The Roanoke Island Affair.
--The Congressional Committee appointed to investigate the causes of our disaster on
Roanoke Island in February last, has made its report.
The following is the conclusion, from which it will be seen that the whole blame is thrown upon the shoulders of
Gen. Huger and
Secretary Benjamin.
It is apparent to the committee, from the correspondence on file of
Gen. Wise with the
Secretary of War,
Gen. Huger, his superior Officer the
Governor of
North Carolina, and other persons, that he was fully alive to the importance of
Roanoke Island, and has devoted his whole time, and energies, and means, to the defences of that position; and that he is in no way responsible for the unfortunate disaster which befell our forces upon that island on the 7th and 8th of February. But the committee cannot say the same in reference to the efforts of the
Secretary of War and the
commanding officer at
Norfolk,
Gen. Sugar.
It is apparent that the
Island of Roanoke was important for the defence of
Norfolk and that
Gen. Huger had under his command at that point upwards of 15,000 men, a large supply of armament and ammunition, and could have thrown in a few hours a large reinforcement upon
Roanoke Island, and that himself and the
Secretary of war had timely notice of the entire inadequacy of the defences, the want of men and mu of war, and the threatening attitude of the enemy.
But
Gen. Huger and the
Secretary of War paid no practical attention to those urgent appeals of
Gen. Wise, sent forward none of his important requisitions, and permitted
Gen. Wise and his inconsiderable force to remain to meet at least fifteen thousand men, well armed and equipped.
If the
Secretary of War and the
commanding General at
Norfolk had not the means to reinforce
General Wise, why was he not ordered to abandon his position, and save his command?
But, upon the contrary, he was required to remain, and sacrificed his command, with no means to his insulated position to make his escape in case of defeat.
The committee, from the testimony, are therefore constrained to report that, whatever of blame and responsibility is justly attributable to any one for the defeat of our troops at
Roanoke Island, on the 8th of February, 1862, should attach to
Major-General B. Huger and the late
Secretary of War,
J. P. Benjamin.
