Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-01-23
the Burns,,,e Fxped,t,oo.

report Debg 0aeu on thursday tue Ioth ihetdnt anu
stating that at that time there twentyfour small
steamers and sixteen sailing vessels inside the BAR and
seven large steamers outside the bar at Hatteras 9th
ers reported to be in the Pamlico Sound
This confirms the news published in this paper on
Saturday last with the addition of being explicit
and giving more definite particulars
| We cut out from correspondence of the New York
Herald list Of the vessels said TO compose the exped
ton n question Their number is sixty and their
class goes far to show that the information of the Nor
folk Bay Book is 10 saying that the expedition
wis originally fitted out for North Carolina to operate
in the shallow waters of Pamco and Albemare ST. unds
or the rivers making into them. The would mea-
suraby, doubt apply to this section OF the State
bat not to the same extent.
We have not one word of definite information from
our Northern sounds later than that contained in the
report of Major Hall above alluded to- and dated on
the l6h. Major Hall is at point where be is enabled
observe the motions of the enemy and his report be-
ing founded on mere ramor, may therefore, be i'm
plicty relied upon
What course the Lincolnites have adopted since
Thursday unable TO say. The Norfolk Day
Book asserts as though with knowledge that they
destined for Elizabeth City. Probably this point is
suggested indicated being at or near the Southern
ermin of the two lines of communication between
A ID rmarle Sound and Norfolk Harbor-the Dismal
Swamp Canal and the Chesapeake and Abemarle
Canal The number Of * Canal Boats " would appear
to give some shadow of pausibity to this 1t might
be object to seal up the navigation through these
works aud thus OF important lines of transport
and communication between forces at Norfolk and
those on our Northern coast it would be madness for
through either Of these canals.
Very naturally tie people on Pamlico Sound are
seriously alarmed Some injury serious injury indeed,
might be done to the jewellers Hyde Beaufort Craven
and Jones Counties by srauding expeditions but no
strategic advantages coud be secured to the enemy by
any such course and if report speaks truth Gen. Burn
side is not like lt!er and Others who delight in
| rapine without military object. Of course we speak
OF the couutry ID our remarks will not apply to
Newbern Washington to attempt to seize upon
some point the Atlantic and North Carolina Rail-
road with the view Of obtaining control Of that work.
either for the purpose of solang Fort Macon of ad-
vancing into the interior. These things only con-
ecuraI but they neither mposs bic nor improba-
be they naturally create small anxi y 10 the minds
of the people of Newbern, Washington and Beaufort
Beaufort incidentally.
In order to go to 4beh City it woud be necessa-
ny Tor the f)ta force its way into Albemare sound,
which is connected with Pamlico sound by a narrow
strait twenty miles long, which divides the main
land of TyrrelI county from the banks Nearly in the
middle of this strait lies Roanoke Island which is pro-
badly about twelve miles in length and three in breadth
Roanoke Island divides the strait into two parts that
between it and the mainland being called Croatan
Nound and hptu he and ho;p
called Roanoke Sound. The former Croatan sound,
will probably admit the passage of vessels drawing 81
to feet water8A is marked on the Coast Survey at
the shallowes point. This channel approaches at one
part of its within easy range of the Island from
which batteries might command it. 1t could not be
easily commanded rom the mainland It is thus evil
dent that Croatan sound will allow the passage Of
sells OF 4Ige draf: of water as can approach it
from the sea, whether they enter by Hateras Ocra-
coke Toilet. The Oh aune however, is intricate and
narrow and capable of being readily INSTRUCTED, we
should think The narrowness of the channel would
evidently preclude the possibility of any manoeGvrng
by gun-boats or other vessels attacking any batteries
on the island and it to US they would be forced
pass certain points in single file Once in Albemare
Sound the shore DE approached with safety in
weve eet water within three fOurths of mile of the
shore, at two or three points. Any vessel that
can enter Albemare Sound ascend the Pasquotauk
River to Elizabeth City. The Dismal Swamp Canal
empties into the Pasquotank River, the moath
of which is only divided from North River, the mouth
of which is the Southern terminus of the Abemarle
aud Chesapeake navigation, by a neck of land
known as North Point
The water between Roanoke Island and the banks is
known Roanoke sound, and is not navigabe. There
lunar tides and any rise or fall in AbemarIe and
Croatau sounds is due to the winds the state of the
rivers AS for of resistance and defence we
only trust that they may be adequate OF course
would not state what they are, even we knew
which we do but partially.
Roanoke Island is about fifty miles from Hatteras
Inlet.
The New FORK Herald says that the gu1-boats ART
very heavily armed, carrying hundred pound riec
Parrot guns and nine inch Dahgren guns.
The following is the list OF vessels given as composing
the expedition of General Ambrose e. Burnside -
Vessels Rel Orted fOr the Burnside Expedition al
: EOTGF' SIS Monroe, Jar uary ii and IL. 1864
, .Unted States steamer Picket with Gen. Burnside
and Staff
United States steamer Young Rover from Annapo
lis.
!. Steamer Union stores.
Steamer Sentinel from Annapolis
Steamer Eastern State from Annapolis.
Steamer Cossack from Annapolis.
Steamer Huzzar from Annapolis
" Steamer Northerner from Annapolis.
Steamer Z9uave from Annapolis
e Steamer Wyandot from Annapolis
Steamer Ranger from Annapolis
l. steamer Eastern Queen from Annapolis.
+. Steamer Pioneer from Annapolis.
. Steamer Admiral from Annapolis.
l. Steamer New York from Annapolis.
Steamer Louisiana from AnnapOls
Steamer New Brunswick from Annapolis,