Union Soldier's Letter Union soldier's letter, 2pp. 4to., Roanoke Island, Feb. 12, 1862 R. Martin writes a friend concerning the taking of Roanoke Island. In part: the long expected battle has come off... it was a pretty sharp one... the Rebel pills which made us bob our heads down... passed right infront of their Battery and the balls flew over us quite brisk... I cannot know how many prisoners there are, but they look hard, having no uniform Written in clear, legible pencil.