The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-02-05
THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION.

Three months ago it was announced in the
Northern papers that another expedition
would follow that which had just sailed for
Port Royal. and would be under the COM
mand OF General Burnside. This fleet is at
last in our waters, and public expectation is
strained to trace its operations, and to see
what it will accomplish.
The Burnside is The fourth expedition
which the Yankees have fitted oul to make
demonstrations on different portions of the
coast OF the Confederate States. The first
expedition captured the Hatteras sand banks,
the second obtained possession of Port Roy
al, and the third effected a Judgment on Ship
island, barren islet IN the Mississippi
sound, remarkable for white sand aud croco-
dies. II remains 10 be seen what the fourth
expedition will accomplish.
The points of destination and precise OBJ.
iects Of this fleet have been for weeks topic
OF busy speculation. II has hung on our
coast like an apparitlon, and has been re-
ported hrst at one point and then at another
until the public mind has been excited and
muddled about il 10 degree that is almast
amusing. The last report was that il had
"gone 10 Dayy Jones locker" when an ex-
cited individual on the street Corner, where
the report aas told to knot Of anxious
patriots, exclaimed my gracious, nrten Da-
sis 70 have defended hstpInt." lie suppns.
ed the locality to be vulnerable point Of
North Carolina.
The Tact i, there is no occasion fnr alarm
and {" sensations, and no good reason 10 be-
fbaf
Yankees will meet with more success than
- predecessors. Should the enemy attempt
10 capilre Newbern and push forward to
Raleigh, which is more than one hundred
miles distant, they would put themselves IN
the most fatal situation possible. by aisanc-
ng into the interior OF hostile country
where twice their number could be consre-
gated almost in a day, nobody to oppose
hem, hat to cut of their retreat.
Another speculation indicates Roanoke
island a. the pnint at which an attack is m
tnedialely expected. This island is situated
IN the channel between Palmico and Abe
marie sounds, and il must be captured by
the enemy before they can advance their ex-
petition into Albemarle sound. The f0rti-
hcatlons on the island are quite extensive,
and ought, by this time, to be able to rrs.t 4
formidable assault. Should the Yankees
succeed IN capturing Roanoke island. they
would then have free access to Albemarle
sound and number Of litile villages On
IL borders. as well as on the ChoHan river.
which, emptying into the sound. would be al
their mercy. Tins, however. would be the
extent Of the harm they could iniict, unless
they should propose TIE Wild exploit of at
tempting, bY land march through swamps,
without artillery. and with supplies and r.
treat alike cut of. TO ontaank General Huger.
cooperating With the on 10 Richmond
movement Of Mcclellan in front.
Il = sald that there are two Or three pas.
sages where g1nboats might run within a
few miles Of Portsmouth,. and one--the Al.
bemarle canal--where they could, il no ob ].
structlons we're thrown 10 their way. run
through 70 Norfolk. OF course, however. Il
would br very little iroublr t. mike these
Passages 20 that they could NIT be Ms satrii
By am description d Yankee crai,.