The Burnside expedition — warm work Expected in North Carolina--the weather — cistern water scarce, &c.
[special Correspondence of the Dispatch.] Norfolk 6th Jan, 1852.
It was reported here last night, and generally believed, that Burnside's expedition has gone into Pamlico Sound.
It was stated that the fleet consisted of twenty gun-boats of light draft, and carrying five guns each.--The Confederate troops at Roanoke Island are said to be preparing actively for a battle.
Should this be really the fact, relative to the Yankee expedition, which has been for so long a time preparing for a landing somewhere on the Southern coast, the fiest must have come very stealthlly down the Chesspeake, and observed great cantion in getting outside the Capes, without being discovered by the watchful eye of the Confederate Coast Guard.
They have really entered the wide and shallow waters of the Pamlico Sound, and of course an attempt will soon be made to effect a landing, and in a day or two we may hear interesting news from the Old North State.
For four or five weeks the weather here has been almost uniformly clear, bright and pleasant, unusually so for the season of the year.
In the country, the people have been delighted with the weather, although wheat would be benifitted by rain, but in town, of the have been of the protected speel of dry weather wing to the what of
of the cisterns being empty.
The lack of cistern water, or more properly rain water, has scarcely ever at this season been felt here since the plan of building cisterns was adopted.
The supply of water is sometimes less than the demand in the summer season, when much more is used, and droughts of ten occur.
Several plans to furnish the city with a plentiful supply of water, have been suggested.
One contemplated the erection of a tower near the basin of Deep Creek, from which the water would be conveyed by means of iron pipes to a distributing reservoir, to be located on some convenient site in the city.
Another plan was to have an iron at eamboat capable of carrying 1,500 barrels of water, to be forced by steam pumps into the reservoir for distribution.
These plans were both suggested and urged about ten years ago. The matter was agitated again about three years, ago.
A feeble effort was made in 1843 to sink pipes for an artesian well, on Market square. The attempt was not successful.
Amoderate supply of water was, however obtained, and the well still affords a considerable quantity of water of fair quality.
Judging from appearances now, all the underground reservoirs about town will soon be full and running over.
No important news from any of the various camps in the vicinity.
The health of our troops is generally good, and the brave boys are anxiously hoping for a fight. 