Fanny was burned by her commander, and the
Appomattox is believed to have escaped up the river.
The
Forrest was on the ways at
Elizabeth City, repairing damages, and, if the information we received yesterday be correct, she, too, was burned, to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy.
As far as known, there were only six killed and three wounded among the entire naval force which we had in the action.
We omitted to mention that the guns at
Cobb's battery were all spiked before being possessed by the enemy.
’
