The Daily Dispatch: March 5, 1862., [Electronic resource]

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The Burnside Expedition.

Federal official Accounts of the Piratical invasion — a joint Proclamation--Com. Lynch's report.

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We copy from late Northern papers the official reports of the Federal vessels to Edenton, N. C., and the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal:

Report of the Expedition to Edenton.

--In obedience to your orders, I proceeded with this vessel, accompanied by the Underwriter, Lieutenant Commanding Jeffers; the Commodore Ferry, Lieutenant Commanding Husser, and the Lockwood, Acting Master Graves commanding for the city of Edenton, west end of Albemarle Sound. At half-past 8 o'clock this morning we arrived off the entrance of the harbor, and after a careful reconnaissance we passed in, the Lockwood in advance, to keep the large vessel informed from time to time of the depth of water in the channel, or of the appearance of earth works off the banks. At ten A. M. we had undisturbed possession of the town Part of a flying artillery regiment, variously estimated at from one hundred to three hundred, fled precipitately without firing a shot. Many of the inhabitants also left, in consequence, I was told, of a wide rumor having been put in circulation by the panic-stricken enemy that our havoc was indiscriminate at Elizabeth. I was happy in being able to stigmatize such a report, as it deserved, and to restore quiet to a very excited population.

There are no fortifications at or in the water approaches to Edenton. At Hornblow's Point trees have been felled, possibly with a view to the construction of works. Among the results of the expedition are the destruction of eight cannon, and one schooner on the stocks at Edenton. We captured two schooners in the Sound, one loaded with four thousand bushels of corn. We also took six bales of cotton from the Custom-House wharf. There were no public stores in the town. The Custom-House was empty.

We remained two hours about the town, and were visited by the authorities and others, many of whom professed sentiments of loyalty to the old Union.

Report of the Expedition to the Chesapeake and Advisable canal.

--On parting company with you at this place yesterday, I proceeded in the Lockwood, Acting Master Graves, accompanied by the Sharpsheen and Whitehead, towing a couple of schooners to the mouth of the Chesapeake and Albemarle canal. On opening the reach of the river leading to the mouth of the canal, I discovered two small steamers and three schooners, about a mile and a quarter up the canal, and that the mouth of the canal was obstructed. Pickets stationed near the mouth fired their muskets to give the alarm, and a large body of men, whose muskets glistened in the sunshine, got under cover at the point where those vessels were.

I immediately moved up within a couple of hundred yards of the mouth of the canal, until all the vessels grounded, and ordered the Whitchead to open fire with her nine inch guns. But three shells were fired, when the whole body precipitately fled.

On going on shore I found that a schooner had been sunk about fifty yards within the mouth, supported by piles, logs, &c., forming a complete barrier. I advanced a picket of fifteen men, under command of Acting Master Graves, followed by the machinists of the Louisiana, with crowbars, mauls, &c. At the distance of half a mite a second row of pates had been driven. They were at work on this when we surprised them. The steamers and schooners had left before we landed, but a fine, large dredging machine remained, and this we soon saw sinking. This sunk diagonally across the canal, closing it entirely for the passage of the smallest vessel, being, say, ten feet from one bank and six from the other. The machinery was entirely destroyed by the working party the hull above water burned and entirely consumed.

A resident, named Stone, having a store near this point, was interrogated, and stated that the force near was the remnant of the Wise Legion, commanded by Wise in person, and numbering six hundred men. Captain Graves, with a few men, followed their rear guard to the county bridge. This is the thoroughfare between Currituck and the upper counties, and there was a battery of three guns placed to command the canal and main road. The guard had been removed. In their haste they left the axes used in destroying the dredging machine, some canteens, haversacks. clothing. In fact, as a contraband deserter from the Legion at Elizabeth City told me, ‘"ever since that fight in Western Virginia, in which we lost five hundred men, we have been running all the time, and now they will never stop until they get to Richmond"’ I completed the rebel works by sinking five schooners in the mouth of the canal and burning all that remained above water. The work completed, I returned to this anchorage.

My thanks are due to Acting Master Graves, and Assistant Engineer Ley, Acting Chief of the Louisiana, for the complete manner in which my directions were carried out.

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Joint Proclamation.

The following proclamation from Com. Goldsborough and Gen. Burnside ‘"to the people of North Carolina,"’ savors of the usual amount of Puritan cant and inflated patriotism:

Roanoke Island, N. C., Feb. 18.--The mission of our joint expedition is not to invade any of your rights, but to assert the authority of the United States, and to close with you the desolating war brought upon your State by comparatively a few bad men in your midst.

Influenced infinitely more by the worst passions of human nature than by any show of elevated reason, they are still urging you astray to gratify their unholy purposes.

They impose upon your credulity by telling you of wicked and even diabolical intentions on our part; of our desire to destroy your freedom, demolish your property, liberate your slaves, injure your women, and such like enormities — all of which, we assure you, is not only ridiculous, but utterly and willfully false.

We are Christians as well as yourselves, and we profess to know full well, and to feel profoundly, the sacred obligations of the character.

No apprehension need be entertained that the demands of humanity or justice will be disregarded. We shall inflict no injury, unless forced to do so by your own acts, an upon this you may confidently rely.

Those men are your worst enemies. They in truth have drawn you into your present condition, and are the real disturbers of you peace and the happiness of your firesides.

We invite you, in the name of the Constitution, and in that of virtuous loyalty and civilization, to separate yourselves at ou from these malign influences, to return your allegiance, and not compel us to resort further to the force under our control.

The Government asks only that its authority may be recognized; and, we repeat, in no manner or way does it desire to interferes with your laws, constitutionally established, your institutions of any kind whatever, your property of any sort, or your usages in any respect.

L. M. Goldsborough,

Flag-Officer Com'g N. C. Block. Squad,

A. E. Burnside,

Brig.-Gen. Com'g Department N. C.

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Report of Com. Lynch, of the C. S. Navy.

The Federal Navy Department has received from Com. Goldsborough the order books, signal books, letters books, and copies of official dispatches of Com. Lynch, commander of the Confederate fleer in Pamlico Sound, and the Yankee newspapers are publishing everything they can lay their thievish hands upon, even to private letters and other matters of no possible interest to the public. The following is Com. Lynch's report of the engagement at Roanoke island:

Flag-Ship Sha-Bish, off Roanoke island, Feb. 7, 1862.--Mr. I have the honor to report that the enemy, at 10 A. M. to with twenty-two heavy steamers and one tug, made an attack upon this squadron and the battery at Pork Point.

As his numerical force was over whelming, we the action at long range, but as our shell fell short, while his burns over and around as, (owing, I think, to the superior quality of his powder,) we were eventually compelled to shorten the distance.

The fight lasted continuously from 10 A. M.

to 5:30 P. M, throughout which the soldiers in the battery sustained their position with a gallantry which won our warmest approbation. The five was terrific, and at times the battery would be enveloped in the send and dust thrown up by shot and shell.

And yet their casualties was only one man killed and three wounded. The earth work, however, was very much out up. I mention the battery because, in all probability, communication will reach you before intelligence will be received from appropriate official source. The enemy approached in ten divisions, the rear one having the schooner transports in tow

The advance, which was the attacking division, again subdivided, and one portion assailed us and the other the battery Repeatedly, in the course of the day, I feared that our little squadron of seven vessels would be utterly demolished, but a gracious Providence presented us.

Master-Commanding Hoall, of the Forrest, received a wound in the head, which is pronounced serious, if not mortal trust that this promising young officer, who so bravely fought his ship, will be spared to the service. Midshipmen Cemm, of the Ellis, and --,of the Carlew, each loss an arm, which, with three others slightly wounded, constitute the sum of our personal casualties.

I am sorry to say that the Curlew, our largest steamer, was suck, and the Forrest, one of the propellers, disabled. We have received other injuries from shot and shell, but comparatively of light character, and could, with the exception of the Forrest, be prepared to renew the action to-morrow, if we only had ammunition. I have not a pound of powder nor a loaded shell remaining, and few of the other vessels are better off. During the latter part of the engagement, when our ammunition was nearly exhausted, I sent to the upper battery for a supply, but ten charges were all that could be spared, and those were expended at dark, as the enemy was withdrawing from the contest.

In all probability the contest will be renewed to-morrow, for the enemy having landed a force below the battery will doubtless endeavor to divert its fire. I have decided, after receiving the guns from the wreck of the Curlew, to proceed direct with the squadron to Elizabeth City, and send express to Norfolk for ammunition. Should I arrive in time we will return to aid in the defence; if not, will there make a final stand; and blow up the vessels rather than they shall fall into the hands of the enemy.

There are reasons for reaching upon Norfolk, but it would be unseemly thus to desert this section of country. If I have erred in judgement, by a speedy notification the error will be corrected. Commander Hunter, Lieut Commanders Cooke, Parker, and Alexander, and Masters Commanding McCarrick Taylor and Hoole bravely sustained the credit of the service, and every officer and man per formed his duty with alacrity. Lieut Commanding Simms, although absent on detailed service, exhibited such an eagerness to participate in the conflict as to give full assurance that, if gratified, he would have upheld his high reputation.

I am, very respectfully, your obd't"

W F. Lynch Flag-Officer.

The Hon. S R. Mallery, Sec'y of the Navy.