The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-11-16
Alberaarle sound Infessed.

[Hatterds Correspondence N. Y. Tribune
The Rebels have full and undisputed possess
sion Of Pamlico and Albermarle Sounds, two
great Uolies Of water, separated from the ocean
by narrow neck Of land. T1sse great inland
seas are the rendezvous for all the pirates and
privateers belonging to the Confederate States !;
they are connected with Norfolk by ship canal.
There being so many inlets into these Sounds,
which are unknown to our Navy, that the Con-
federates are enabled to carry on an extensive
commerce, and thus supply their army with what
they require, and We powerless to intervene, or
stay this alarming state of things, owing to the
reason that We have no small gunboats to 90 into
these Sounds which 10 all that is required to put
q stop to this smuggling business We have two
small tugs ineficiently armed, which is all We
can show in the shape of boats that can enter
these waters and one Of them. the Ceres, ia conf
manded by an aged chaplain of the Navy, who
IL as much out of his sphere rs any respectable
old lady would be were she called upon to rs
sumo the duties belonging to men. 1t is anus
ing to gee how cautious ha is Of HE tug, and to
see how strongly attached she is to the walls of
the fort, for fear of being captured by the enc
my. The other boat, the Putnam, is command
ed Capt Hotchkiss, an experienced mariner, &C.
customed to the waters Of New England, and
with crew of like stamp, abe is able to do ef-
fectual service. If We could be supplied with q
meet OF ten or Twelve 6uCn OO2t0 as Tue fut0oH,
drawing not over six or seven feet of water, all
we'll armed and commanded BY the experienced
mariners of New England, We could at once
take possession of all their inland waters and
effectually wind up their smuggling business, now
80 extensively carried ON by the enemy. We
could also capture all their privateers, who now
make those waters ripple as they glide over them
in perfect security, with their welcome stores
for the Rebel army. Our large war steamers are
powerless to impede the progress of these feet
little craft, who know every entering door and
hiding place which this mysterious coast affords.
Every severe storm makes new inlet, and how
can it be expected that few large steamers
should be able to guard this entire coast! In
many instances one of them cannot come within
miles Of these small inlets which are open to
these little fleets Of privateers. You cannot
take up North Carolina paper without seeing
announced the arrival Of this and that priva.
teer, with full cargoes Of provisions, clothing
and arms The most disgusting spectacle OF all,
however, is for US to be obliged to look upon
these fleets of privateers and piratcai craft, as
they come down the Sound every few days, with
in gun shot of Fort Hatteras, Tapping their in.
sulting flags in our faces, and exhibiting their H.
| licit gains as the trophies of their daring ex-
ploits Not long since feet Of several Con-
federate transports made their appearance in the
Sound, loaded down with some three thousand
soldiers, with, doubtless, the intention of land
ing them, and returning for additional forces.
| when they were to fortify point on the island
near the Government Lighthouse.