A Bleak Winter on Roanoke Island
The Southern troops on Roanoke Island find themselves isolated and wanting of support from the Confederate War Department during the early winter of 1861-62. General D. H. Hill inspects the island and finds the forts to be formidable, but badly located. There are inadequate infantry reserves. Bad feelings exist between the 8th North Carolina and 3rd Georgia. Also, the War Department cannot decide what geographic command the island falls under, further delaying any help it may receive.
As cold weather approaches the troops on Roanoke Island are ordered to build winter quarters.
The 8th North Carolina's Camp Raleigh as sketched by Hawkins Zouave Charles Johnson after the capture of the island. The Zouaves occupied this camp for five months.
The 3rd Georgia erect huts adjacent to their summer camp site. This print appeared in The London Illustrated News several weeks after the battle of Roanoke Island and shows captured Confederates and their Yankee guards in Camp Georgia.
The 3rd Georgia are ordered back to Portsmouth, Virginia. in late December of 1861. Colonel John Jordan and the 31st North Carolina State Troops take their place on the island. I believe that the 31st moved into the former Camp Georgia.
Colonel John V. Jordan 31st North Carolina State Troops
The Southern forces on Roanoke Island now include the 8th North Carolina, 3 companies of the 17th N.C. and the 31st North Carolina. The forts and batteries on the island along with Fort Forrest on the mainland are garrisoned by the troops stationed here. Some of the infantry are schooled in artillery to service the cannons in the forts.