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large, but was never ascertained.
Only one of the Confederate vessels (the
Ellis) was saved from destruction; and it was with difficulty that the town was preserved, for the insurgents, when they abandoned their vessels, set fire to it in several places.
It was a most barbarous act, for only a few defenseless women and children remained in the town.
These at once experienced the humanity of the Nationals, who showed them every kindness, when, on the following day,
they took possession of the place.
this success was followed up by other movements for securing the control of
Albemarle Sound and the adjacent country, as well as the waters through which communication was held with
Norfolk.
To this end,
Rowan sent
Lieutenant A. Maury, with a part of his fleet, to take possession of
Edenton, near the western end of the
Sound.
This was easily done on the day after the capture of
Elizabeth City,
a body of flying artillery stationed there having left it precipitately without firing a shot.
Maury destroyed a schooner on the stocks and eight cannon, and then passed on, capturing vessels on the
Sound.
On the following day,
Lieutenant Jeffers, with some of the fleet, proceeded to the
Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal, that traverses the
Dismal Swamp on its way from the
Elizabeth River to the
Pasquotank, for the purpose of
