Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-01-22
An Extensive 0utflanking.

time and extensive preparations made for
them. 1t may not therefore. be considered
merely coincidence that the Burnside expe-
dition should have sailed from Annapolis and
that part of the great Mississippi division,
under Gen. McClernand, should have procee-
ded from Cairo to Msyfeld. KY. on the 9th
inst. On the contrary, considering the mag
nitude Of both expeditions and the great OBJ
iects they are intended to accomplish. these
simultaneous movements must have been in
territorial, and the commanding general have
directed outfsnking movements fifteen hum
dred miles apart.
Whether or not both divisions will strike
as simultaneously as they moved, cannot at
present be determined. A despatch from
Cairo dated the 18th, gives the impression that
an engagement was expected at Camp Beau
regard, between Mayfeld aud the Tennessee
state line, last night. Gen. Grant has the
reputation of being an energetic soldier, and
has entered upon this movement with abun-
dant means to insure success. Should he
complish the destruction of the rebels at
Camp Beauregard, he will doubtless push for
ward to Sandy Mouth. on the Tennessee
river, where he will CO operate with the gun
boat expedition which moved up that river on
9Th, and thus secure that important point
This is a strategic position of value to the
Federal forces, inasmuch as it commands the
railroad between Bowling Green and COlum
bus-the road from Columbus south inter
sects Memphis aud Ohio road at Humboldt,
in Tennessee. The purpose of this movement
Of Gen. Grant is probably mainly to make the
attack on Columbus in the rear, Uu thanking
that stronghold, and opening the Mississippi,
so that the gunboat fiotiila can proceed to
Memphis and New Orleans.
General Burnside's expedition left Fortress
Monroe on Sunday, the l2th. 4 sufficient
length Of time has elapsed for it 10 have arri-
we'd at one Of its objects 1t may not, there
fore be improper to briefly review some Of
the many points which are suggested By
glance at the supposed portion of the coast
which will be the ultimate object of the move
ment.
Pamlic0 sound is still in the possession Of
the rebels, notwithstanding the occupation Of
Hatteras Inlet by the Federal forces. For
want of vessels of sufficiently light draft, the
Federal commanders have been unable to
push their expedition to a sufficient distance
into and up the sound to make lasting i'm
pressions Roanoke island is said to be
Il l.,
ton which is valuable to us, commanding as
it does the Currituck sound, which opens in
to the Albemarle. Currituck is about fifty
miles long ten miles wide and is navigable
for vessels drawing ten feet Of water. Owing
to the natural breakwater. which protects
large portion If the coasts Of North Carolina
aud Virginia. the water is as placid as y lake
and easily navigated.
Abemare sound extends in westerly d.
rection alb ut sixty miles; it is from four to
fifteen miles in width, and, though in many
parts quite shoal is sufficiently deep to admit
of the passage Of vessels of ten feet of water.
The Pa~quotauk river. which ha. t. rise
in the Dismal Swamp. Huws into this sound
canal, called the Dismal Swamp canal.
connects this river with Drummnnd Lake in
Dismal Swamp. This lake is about thirty
miles in length and from ten to twelve miles
in breadth When full the surface Of tie
lake is twenty one feet above tide water
The Jericho canal connects this lake with
Suffolk, which is situated on the Nansem ond
L., D.,r+srD.,,tI, IL
Railroad. 1t is eightyfve miles northeast Of
Richmond, and twenty miles from Hampton
Roads.
Nansemond river enters Hampton r nads,
and is navigable for vessels of ten feet Of wa
ter from Suffolk.
Should this route not be chosen, the expe-
dition can enter the Roanoke river and pro-
ceed to Weldon, n. G. one hundred and fifty
miles from its mouth, which, in consequence
Of the obstruction of fall, is the limit to
steamboat navigation.
Weldon is a point of considerable strategic
i'm mportance. Four railroads meet there-viz
the Wilmington and Weldon, the Seabord
and Roanoke, the CASTOR and Raleigh, and
the Petersburg road. The first of the roads
is one hundred and sixty-two miles in length
and runs southeasterly to Wilmington, inter
secting Goldsboro' on the Neuse river. The
second is eighty miles long, and runs tG
Portsmouth, Va. The third is hinety sever
miles long. and runs northwesteriy to th'
capital Of North Carolina. The fourth is 9th
erwise known as the Richmond, Predericks
and Petersburg Railways" By this route
Richmond is cne hundred and eighty-sil
miles from Weldon Petersburg Va, som,
hundred and sixty four miles distant.
The Nsuse river-pronounced as if spelled
I NuSoin Dawt m Gapa Eaar tho Iaroost m a v