THE BATTLE OF ROANOKE: Overwhelming Success of the Burnside Expedition; Roanoke Island and Elizabeth City Captured (2/13/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 2/13/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

FORTRESS MONROE, Tuesday, Feb. 11, via BALTIMORE, Wednesday, Feb. 12.

By a flag of truce to-day we learn the complete success of the Burnside Expedition at Roanoke Island.

The Island was taken possession of, and Commodore LYNCH's fleet completely destroyed.

Elizabeth City was attacked on Sunday, and evacuated by the inhabitants. The city was previously burned, but whether by our shells or the inhabitants is not certain.

The first news of the defeat arrived at Norfolk on Sunday afternoon, and caused great excitement. The previous news was very satisfactory, stating that Yankees had been allowed to advance for the purpose of drawing them into a trap.

The rebel force on the island is supposed to have been only a little over three thousand efficient fighting men.

General WISE was ill at Nag's Head, and was not present during the engagement.

When the situation became dangerous, he was removed to Norfolk.

All the gunboats but one were taken, and that escaped up a creek, and was probably also destroyed.

One report says that only seventy, and another that only twenty-five of the Confederates escaped from the island.

General HUGER telegraphed to Richmond that only fifty on the island escaped.

There appears to be no bright side of the story for the rebels.

The Richmond Examiner, this morning, in a leading editorial says:

"The loss of our entire army on Roanoke Island is certainly the most painful event of the war. The intelligence of yesterday by telegraph is fully confirmed. Twenty-five hundred brave troops on an island in the sea were exposed to all the force of the Burnside fleet They resisted with the most determined courage, but when fifteen thousand Federal troops were landed against them, retreat being cut off by the surrounding element, they were forced to surrender.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

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Link to previous New York Times thread

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Battle of Roanoke: Overwhelming Success of the Burnside Expedition – 2
Affairs at Fortress Monroe: Arrival of the Released Prisoners – 2-3
Important from Central Kentucky: National Troops in Motion Towards Bowling Green – 3
Gen. Hunter’s Expedition: Preparations for the Advance – 3
Diagram Showing the Position of Roanoke Island – 3
Operations in Tennessee: Flag-Officer Foote’s Report of the Battle of Fort Henry – 3-5
News from Washington: Debate on the Treasury Note Bill in the Senate – 5-6
Fred. Douglass on the War: An Interesting Meeting at the Cooper Institute – 6
Editorial: The Victory of Roanoke Island-Good News from Gen. Burnside – 6-7
Fort Henry-The Report of Capt. Foote – 7
Another Hireling of the Herald in Limbo – 7

[sauropod]

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