, 1862-02-01
Ought there to be Il Change in
the .fury Department.
Health Of the C0mmand---Dificul-
ties Overcome.
THE DEPARTMENT OF NORTH
CAROLINA.
FINAL HOPEFUL STATE OF TIE
EXPEDITION.
Official Report Of Gen. Burnside to the
War Department.

in such hurried manner, and with so many
symptoms Of IN carly and decisive movement
Yet here we are. Our first conclusion upon
casting anchor upon these sand.bars was, that
VIC could not possibly stay here longer time
than to enable the fleet to concentrate prcyi-
ous to tic attack. But lis day after day has
passcd, bringing Ilisfortuuts, and good, ,bad and
irdiiicrc1lt ncws, we have Ind abundant occa-
sion to reverse our conclusion. I have writ
ten but little since our arrival, in order that
might investigate certain ru1nors and facts,
and learn something Of the policy to be pur-
sued by this division, and Is to what effect its
action would lave upon the rebellion. And
us the first mail leaves for the North to-lnor-
row, shall be in ample time to communicate
what little have learned.
The delay ut this time is doubly unfortu-
nate II will disappolnt the expectations Of
speedy and decisive action which may Aayo
been stimulated by its prompt departure from
Old Point; it will harsass the minds Of the
friends Of the twcnty-thousand souls who
compose this division, and with whom there
is no immediate means Of communication,
and to whom the recent severe storm will
bring feal;ul apprehcnsions. And far more
Lan all this, it gives the rebels nluch valuable
time to f,rtity and reinforce, and prepare for
our coming. I am certain it was not Intended
thcy should have single day for this purpose,
but the clements, the insufcrablc incompe-
tcncy Of minor officers, and the sand-bars and
swasl- channels OF Hatteras Inlet, have other
wise dccrccl; hare tlwarted the efforts and
intentions Of Il most energetic commander,
and have compelled this division to practice
the old sitdown-and -tllc-rehclsfort
fy-themsc1ycs policy, WHICH has been tho one
accurscd blunder Of our war management thus
far.
The very unfortunate hitch in this Expedi-
| tion is described in the following statement
uHtteras Inlet and the channels between the
entrance and the inner bar, over which vessels
pass in going into Pamlico Sound. is one Of the
most miserable, ficklc and trcacheroHs Of har-
hors that ever bore the name. I! is full Of
| shoals and bars, and what may BE- Il good an
chcragc one day will next day leave the vessel
| six 10 twelve inches i'll the sand. The ebb and
| TOW Of the tide affect tho depth Of the water
about Two fret, and the current is very strong,
row-hoats being hardly able to stem it, and
vessels frequently dragging their anchors and
forling each other. Into this swash-hole our
1leet were only glad to get, to escape the fury
| of the gale which swept over the coast on
Monday and Tuesday last Hardly one sailor,
PILOT or captain had ever been in before. They
took souudings and cast anchor in such places
| As they thought secure: the cbb OF tho tide
left them squttaing in the sand, and the swift
current soon formed such bars around thcm
that the flood Of the tide did not float them.
The result is that at this time every steamer
gunboat and sail vessel drawing over seven
fret is hard aground, and will have to disenl
bark their troops and cargocs before they car
be even pulled off. This work is now proceed
ing, but very slowly. There is a great lack O.
light-draugAt, powerful tugs, with efficient
natn TO manage them-such craft as shoot
about your harbor, which could literally snak.
the whole fleet half way to Raleigh. Genera
Burnside chartered FIVE Of just such chaps, al
Baltimore and Annapolis, at $50 per day, ant
nut the agreement in black aud white: hui
none of them have yet shown their noses here
aaorts.
As fast rs these vessels arc pulled out o
their sand-holes, they arc taken in charge b.
Lieut.. Jeffers, U. S. n, who has agreed tt
| take them over the inner bar, into cightce1
feet Of water in the Sound HI has nice jol
"n his hands. The naval gunboats, being
with one OF Two exceptions, Of very ligh
draft, arc mostly over; but the steam trans
poris, which brought the troops from Annapo
: lis litLcr, arc not, and in my estimation hui
Of them never will be. The reason why i
easily given. At thc outside, there is not t.
| r. ~,