CHAPTER III.
ROANOKE ISLAND. ADVANCE. NAVAL BATTLE. LANDING. BATTLE. PORKPOINT. CAMP FOSTER. PRISONERS. THE GIDEON.
5 Feb., 1862. At last the tedious monotony of Hatteras was broken and with unusual promptness the column started for Roanoke Island. With the gunboats in the van and on the flanks, with the transports the steamers towing one to four sailing vessels—in the center, and some of the supply vessels in the rear, we swept slowly along, keeping as nearly as possible the military sequence of brigades, etc., and making a display of strength such as the waters of North Carolina if indeed those of North America had never seen.
At sunrise we anchored with Roanoke Island still, as it were, only a dim fog-bank ahead. Next day rain and fog delayed us so that it was nearly noon before we reached our anchorage, near the entrance to Croatian Sound.
The army steam-transports were ordered to carry their guns into action against the enemy’s shore-batteries. It was, of course, impolitic to needlessly expose their super-fulvous infantry and these were distributed among the sailing vessels. The Hussar brought the remainder of our field and staff and Co. H ‘to the Highlander, retaining E’ to work her guns. There seemed to be no spare room, But space was found by doubling up the occupants of the broader outside berths; some slept under a tent on the deck.7 Feb., 1862. We were threatened with more Hatters weather in the early morning, but a brisk northeasterly breeze swept away the clouds, we were near enough to see much of the detail of the engagement, and, while the firing lasted, the decks and lower shrouds were black with eager students of the novel sight. Few will forget the little sloop “Granite,” the only gunboat under sail, running up and down before the Pork Point battery, with her convenient off-shore wind, and paying her compliments from her single gun at every tack.
Meanwhile our comrades of E,’ under Captain Alexander, reached the scene of action and fired their first gun at 11.40. “S. C. G.” writes: “The Hussar being on the right and nearest one of the forts, we tried to throw a shell into it, and, I believe, succeeded. But we grounded before we reached the best position, the water being shoal. The batteries flied four shells at us over our heads. Finally, we got nearer and could shell the fort. Shells from rebel gunboats ahead and from rebel battery, almost in our rear, were bursting over our heads. Eight shells passed over in quick succession. One, bursting just overhead, wounded Captain Alexander in the face and tore the clothes of Sergeant Terry and of two privates. We kept fire up till 6 P. M. and only drew off when it became too dark to sight our guns. Our foremast is slightly scarred by a shell.”
Meanwhile on the Highlander and other transports all were ready for a landing; knapsacks were packed and stored, haversacks and canteens filled, guns loaded, but not capped, side-ladders in place and boats in the water. About 3 P. M. the Pilot Boy, carrying the 25th Mass., came alongside, and our first boat, carrying Capt. KnottV.Martin and the colors, we were ordered to land by divisions on the center division, — was made fast to her port quarter. Other boats, making fast each to the stern of her predecessor, came quickly, till the Pilot Boy and Patuxent had all they could tow and went shoreward like great water-kites with double tails. The enemy meant to resist the landing, but a few shells from the Delaware and her consort speedily disheartened them and the landing was made practically without opposition.
The question has been raised who planted the stars and stripes at Roanoke first? We will let S. W. Higgins, second mate of the Highlander, tell his story. “When the Pilot Boy struck the marsh my boat made fast directly to her port-quarter-was about forty feet from the shore, and, all being anxious to laud, the boys gave away with a will. As I swung the boat, broadside on to the marsh, they all sprang out, I with the rest, with a little Union flag belonging to the boat-howitzer and mounted on a six-foot staff, in my hand. I looked up and down the shore but no stars and stripes were to be seen anywhere. So I handed the flag to Captain Martin, saying as I did so, captain, this is the first Union flag landed on Roanoke Island. Take care of it,’ and he replied I will.” Captain Martin corroborates the above story and adds that Captain Attwood of the 25th, later in the day, nailed a flag to a small building near by."
General orders had been issued to the artillerists to land with the first detachment of infantry, but, when that was debarking; they were told the guns were not wanted. Somewhat, then, to their surprise they were ordered ashore in the Pilot Boy at nine in the evening.Words fail to describe the difficulties incurred in getting those guns from boat to solid land. A corporal in the detachment has a vivid recollection of being planted half-thigh Deep and rescued by his grip on the drag rope which was then manned by the full force of Co. D.
That night was a rough introduction to the realities of war. We had only one rubber blanket each and those who fairly reached sleep, cuddled among the corn-hills in the steady rain, were mighty apt “to be rudely wakened by the careless feet of sleepless prowlers. Most were wearily watching about the fires for the tardy dawn. Scarcely had I had the increasing daylight given definite form to the spectral trees looming against the eastern clouds that three shots in the neighboring woods caught every one’s attention and the scattered groups broke tip to reform in regimental lines.
As it turned out, the six-pounder alone came out of last midnight’s mud, but, at last, proved so clumsy that the lighter twelve-pounder, having been brought up from the rear, was substituted and the crews were consolidated (except that Lieut. Russell and privates Welch, Foss, Jewett and Crooker returned to their companies) under command of Captain Dayton.
Of our brigade, the 25th had started and we fell in be hind them, the gun following the right company of the 23rd.
It was hard, at first, to realize that our charming rural’ by-road — a mere track through the woods was to lead by so short a course to a bloody battle-field. The almost universally evergreen foliage was bright with the recent rain and frequent birds were chirping amid the emerald leaves. We passed the reserve picket, of the 21st Mass., standing grim and gray by the roadside; an aid. came to hurry up men something too anxious about wet feet in crossing a hip-deep pool across the road; then we heard a rattle of musketry and saw a flight of scared birds.Part 2
