Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-23
AN EXTENSIVE oUTFLANKING.

result OF accident, especially when they have
been carefully contemplated for a length of
time and extensive preparations made for them.
Il may not, therefore, be considered merely
coincidence that the Burnside expedition
should have sailed from Annapolis, and that
part Of the great Mississippi division, under
General McClernand, should have proceeded
from Cairo to Mayfeld, Kentucky, on the eth
inst. On the contrary. considering the mag
nitude Of both expeditions and the great OBJ
jects they are intended to accomplish, these
simultaneous movements must have been in
territorial, and the commanding general have
directed outaanking movements fifteen hun
dred miles apart.
Whether or not both divisions will strike as
simultaneously as they moved cannet at pres
ent be determined. A dispatch from Cairo,
dated the 18th, gives the impression that an
engagement was expected at Camp Beauregard,
between Mayfeld and the Tennessee State line,
last night. Gen. Grant hes the reputation of
being an energetic soldier, and has entered
upon this movement with abundant means to
insure success. Should he accomplish the de-
struction of the Confederates at Camp Beaure-
gard, he will doubtless push forward to Sandy
Mouth on the Tennessee river where he will
cooperate with the gunbost expedition which
moved up that river on the 9th, and thus Sc
cure that important point. This is strategic
position of much value to the Federal forces,
inasmuch as it commands the railroad between
Bowling Green and Columbus-the road from
Columbus south intersects the Memphis and
Ohio road at Humboldt, in Tennessee. The
purpose Of this movement of General Grant is
probably mainly to make the attack on Colum-
bus in the rear, outnanking that stronghold,
and opening the Mississippi, so that the gun
boat fotilla can proceed to Memphis and New
Orleans.
General Burnside's expedition left Fortress
Monroe on Sunday, the 18th. A sufficient
length of time has elapsed for it to have ar
rived at one Of its points Of destination, and
have accomplished one of its objects. 1t may
not, therefore, 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 scene of its demon
strations.
Assuming Pamlico and AIbemarle sounds to
be the scene of operations for the expedition,
We are furnished with an important point on
which to base our theory as to the ultimate
object of the movement.
Pamlico Sound is still in the possession of
the COntederates, notwithstanding the occupa-
ton 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 sufficient distance
into and up the sound to make lasting impress
sions. Roanoke Island is said to be strongly
fortified by the Confederates. 1t is position
which is valuable to US, commanding as it
does, the Currituck Sound, which opens into
the Albemarle. Currituck is about fifty miles
long, ten miles wide, and is navigable for ves-
sells drawing ten feet Of water Owing to the
natural breakwater, which protects a large
portion of the coasts of North Carolina and
Virginia, the water is as placid as a lake, and
easily navigated.
AlbemarIe Sound extends in a westerly di.
rection about sixty miles; it is from four to
fifteen miles in width, and, though in many
parts quite shosl, is sufficiently deep to admit
Of the passage of vessels of ten feet of water
The Pasquotank river, which has its rise in
the Dismal Swamp, flows into this sound. A
canal, called the Dismal Swamp canal, con-
meets this river with Drummond Lake in Dis
NAL Swamp. This lake is about thirty miles
in length and from ten to twelve in breadth.
When full the surface of the lake Is twenty
one feet above tide-water.
| The Jericho canal connects this lake with
Suffolk, which is situated on the Nansemond
river, and on the Portsmouth and Roanoke
i railroad. Il is IS miles northeast Of Richmond
| and 20 miles from Hampton Roads.
NaHsemond river enters Hampton Roads,
and is nayigable for vessels of 10 feet Of water
| from Suffolk.
Should this route not be chosen, the expedi-
| ton can enter Roanoke river, and proceed to
Weldon, North Carolina, $50 miles from its
| mouth, which, in consequence of the obstruc-
tion OF fall, is the limit to steamboat naviga-
Il ton.
Weldon Is point Of considerable strategic
i importance. Four railroads meet there, viz
L The Wilmington and Weldon, the Seaboard
L and Roanoke, the CASTOR and Raleigh, and
1 the Petersburg road. The first of the roads is
/ one hundred and sixty-two miles in length,
/ and runs southeasteriy to Wilmington, inter-
| secting Goldsboro' on the Neuse river. The
Il second is eighty miles long, and runs to Ports
mouth, Virginia. The third is ninety seven
| miles long, and runs northwesterly to the cap
| ital Of North Carolina. The fourth is other
/ and Potomac, Richmond and Petersburg, and
Petersburg railways By this route Richmond
is one hundred and eighty-six miles from
/ Weldon; Petersburg, Virginia, some hundred
| and sixty. -four miles distant
/ The Neuse river-pronounced as if spelled
Nuss-is, next TO Cape Fear, the largest navi-
gable stream in North Carolina. 1t is navi-
/ gable for teamboats from its mouth, which is
/ at the lower part of Pamlico Sound, to WaSnes-
borough, n. c., distance of more than one
| hundred miles. Goldsborough, near Waynes.
| borough, on the river, is a point at which the
railroad from Wilmington, on the Cape Fear,
and from Newbern, on the Neuss river, con.
verge.
Suffolk, Va, is not sufficiently easy of access
| to make it a desirable base; Furthermore, If
that were one of the points, it could be far
more readily reached from Hampton Roads.
| Weldon seems peculiarly situated for an at
| tack. 1t is easy Of access and, when gained,
can be as formidably entrenched as is Manas.
sas. 1t is not far from Richmond, and, fur.
thermore, the seizure Of this point would seri-
ously incommods the Confederates at Rich.
mond and Manassas
Goldsboro' Is another point, but of somewhat
less importancs than Weldon
These moyeasnts require caution and STRAIT
egy We beitevs that Gen. Burnside is already
approaching the heart Of North Carolina, with
swift but sure strides. The telegraph will prob
ably announce the result in q few days at most,
and while General Grant is outfanking on the
right wing, the left wing will be energetically
employed.-N. Y. Com. Advertiser
AQe PICTURE CORD AND 100