The enemy in North Carolina--his movements and Designs.
The Wilmington
Journal, of Wednesday, contains the following interesting facts in relation to the enemy in
North Carolina, and of the
Roanoke fight:
‘
The Federal gunboats have passed up to
Winton, the county seat of
Hertford county, on the
Chowan river.
The
Chowan is formed by the confluence of the
Meherrin and
Nottaway rivers.
The main branch of Nottaway is the
Black Water, which is crossed by the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad about half way between.
Weldon and
Portsmouth, though rather nearer to the latter place.
The Black Water is navigable up to the railroad, as a steamer has been running regularly in connection with the railroad trains, although necessarily a small one, owing to the narrowness and crookedness of the stream.
The movements of the Lincolnite gunboats would seem to indicate a desire to force their way up as far as the
Portsmouth road, so as either to obtain possession of it, or at least cut off communication by that line.
Although capable of doing much harm to the people resident on the shores of the sounds and the rivers emptying into them, it is evident that there would be no strategic end to be served that would repay the vast outlay of men and money that the Burnelue expedition has occasioned, unless either
Norfolk is attacked or possession obtained of some leading line of railroad, and therefore it is, we take it, that the attention of city authorities will be, or at least ought to be, directed to the protection of the lines of communication, especially of water communication, especially of water communication, leading from the navigable waters of
Albemarle and
Pamlico sounded, in the direction of any of our public works.
The Black Water, although deep, is so narrow and crooked that it might be stopped by trees felled across it.
’
The Roanoke Affair.
We had the pleasure of seeing this morning a gentleman who arrived here last night from
Suffolk, Virginia.
There and at the
Riack Water he saw persons who had been at
Roanoke, among others
Captain Stigail, commissary or quartermaster of
Col. Jordan's regiment.
Captain S. left
Roanoke about one o'clock on Saturday in a sail boat.
He arrived at
Elizabeth City that night, and even up to the time of his arrival he heard firing, although the battle was no doubt over long before night.
Capt. Stigall says the company that suffered most was that under command of
Capt. Wise, of
Richmond, Va., which company was stationed as a picket, below the lowest battery, and at the point where the
Zouave regiment from New York mace a landing.
They sustained a terrible hand-to-hand conflict with this whole regiment and were cut up almost to a man.
When
Capt. Stigall came away he did go in pursuance of the orders of
Col. Shave who told him to save all the public property he could; and he carried away all the papers, orders, and other portable matters.
At
Suffolk our informant,
Dr. H. H. Robinson, of
Bladen county, heard any number of rumors, half a dozen in half au hour.
One of these reflected on
Col. Shaw; about this be made inquiry of
Capt. Stigall, who said there was no foundation for it, so far as he could learn.
The
Doctor also tried to find out the fate of any or all the officers from this place with whom he was acquainted, or whose names he knew; but could not get any information.
It is not believed that the enemy can or will attempt to force his way to a railroad by way of the
Roanoke.
The idea is, that he will try to push up the
Chowan and
Nottaway to the junction of the latter with the
Black Water, and then try to march to
Carrsville, about 16 miles from
Suffolk.
