Action of the C. S--
--(
Va.)
Christian Sun, of Fleet --the
Suffolk says:
‘
On Tuesday night, about a persons arrived here from
Edenton and
Elizabeth City.
They came across the country on a carriages, wagons, and in anyway they could bring them was
Capt Parker connected with
Comd.
Lynch's fleet and many of the men of the fleet who had escaped.
Early on Wednesday morning
Comd.
Lynch arrived.
On Friday night, the
Commodore finding his ammunition nearly exhausted, sent
Capt. Parker with a note to the
commanding officer, informing him that he was going to
Elizabeth City.
Capt. Parker learned from
Capt. Taylor at the Pork Point Battery, that up to that time only one of our men had been killed and three wounded, and
Capt. Taylor thought they could hold out unless they were turner in the rear.
Com. Lynch on his arrival at
Elizabeth City dispatched an officer and obtained ammunition enough or two vessels, and on Sunday went down to
Roanoke Island, supposing that they were still fighting.
When near the mouth of the Pasquatank river he learned that the island had fallen.
Roanoke Island is distant from
Elizabeth City about 35 miles.
After speaking the boats he kept on in hope of saving the men at the flotting battery on the
Croatan side.
A detachment of the Federal fleet chased them back before distributed his ammunition between his four vessels.--At daylight Monday morning fluding that he had only seven men on which he could rely to man the batteries, he took the officer and crew of the
Beaufort on shore and manned two of the guns at
Cobb's Point.
The orders of the
Commodore were peremptory to the commandants of the vessels when the means of resistance failed to ran each one into shoal water, set her on fire and save the crew.
From some unexplained cause this was only obeyed by the Commandant of the
Fanny.
The fight continued at
Cobb's Point one hour and fifteen minutes, when the gunboats succeeded in passing the battery and crossed upon and captured the
Seabird and the
Ellis.
The
Fanny was set on fire and burned, and the crew escaped and joined the men at the battery.
The enemy in overwhelming force rushed upon the
Seabird and
Ellis and captured both.
The
Appomattox escaped up toward the mouth of the canal, where the
Raleigh had been previously sent to get ammunition.
The Forest was on the ways for repairs, and if not burned fell into the hands of the enemy.
The
Appomattox,
Beaufort, and
Raleigh had the best machinery, and are probably saved.
The others were of little value.
Com. Lynch left
Cobb's Point with fifty-two officers and men, who have escaped.--But six of his men were killed and three wounded.
B. Ham and
J. W. Ham, privates in
Capt. Jones's company, from
Warren county, N. C., and connected with
Col. Shaw's 8th N. C. regiment, arrived here on Wednesday night, having escaped from the enemy at
Roanoke Island.
They represent the fighting as desperate on both sides.
Col. Shaw, they say, acted with great coolness and bravery throughout and when forced to surrender was engaged up to the last moment in spiking the guns.
Colonel John V
Jordan who was in command on the island, it is said displayed great bravery.
Gen. Wharton Green's battalion was captured soon after arriving on the island.
Adj't Wise, a nephew of
Gen. Wise, was shot through the body and killed.
The loss of the enemy all concur in setting down at 1,000, while our loss did not exceed 150, according to last accounts.
’
