159 Years Ago Today, the Beginning of the Battle of Roanoke Island

From the February 4, 2021, Chowan (NC) Herald  "Week in NC  history."

The Battle of Roanoke Island commenced this date, February 7, 1862, Federal ships began bombarding Fort Bartow, part of Confederate defenses on Roanoke Island.  One of three earthen forts on the west side of the island, Fort Bartow mounted nine cannons.  The other two garrisons on the island were at Fort Huger and Fort Blanchard.

The three forts were designed to protect the mainland of North Carolina from invasion and complement obstructions placed in the channel on that side of the island.  Of the three forts, Fort Bartow was the only one to be actively engaged in the action in what became known as the Battle of Roanoke Island.

The first shot of the battle was fired from Bartow's guns and the fort was subsequently bombarded by the Union fleet for seven hours.

The Confederate fleet, under the command of Captain W.F. Lynch, waited to engage the enemy ships on the other side of the obstructions placed on Croatoan Sound.

However, the Confederates, after the sharp engagement, were forced to withdraw for lack of ammunition.

The next day, the Union Army was victorious in the Battle of Roanoke Island, which gave the Federals control of the sound area of North Carolina.

--Old B-Runner

February 8, 1862: Union Captures Roanoke Island-- Part 2

Late in the afternoon, 7 February, under cover of naval gunfire, General Burnside's troops were landed at 9:00 a.m.  On  8 February, the attack was resumed, and by 4:00 p.m. the obstructions which had been sunk by the Confederates were cleared sufficiently to permit the passage of the Union fleet into Albemarle Sound.

At this point the American flag was raised over Fort Bartow.

The CSS Curlew, disabled during the attack, was destroyed to prevent her capture, and the remainder of the small gunboat fleet under Flag officer Lynch, able to offer only a token, long-range resistance to the Union squadron, withdrew up the Pasquotank River.

--Old B-R'er

February 7-8, 1862: Union Captures Roanoke Island-- Part 1

FEBRUARY 7TH-8TH, 1862:  Coming just two days after the captured of Fort Henry, the Confederates suffered a second major defeat.  A joint Army-Navy expedition under Flag Officer L.M. Goldsborough and Brigadier General Burnside captured Roanoke Island, North Carolina.

The Union force departed its anchorage at Hatteras Inlet on 5 February, but was delayed one day en route by foul weather.  Naval bombardment of Confederate defenses, especially Fort Bartow at Pork Point -- began the morning of 7 February, continuing until dark when the action was broken off.

Confederate Flag officer Lynch, commanding Southern naval forces at Roanoke Island, paid tribute to the accuracy of the Union naval fire when he reported:  "The soldiers in the battery [Fort Bartow] sustained their position under a terrific fire....  At times the entire battery would be enveloped in the sand and dust thrown up by shot and shell....  The earthwork...was very much cut up...."

--Old B-Runner