Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-01-10
THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION.

\ correspondent of the New York EUsmHg
Post gives the following details Of the long
talked of Burnside expedition now fitting
out for movement up the York river, as
Is we'll nigh certain
ever since the first gathering Of the
transports at Annapolis there has been an
eager anxiety to see the feet set sail, Al
most everything is ready, or rather, every
thing is almost ready. To-day the vessels
are taking in the last Of the ordnance and
ammunition, and an enormous quantity has
been shipped. The transports are eoaled
and proyisioned, and can DC under steam at
two hours notice. The troops are ready to
embark, ami all is 50 formidable and 50 com
plete that everything hoped or expected OF
the Burnside expedition must be fully rcal'
led
There are now in the harbor II steamers,
| propeller, / ships, 5 bIrques, brig, ii
schooners, 5 floating batteries, besides little
cesratch steam tugs in all ii vessels. These
are, perhaps, not half the vessels to be EN-
ployed in the expedition, which will be
largely reinforced at Fortress Monroe ior,
unless the floating batteries are counted,
none Of the naval vessels have come to An
napols. All Of the transports, large and
small are, however, armed, and carry large
supplies of shell and bali for use 10 the field
as well as on board ship.
The transports have been thoroughly over
hauled and completely fitted out with every
thing necessary for the expedition. The
steamers are Of light draught, and are capa-
bic of carrying iIOm hundred to hundred
men each, besides stores and ordnance, and
when loaded will draw but from six to eight
feet of water.
The two steamboats, New York and New
Brunswick will each easily carry a whole
regiment. The propeller Pioneer formerly
the Sherman) carries six guns, two Of them
formidable Parrots, which speak with (not
.or) crackers in the shape Of 32pound balls
one fifteen pound swivel gun on the forecas-
tie, and three more twelve FOUNDERS. She
carries comfortably five hundred troops
Most Of the steamers are equally well armed.
The Highlander (once the Cleremont, a con
fiscated vessel belonging to William Allen,
on the James RIver) Is schooner Of 500
tons, armed with two twelve pound ParrOtt
guns, and capable of carrying, besides her
crew Of twenty five men -four hundred troops
and eighteen officers.
The ships can carry a much larger num-
Der Of men, but will be loaded mainly with
provisions and ammunition, and all the sail
ing vessels will be towed by the steamers to
Fortress Monroe.
The Pickett, handsome little propeller
Of 400 tons, is the flagship of the transport
feet, and appropriated by Gen. Burnside
and his staff. She carries two twelve pound
Wizard guns, and draws but SIX feet OF water.
Il is not unlikely that when the expedition
reaches the point Of attack Gen. Burnside
will leave the Pickett and use the COssack
as a flagship. The COssack Is a fine steamer
formerly the Eastern City, plying between
Boston and st. Johns, n. B., and the news
PAPER men are already comfortably quartered
on board Of her. II she is struck by a shell
the reporters will receive the earliest posi-
bic intelligence Of the event.
The five floating batteries are large canal
boats, as strong as tjmber can make them,
aud divided into five compartments, 50 as tC
/ be beyond the danger Of sinking by any ord
mary casualty. The Rocket and Grenade
each carry three 32pOund riied cannon on
deck, and the Shrapnel, ,GrapeshOt and Bonn
| she'll each carry two guns OF the same cali
| brc They Will 20 into action and will be
valuable additions to the naval part Of the
expedition.
This general description of vessel Of each
class Of those connected with the expedition
is sufficient to give an idea of the comp lete-
ness Of their outfit. 1t seems as if nothing
was wanting to render the feet as iOrmida'
bic as is necessary, and with the addition Oi
the naval vessels now lying at Fortress Mon
roe it is believed that the expedition, in sizC
and strength, will far surpass the one sem
0 Port Royal"