FEBRUARY 8, 1862.--Battle of Roanoke Island, N. C.
No. 25. -- Report of Col. H. M. Shaw, Eighth North Carolina Infantry.

CURRITUCK COUNTY, N. C.,
February 24, 1862.

GENERAL: I submit the following report of the battles on Roanoke Island on the 7th and 8th instant between the Confederate forces, under my command, and those of the United States, commanded by General Burnside and Commodore Goldsborough. I also transmit herewith the reports of Colonels Anderson, Jordan, and Green, and Majors Hill and Fry, and Capt. J. S. Taylor, who was on detached service at the batteries:

On the morning of the 6th instant the enemy made his appearance, reconnoitering in the neighborhood of the marshes. Four or five steamers could be seen, but the atmosphere was so heavy the exact number could not be made out with certainty. I immediately pushed down two more companies to Ashby's Landing, to support the two pieces of artillery which had been placed at that point some time before; sent off a dispatch to you, informing you of the enemy's movement, and then repaired to the lower part of the island to obtain more definite information. Reaching Ashby's Landing, I discovered a large fleet of the enemy apparently at anchor below the marshes, and at a distance of about 8 or 10 miles from Ashby's. With the aid of a glass about sixty steam and sail vessels could be counted. Returning to camp preparations were made to move the entire effective force to the southern part of the island, in compliance with your orders received in the evening. Having detailed a sufficient number of men to guard my camp and that of Colonel Jordan, the balance was marched down. A part bivouacked near Ashby's and the rest on the lower end of the island, in the immediate vicinity of Pugh's Landing. Taking Maj. George Williamson and a strong picket guard I repaired at once to Pugh's Landing, where I learned from Captain Pugh that the fleet of the enemy, numbering about seventy vessels, gunboats and transports, was anchored in the sound, about 4 miles from his landing.

The fog being very heavy, it was 9 o'clock in the morning before the fleet could be seen with any sort of distinctness. At about 10 o'clock the movement of the fleet commenced. I remained at Pugh's until several of the steamers had passed through the marshes at the main pass, and as there was no indication of an intention on the part of the enemy to effect a landing at that place, I directed Major Williamson to remain with the picket guard to watch the movements of the enemy, and if he should find that no landing would be attempted at that place to return to Ashby's, taking with him the troops and the field piece, and then: accompanied by Lieutenant Talcott. Provisional Army Confederate States, who had kindly volunteered his services to me, I repaired to Ashby's Landing, and having remained there until it had become apparent to my mind that the enemy designed the reduction of Pork Point Battery before attempting to land his troops, and having repeated to Colonel Jordan the order to fight the enemy at the water should he attempt to land, but to fall back to the redoubt should such a movement become necessary to save the field pieces, I proceeded with Lieutenant Talcott to Pork Point Battery, which we reached at 12 m.

Soon after the battle had begun Major Hill, who was in immediate command at that fort, having given a detailed account of the battle of that day as well as that of the succeeding day at that fort, in his report, herewith submitted, it is not my purpose to add to it further than to indorse all that he has said in praise of the coolness, courage, and persevering efforts of the officers and men of his command, who seemed to be inspired by the noble example set them by Major Hill, as well also by that of Captain Taylor and Lieutenants Talcott and Loyall, who were present at both battles at that place, having been sent to the island a short time before by General Huger on temporary detached service.

At 4.15 o'clock, having observed some indications which induced a belief on my part that the enemy designed landing some troops below the battery for the purpose of making a flank movement upon it by land, and the small-arms of the two companies in the battery having been lost by the destruction of their quarters, I left the battery to rejoin the infantry and send re-enforcements to the battery. Having met Major Williamson, who was hastening to communicate with me, I ordered him to return and move two companies to Pork Point, to be at hand if needed. He did so, taking up Company A, Captain Hinton, and Company G, Captain Yellowley, both of the Eighth Regiment North Carolina troops. Soon after I fell in with Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, having with him portions of the Forty-sixth and Fifty-ninth Virginia Volunteers---about 400 re-enforcements sent over by you. Reaching the redoubt across the main road, I found, what Major Williamson had already apprised me of, that Colonel Jordan had withdrawn the artillery from Ashby's without resisting the landing of the enemy and had taken position at the redoubt. He informed me that the enemy had effected a landing above Ahsby's and beyond the reach of the pieces. In his own report you will find his reasons for thus falling back fully set forth.

By this time it was night, and nothing remained but to make a stand at the redoubt. Pickets were put out and the troops bivouacked on the low and wet ground adjacent to the breastwork, where they passed the tedious hours of a cold and rainy night without a single murmur or complaint. About day reconnoitering party was sent out and information obtained of the approach of the enemy in large force.

I then ordered Colonel Anderson to put out a part of his command on the left of the breastwork, and Captain Wise being in command of the companies selected for that service, I instructed him to take position under cover of a small piece of swamp on that flank, and to assail the advance guard of the enemy, directing his fire to the artillery, should the enemy attempt to plant any within reach. Soon after I received a message from that officer saying that a position could not be obtained at the point indicated, and I then directed him to take the most favorable position he could.

At 7 a.m. the battle commenced, and as soon as the enemy gathered in force, which was in a very few minutes thereafter, our battery opened fire. This battery was composed of three pieces-- one 24-pounder howitzer, one 18-pounder field piece, and one 6-pounder. For the 18-pounder the only ammunition we had was 12-pounder ammunition. The artillery detachments may be said to have been almost totally uninstructed. Having in my command no officers acquainted with that practice save Major Hill, whose duties confined him to Pork Point Battery, I applied to Colonel Richardson, upon his arrival at Nag's Head, for some officers to instruct the men. He had none. Upon your reaching that place I made a like application to you. Captain Schermerhorn and Lieutenant Kinney were sent. The former disclaimed any particular knowledge upon the subject. They were immediately sent to Ashby's; but the enemy made his appearance so soon, little time was allowed them to drill the men.

Captain Schermerhorn was placed in charge of the 18-pounder, Lieutenant Kinney of the 24-pounder, and Lieut. W. B. Selden, Engineer Department, who had patriotically volunteered his services in the line, was assigned to the 6-pounder, and, notwithstanding the men had received so little instruction, these pieces were handled in such a way as to produce immense havoc in the enemy's ranks; especially that of Lieutenant Selden, whose conduct elicited the unbounded admiration of all who witnessed it. Unhappily at about 11 o'clock that gallant officer received a rifle-ball in his head, and he fell without a groan, a willing sacrifice to a cause which he had espoused with all the ardor of his generous nature.
In the mean time the fire of the musketry had been kept up from the commencement of the action with unabated vigor by the following companies under cover of the breastwork: Company B, Captain Whitson, Eighth Regiment North Carolina State troops; Company B, Captain Liles, and Company F, Captain Knight, Thirty-first Regiment North Carolina troops; Company E, Captain Dickinson, and Company K, Lieutenant Roy, Fifty-ninth Virginia Volunteers; and Company E, Lieut. J. R. Murchison, Eighth Regiment North Carolina State troops, whose second lieutenant, N. G. Munro, a promising young officer, fell on his approach near the redoubt.

By the gallant officers and brave men of the above-named companies an unceasing and effective fire was kept up from 7 a.m. until 12.20, when, our artillery ammunition having been exhausted and our right flank having been turned by an overwhelming force of the enemy, I was compelled to yield the place.

The entire available force of my command, exclusive of the companies on duty at the several batteries, amounted to 1,434, rank and file. Of these 568 were of the Eighth North Carolina State troops, 456 of the Thirty-first North Carolina troops, and the balance of the Forty-sixth and Fifty-ninth Virginia Volunteers, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, who, together with Major Lawson, was at the redoubt during the most part of the action, and rendered efficient service. The enemy's force amounted to 15,000 men, with several pieces of artillery. With the very great disparity of forces, the moment the redoubt was flanked I considered the island lost. The struggle could have been protracted, and the small body of brave men which had been held in reserve might have been brought up into the open space to receive the fire of the overwhelming force on our flank, which was under cover of trees; but they would have been sacrificed without the smallest hope of a successful result.

The mules and horses attached to the artillery had been killed during the action; the pieces had to be abandoned, and believing it utterly impossible to make a successful stand against such an overwhelming force, I deemed it my duty to surrender.

A verified roll of the prisoners has gone to General Huger, through Major Allston, Provisional Army Confederate States. The number, I believe, is about 2,500. Among these are the battalions of Colonel Green and Major Fry, who reached the island too late to participate in the battle. Colonel Green, however, had a skirmish with the enemy, an account of which is given in his report.

The loss on our side in killed, wounded, and missing, is as follows: Killed, 23; wounded, 58; and missing, 62. The loss of the Forty-sixth and Fifty-ninth Virginia Volunteers is 6 killed, 28 wounded, and 19 missing; that of the Eighth, Thirty-first, and Second North Carolina troops is 16 killed, 30 wounded, and 43 missing; of the Engineer Department, Lieutenant Selden was killed.

Two companies at Fort Forrest are reported to have blown up the fort and made their escape. A detachment of 17 men, under Lieutenant Pulley, of the Thirty-first North Carolina troops, stationed at the battery at Midgett's Hommock, also escaped.

In addition to the officers killed, whose names have already been mentioned, the country will deplore the loss of Capt. O. J. Wise, of the Forty-sixth Virginia Volunteers, who fell bravely fighting at the head of his company, and whose last utterances as he was borne from the field were words of encouragement to his fellow-soldiers. Captain Coles, of the same regiment, also proved himself a gallant soldier, and was killed upon the field.

While I bear testimony to the bravery and good conduct of the officers and men generally who were under my immediate observation during the long protracted action, it is my duty to express the decided belief that, had an opportunity offered, the officers and men so long held in reserve under the most trying circumstances would have shown themselves worthy the confidence of the country. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded was very great.

I cannot close this report without giving expression to the deep grief which I feel on account of the disaster which has befallen us, and at the same time expressing the earnest hope that the Great Being who holds the destinies of nations in the hollow of His hand will soon enable us to retrieve the losses we have sustained.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. M. SHAW, 
Colonel Eighth North Carolina State Troops.

Brig. Gen. HENRY A. WISE,
Commanding Fourth Brigade, Department of Norfolk