HDQRS. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT MASS. VOLS.,
Roanoke Island, February 9, 1862.

GENERAL: Friday, the 7th, at 5 p.m., my regiment disembarked. I formed the line rapidly and in good order. Then General Parke came in your name and asked from my regiment a company of skirmishers, in order to go in advance to explore the road which from the place of disembarkation was crossing the woods toward our right side. I gave to him Company D, 90 men strong, commanded by Capt. T. S. Foster. Afterward you came and gave me the order to go to the cross-road and take possession of all that ground, placing my pickets for the night in order to cover the main body. I did so, placing a section of artillery at the cross-road, supported by Company C, and throwing to right and left from water to water two other companies in small pickets, covered by sentries at a distance of 15 paces each, and placing the rest of the regiment at the end of the wood as supports.

During this march the head of the advance guard was fired upon by the advance pickets of the enemy and one of our men wounded. We brought him back. It now being quite dark, the advance guard was called in and one man was found missing. He returned the following day. I had already detailed two sections as a scouting party, who would have relieved each other during the night, in order to explore the ground in front of the pickets and advance as far as possible without giving the alarm, in order to discover the position of the enemy, but at that time you, general, and General Foster, came and gave me the order to change the position of the pickets, concentrating them on the road and place them to the front. I did so. 

Six companies were in front, with two pieces of artillery, with a prolongation of picket in the two roads which opened through the woods at an angle of about 60°. The other four companies, with the three pieces of artillery, were to the rear precisely at the other cross-road, which lay 500 yards behind the first. Those companies had pickets right and left, but with the order to do no firing to the front and in case of an attack to act as support, we stood all night without fire, it raining all the time. None of the men slept, and every half hour I made the companies fall in in the greatest silence. All officers and men of the regiment, without exception, comported themselves with remarkable patience and endurance during the twelve hours of darkness and raining. Not a word of grumbling, not an expression of weariness.

At 6.30, after a small scouting party which I sent a little beyond my pickets returned, I permitted my men to light fires, in order to dry themselves as much as possible. At 7 o'clock an aide of General Foster came and ordered me to allow the First Brigade to pass through my line of pickets. The brigade came half an hour after, headed by the general himself, in the following order: Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, Twenty-third Massachusetts, Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, Fifth Battalion Rhode Island, and Tenth Connecticut. My regiment was in line, and immediately upon your arrival we followed them. We arrived in time. Following your order to defile through swamp and water to the rear and left of the Twenty-fifth and then halting, I took the two flank companies, D and G, armed with Harper's Ferry rifles and saber bayonets, and having assured myself of the position of the battery of the enemy and by the different shot of their guns of the extension of the ground which they could sweep toward our left (their right), I ordered the two companies to jump into a deep swamp, and commanded them to open fire by file, marching slowly front and toward the left. I forbade those two companies to waste any ammunition, but to aim and fire only when they were perfectly sure of their aim.

We had soon in front the infantry of the enemy, which supported the right flank of the battery. It was then that the fire began to be really hot, and I had many men put hors de combat. Among those, I regret to say, Capt. T. S. Foster was shot by a bullet through the left leg. But we steadily kept up the firing for more than two hours, advancing toward the front and left at the same time. At such a moment, the Twenty-fifth Regiment having changed their position, two of my companies joined my line, and a few minutes after all the rest of the battalion proceeded by my order, guided by Major Clark. I was at that moment at the edge of the swamp, and in front of me was an exposed ground of 100 yards.

The regiment once in line, I commanded a general fire. After the charge for all that distance the men lay down and loaded, covered by a small natural elevation. During that march we suffered four or five minutes a very thick fire and lost 15 men, but it was the last of the enemy. The battery was already flanked. You came and said to me, "Charge and take it." We did so. At our left flank were three companies of the Fifty-first New York. Our State color was the first on the battery; afterward the flag of the Fifty-first New York; then, immediately after, our regimental flag. One of our men captured a rebel flag with the motto, "Aut vincere aut mori." After a few moments of joy, by your order I put again the regiment in line in the road behind the battery, and first led by you we proceeded toward Camp Georgia. Company E, of my regiment, which was in advance, found the enemy retreating. They turned and fired, but soon were repulsed with loss of 3 dead and some wounded. They sent a flag of truce and surrendered.

I am glad to say that I never saw better behavior by any soldiers, young or veterans, and I do not believe it was possible in such a ground--if a continual swamp and ponds of water can be so called--that any one could have surpassed the brilliant and gallant conduct of all my command. I would mention the names of those officers who have distinguished themselves, but I would be obliged to send you the names of all, from the major to the last second lieutenant, as every one of them deserves it. Nevertheless, I shall name two, not because they have been braver than the others, but because both by three of circumstances have been obliged to stand a longer time in the most dangerous position than any other. They are Capt. T. S. Foster, who followed me, leading his company, and my adjutant, F. A. Stearns, who has been during all the fight cool and bravely at my side from the beginning to the end. And also I would call your attention to the faithful services of Surgeons Cutter and Warren and the chaplain, who bravely followed the troops through the fight to bear back the dead and wounded. All our wounded were conveyed at once to the hospital and our dead immediately buried. Both Capt. T. S. Foster and Adjt. F. A. Stearns have been wounded, the first, as I said, by a bullet in the left leg, and the second slightly in the right temple and in the neck. I send you annexed the list of killed and wounded.
I have the honor to be, your obedient subordinate,

A. C. MAGGI, 
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

Brigadier-General RENO, 
Commanding Second Brigade, Burnside's Division.