Roanoke Island, NC

[Burnside's Landing on Hatteras]

Situation:

Campaign(s): Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition [January-July 1862]

Battles in Campaign:

• Roanoke Island, NC - February 7-8, 1862 B

• New Berne, NC - March 14, 1862

B

• Fort Macon, NC - March 23-April 26, 1862 C

• South Mills, NC - April 19, 1862 D

• Tranter's Creek, NC - June 5, 1862 D

Date(s): February 7-8, 1862

Commanders:

• Union: Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside  

• Confederate: Brig. Gen. Henry Wise

Principal Forces:

• Union: 7,500 

• Confederate: 3,000

Description:

• On February 7, Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside landed 7,500 men on the southwestern side of Roanoke Island in an amphibious operation launched from Fort Monroe.

• The next morning, supported by gunboats, the Federals assaulted the Confederate forts on the narrow waist of the island, driving back and out-maneuvering Brig. Gen. Henry Wise’s outnumbered command.

• After losing less than 100 men, the Confederate commander on the field, Col. H. M. Shaw, surrendered about 2,500 soldiers and 32 guns. Burnside had secured an important outpost on the Atlantic Coast, tightening the blockade.

Slide Presentation: Burnside's North Carolina Expedition

Classification¹: B

Casualties²:

• Union: US 37K/214W/13M = 264

• Confederate: 23K/58W/62M/2,500 captured) = 2,643

Results: Union Victory

Battlefield Website:

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

³ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 01/02/2009