Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1862-02-06
THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION.


THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION.
Special Correspondence of Philadelphia Inquirer.
Fortress Monroe, jan. 27.-On Saturday
night. the 1th of January, 1862, the Burn
side Expedition sailed from Hampton Roads,
and as it moved out of the harbor in the
brig BIT moonlight, it seemed to bespeak, in
its grandeur and apparent perfection, the
most magnificent results. Fortune seemed
to favor the effort Of the accomplished COM
mander and his brave soldiers. during the
first few hours sail. The capes were made
under steam and gentle breeze. The wa
ters of the Atlantic were quite calm. Sun
day morning found the swiftest steamers in
sight Of Hatteras light. and many were over
the bar at Hatteras Inlet by dusk. On the
others came. until the morning dawned.
when General Burnside determined to clay
to" until the arrival Of Commodore Colds
borough, in the steamship s. r. Spaulding,
accompanied by the necessary gunboats,
pilots. &c.
During Sunday night a storm gathered
and the wind blew terrific gale from the
northwest. with severity only known in the
region of Hatteras. Fortunately for the
feet, as a whole, it had got inside the bar
at Hatteras Inlet, which served as slight
breakwater against the pillows of the ocean,
and in any ordinary storm Of reasonable du-
ration. vessels would be safe while lying
here, to great extent. But the gale blew
with such violence that upon two separate
occasions, during two whole days and nights.
no communication could be had from one
vessel to another. The S. R. Spaulding
arrived on Monday, about noon. having had
heavy weather, and placed Com, Goldsbo-
rough on board Of the steamer Philadelphia.
Having taken on considerable amount Of
freight at Fortress Monroe for Port Royal
and Beaufort, it was necessary for the Spaul-
ding to proceed thither. and she accordingly
landed her Hatteras freight and mails, and
went steaming off. leaving the feet, as every
one thought, to ride out the storm in safety.
More vessels arriving at the Inlet belong
! ing to the expedition, it was deemed expe-
dient to take the gunboats and light draft
vessels through the Inlet. the 'swash" chan
mel, and into Pamlico Sound. This work
was nearly accomplished when the storm
came on with increased violence. and it was
timpossibfe TO bring the pilots from the gun
boats to take the transports into the Sound.
1t was at this time, Wednesday. 18th inst, i,
that the gunboat Zouave, one of the staun-
chest vessels of the feet. dragged her two
anchors, and was dashed against the beach
with such force that large hole was stove
in her, and she filled rapidly. An attempt
was made to pump the vessel. but with little
success. and her battery and ammunition,
with ballast and stores, were cast overheard,
but the water gained rapidly. and the crew
found it necessary to abandon the ship and
take to the life-boats. These men were all
saved. but the Zouave sunk. and it is pre-
sumed went to pieces.
The water, sto' es, hospital and other
ships stood out some miles at sea, and many
were no doubt saved thereby. Some of
these vessels have arrived in the Inlet safe,
and others were arriving when the steamer
Eastern City left. The steamer City of
New York arrived at the Inlet on Wednes-
day. She left Fortress Monroe, with the
bomb-boat Grapeshot in tow, but, in conse
quence of the heavy sea, the hawser parted
near the stern of the steamer, and the canal
boat sunk soon after. Two seamen on board
of the latter are said to have been drowned
The old bay steamer Pocahontas left For
tress Monroe on Monday, the 18th instant.
having on board cargo Of water, ninety
horses belonging to the 5th Rhode Island,
and the horses belonging to several Of the
staff officers, some Of which we're valued at
FIVE hundred dollars each. Besides this,
she had considerable quantity of hay, oats
and beans on board. When opposite Hat
teras light, On Wednesday, she went ashore
accidentally. and in short time was total
wreck. Only fifteen of the horses were saw
/ ed. The crew of the vessel were landed in
safety on the beach, and came to Fortress
Monroe in the Eastern City,
The steamer City of New York-one of
the finest in the feet-got aground on the
Swash bar, and it is feared will be total
loss. The suffering on board this vessel
was terrible. Her valuable cargo will of
course be lost. She was loaded with shot,
shell, ammunition, ordnance. and fifteen
hundred new rifles. The captain, crew and
soldiers on board of this vessel were rescued,
after remaining many hours in the rigging
without food or water. The steamer Loui-
siana is also hard ashore on the inner bar,
but on Sunday afternoon, when the Eastern
City left Hatteras, it was thought that she
might be got off when sufficient tugs have
arrived. The splendid steamer New Bruins
wick ran into the Louisiana. and is also
aground near by. but will be got off. The
scene presented at the time of the disaster
was truly heartrending. and language can
not picture it. The soldiers on board the
transports manned the yards and rigging
the boisterous waves meanwhile breaking
over the bulls beneath-and cried aloud for
help.
At one time twenty vessels were seen
riding in the gale with their flags union
down, as signal of distress. but as the best
life-boat could not live in the roaring waters,
no assistance could be rendered In conse-
quence of the non-arrival Of the water-b boats
and store-ships, water and food became