The Burnside Expedition.
The telegraph is still reporting the movements of the
Burnside expedition.
But up to the time of the writing of this has not given its movements a definite conclusion.--On Sunday it was reported there were one hundred sail of the enemy inside of
Hatteras and twenty-five large steamers outside of the bar. It was conjectured, according to this telegraph, that it was designed to make a combined attack on
Newbern and
Roanoke Island.
Roanoke Island is at the mouth of
Albemarle Sound, and is the boundary line between that and
Pamlico Sound, which the enemy's ships enter upon crossing the bar at
Hatteras.
Pamlico Sound is a shallow body of water only navigable by light draft vessels.
50 miles long, and from 8 to 30 miles broad, separated from the
Atlantic by low sandy Islands, scarcely a mile wide, covered with bushes.
Pamlico Sound receives
Neuse,
Tar, and
Pamlico rivers.
Newbern is on the
Neuse, at the junction of
Trent river with it — the
Trent being a sort of estuary of
Pamlico Sound.
It is not without protection; but it is unnecessary to say what.
Washington is on the
Tar river, at its entrance into
Pamlico river, at the head of navigation for sea-going craft, and forty miles from the
Sound.
No large vessel can can reach it, the water not being sufficiently deep.
On the north
Pamlico connects with
Albemarle Sound, which is sixty miles long from east to west, and from four to fifteen miles wide.
It receives the waters of
Roanoke and
Chowan rivers, and communicates with the
Chesapeake bay by the
Dismal Swamp canal.
Edenton is situated near the mouth of
Chowan river, on
Edenton bay, which sets up from the
Albemarle Sound.
It is sixty-six mile from
Norfolk.
The Orleans river is formed by the union of the Northway and
Meherrin rivers, which rise in
Virginia and unite above
Winton, N. C. and flowing S. S. E., it enters
Albemarle Sound by a wide estuary a little south of the mouth of the
Roanoke.
It is navigable for small sail vessels to
Murfreesborough, on the
Meherrin branch, about 75 miles from the ocean.
Elizabeth City, North Carolina, is on the
Pasquotank river, twenty miles from its entrance into
Albemarle Sound, forty miles S. S. W. of
Norfolk.
Vessels drawing seven feet of water come up to
Elizabeth City, which communicates with
Norfolk with water via the
Dismal Swamp Canal.
The reader perceives the extent of water communication the enemy will command should be get possession of the two Sounds, with boats of light draft.
Roanoke Island commands the entrance to
Albemarle Sound.
There is a force there, how large or how defended, we are unable to say; but we imagine it will have to abandon the place should the enemy make a demonstration upon it with his large naval force.
General Wise has been appointed to command that place and all North of it and
South of
Norfolk.
He has been only recently appointed, and has not yet left this city.
General Branch, of
North Carolina, commands the district next below
Albemarle Sound, including
Pamlico.
He has been, it is said, taking the most vigilant measures for the defence of the towns and coast in his district.
Much apprehension exists in the towns reached by the
Sounds.
We have a brief dispatch from
Murfreesborough, which states that the militia of the county (
Hertford) had been called out in consequence of the appearance of the
Burnside expedition on the coast.
It states that the notorious
C. H. Foster was guiding the fleet.
The occupation of
Roanoke Island by the enemy, will very much interrupt the transportation of supplies to
Norfolk.
But there can be no danger of an attack upon
Norfolk from that direction, we imagine.
It is to be hoped that if the now famous
Burnside,
who, like all expeditionary
Yankee Generals, is reported to be irresistible before he sets sail, really intends to beat up the quarters of the
North State, that he will have courage and pluck to leave his ships and give our soldiers a fair shake.
Nothing would be more agreeable.
With such an extent of frontier, and no navy, it would be say to expect or hope that no landing could be effected by our execrable invaders.
But when they do land, all that we ask is that they may penetrate into the country, and let as see what stuff they are made of. An invading army should do no less than this, and to do less betrays either a want of confidence in themselves or a dread of our soldiers.
Speculation as to the purpose of
Burnside will no doubt soon be ended by the fact of his proceedings.
