January 15, 1862: Confederate preparations on Roanoke Island

On this day 150 years ago, Ambrose Burnside's expedition to the Carolina Coast had hit a snag, quite literally.Burnside had been told that the water over the bar at Hatteras Inlet was reliably eight feet deep, and he had purchased or chartered the ships for his expedition based on that figure. Whether because of a poor job of sounding the bar or because of a sudden change in the channel due to the recent heavy storms, the water in the channel was more lie six or six-and-a-half feet deep, making it impossible for much of Burnside's fleet to enter Pamlico Sound until a solution could be worked out. For the moment, the Confederates on Roanoke Island were given a brief reprieve and an opportunity to improve their defenses.

Less than sixty miles away on Roanoke Island, artillerist Captain John S. Taylor, C.S. Army wrote the following report to Major General Benjamin Huger in Norfolk, Virginia. Taylor's report focuses on the state of the heavy artillery that was key to Roanoke Island's defense.

ROANOKE ISLAND, N. C., January 15, 1862.

Sir: In compliance with your orders, Lieutenant Loyall and myself have reported at this place for duty connected with the heavy batteries, and up to this time have inspected and frequently exercised them, with the exception of Fort Forrest, on the other side of the sound. This we have not visited, in consequence of the weather, which has not been favorable for the past few days. We find the batteries well constructed and arranged, except that at Pork Point, which requires a flank to the southward, to prevent its being enfiladed. This has been recommended to Colonel Shaw, and orders have probably been given to have the work done. The equipment of the guns is incomplete, only one gun on the island being sighted, and the rifled guns (three in number) are mounted on navy barbette carriages, which are very unwieldy. The instruction is indifferent, but the officers and men evince such a good disposition to learn, that we hope, with the facilities offered us, to be able in short time to report very favorably of their proficiency. I would here state that I found Major Hill in command at Pork Point Battery. He was an old Army officer, and is no doubt a better artillerist than I am; and, as I did not desire to supersede a superior and could not suppose that you wished it, I placed myself under his command, and offered my services to him to assist in instructing his men, and detailed Mr. Loyall for that particular duty. None of the guns have locks, nor are any of them drilled for either locks or sights; but this could be very easily done here if locks and sights should be furnished. I presume they know at the navy-yard exactly what guns are here, and could make sights for them without the measures of the guns being sent. We have no shells for any but the rifled guns, and there is no shot furnace fit for use. The engineer officer assures me that the furnace at Fort Huger (the only one constructed) is worthless, and that he tried it for five hours without any other effect than to burst it. He recommends one for each battery here, after the pattern of Mr. Singleton's, of the engineer's office at Norfolk. The amount of ammunition on hand is not more than twenty rounds for each gun.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN S. TAYLOR,
Captain, C.S. Army.

General HUGER.,
Commanding Department of Norfolk, Va.

No explosive shells for many of the guns. No gunsights. No hot shot. Only twenty rounds (presumably mostly solid shot) per gun. Hatteras Inlet had fallen to Union forces on August 29, 1861--four-and-a-half months before--and in the intervening time the Confederacy hadn't managed to build adequate defenses at the next obvious target of Union forces.