the defeated enemy to the prowess of the Union arms. When quiet
finally settled down upon the scene, and Gen. Burnside and Commander
Goldsborough counted up their gains, they found that six forts,
twenty-five hundred prisoners, and forty-two great guns had fallen
into the hands of the victors. The Union loss was forty killed and two
hundred wounded.

The next day was Sunday. It was considered highly important that the
success of the day before should be vigorously followed up; and an
expedition of fourteen vessels, under Capt. Rowan, was ordered to
follow the retreating Confederate fleet and destroy it. The flying
squadron was chased as far as Elizabeth City on the Pasquotauk River.
Here night overtook the pursuers; and they came to anchor at the mouth
of the stream, effectually cutting off all hope of retreat. The
Confederates in the vessels lying off the town passed an anxious
night. Outnumbered two to one by the pursuing vessels, they saw no
hope of a successful resistance. With a courage which in view of the
facts seems to be almost foolhardy, they determined to stick to their
ships, and fight to the death. The feelings of the inhabitants of the
town were hardly less gloomy. So thoroughly impregnable had they
considered the forts at Roanoke Island, that they had made absolutely
no preparations for defence; and now they found their homes upon the
eve of capture. The victorious army had not yet had an opportunity to
show the merciful way in which the inhabitants of captured cities were
treated throughout the war; and the good people of Elizabeth City may
be excused for fearing, that, with the destruction of their fleet,
they were to be delivered into the merciless hands of a lawless enemy.

Morning dawned bright and clear. With the greatest deliberation the
preparations for action were made on the attacking vessels. It was
discovered, that, owing to the continuous firing during the Roanoke
Island engagement, but twenty rounds of ammunition per gun were left
to each vessel. It was accordingly ordered that no long-distance
firing should be done; but each vessel should dash at the enemy, run
him down if possible, and then board and fight it out, hand to hand.
Early in the morning the fleet started up the river. The enemy's fleet
was soon sighted, lying behind the guns of a small battery on Cobb's
Point. When within long range, battery and vessels opened a tremendous
fire with eighty-pound rifles. The approach of the sq