Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/50

34 nels near Hatteras, did not arrive before Roanoke island until the 7th of February.

In spite of the fact that this formidable invading force was known to be designing an attack somewhere on this coast, and in spite of the further fact that Roanoke was the key to the whole sound region, it seemed out of the power of the Confederacy to provide it with defenses commensurate with its importance, or to spare it enough troops to hold its insignicant fortifications. General Gatlin had said in answer to a request for more troops, The place is of so much importance that could I have done so I should long since have reinforced it, but I am unable to send a soldier without drawing them from parts already insufficiently defended. General Hill had reported to the secretary of war, &quot;Four additional regiments are absolutely indispensable to the protection of the island.&quot; General Wise had written the authorities, &quot;With present means I cannot guarantee successful defense for a day. The place should have been reinforced or abandoned.

The defenses on the island consisted of four batteries, mounting in the aggregate 30 guns, all 32-pounders, as follows (see map): Fort Huger, 10 smooth-bore and 2 rifled guns (this battery, being out of range, was not engaged in the battle); Fort Blanch ard, 4 smooth-bore guns (this battery fired only an occasional shot); Fort Bartow, 8 smooth-bore and i rifled gun. This last battery is the one that fought the Federal fleet all day on the 7th. Across on the mainland was another battery that was not fired at all, being out of range also. In addition to these coast batteries, there was a three-gun battery in the middle of the island, a short distance northeast of where the Federals landed. This battery contained one howitzer, one 6-pounder brass field piece, model of 1842, and one 18-pounder, a Mexican war trophy, and described as of &quot;venerable aspect.&quot; It was around this land battery, that was flanked by earthworks for a quarter mile on each side, that the land fighting all occurred. One