The Roanoke Island affair.
We have obtained some additional facts in regard to the affair at
Roanoke Island from persons actually engaged, and from a private letter received yesterday.
Lieutenant James H. Pearce, of this city, left the island on Saturday night, after the surrender, in a sloop, and succeeded in ‘"running the blockade"’ with 100,000 rounds of ball cartridge, which he brought safely to
Norfolk, although chased for six hours by a Federal steamer.
He stated afterwards that he would have blown up the vessel before the enemy should have had a cartridge.
The attack by the Federal fleet is reported by an eye-witness to have been a magnificent spectacle.
They fired 1,750 shot and shell on the first day, (Friday,) and only killed one man and wounded another.
Charles Thomas,
Jerry Desmond,
A. R. Johnson,
James Smith, and
Charles F. De Hart, of the
Ben. McCulloch Rangers, arrived in this city last evening, having succeeded in making their escape from the
Island after the fight was over.
Mr. Desmond informs us that early on Saturday morning the Blues and the
McCulloch Rangers went forward as skirmishers, when they saw the enemy advancing in force, and retired to the battery.
The battle commenced about 7 o'clock, and lasted till half-past 1 o'clock.--There was no way for the enemy to advance except in the face of the battery, as the road was skirted on either side by a marsh; and no attempt was made at a charge until our ammunition gave out. During most of the fight the enemy was about three hundred yards distant from our small force.
The Blues were on the left of the battery, and the
McCulloch Rangers on the right; and being thus exposed, these companies suffered more than the others, which were either behind the battery or in reserve.--Even after the ammunition was exhausted, our men had no idea of surrendering, until the order for retreat was given.
Mr. Desmond is positive that our whole list of killed and wounded does not exceed one hundred; that of the enemy he could not ascertain, but saw enough to satisfy him that it was very heavy.
Our forces retired up the
Island, and meanwhile
Col. Shaw sent a flag of truce to the enemy to negotiate terms of surrender.--This seems to have been made unconditional, for a message was soon sent to
Colonel Anderson to march the men down.
A council of officers was held, and the conclusion was very reluctantly arrived at, that as there was no means of escape from the island, nor any use to contend longer, without ammunition, against an overpowering force, it would be best to take the chances of a Federal prison, and they accordingly marched down and surrendered.
But
Desmond and his four companions made up their minds to escape such a fate if possible.
Watching their opportunity they got into the woods and soon gained the beach, where they found an old batteau, partially buried in the sand.
With this frail vessel they launched forth upon the
Sound, and under cover of night succeeded in reaching Creatan Island, where there was a Confederate battery.
On receiving information of the surrender of
Roanoke, the officers ordered the destruction of the works, and the small force there left for the main land.
Our small party of adventurers also went in one of the boats to a place called
Fort Landing, and thence traveled eighteen miles on foot to
Columbia, in Tyrrel county, N. C. There they embarked in a schooner, and landed at New Hope, where they procured horses and came on to
Suffolk, Va.
Our informant says that
Capt. Wise was living when he left the island, and he learned from
Dr. Coles that he was doing well; but there is still reason to apprehend that his wounds terminated fatally.
Capt. Wallace, whom he saw after the battle was over, is unhurt, and also
Major Lawson.
Lieutenant Miller, he thinks, was wounded in the shoulder early in the engagement, but not dangerously.
Mr. Desmond gives a glowing description of the brave and gallant conduct of our men, who contested the field for hours, and refused to yield to vastly superior numbers until their ammunition was exhausted.
From other sources, we learn that the following
Virginia companies were probably on the
Island, and captured by the
Federals;
Craig Grays,
Capt. W. G. Miller, from
Craig county; and
Captains Darrow's,
Cole's, and Crank's, from
Albemarle county.
Captain Hill's company, from
Scottsville, was at
Nag's Head, and is consequently safe.
